Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura.

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Syaoran silently walked down the hospital hallway. Of all the places he wanted to be, this was the last place on the list. There are just too many memories for him to remember from that night. Syaoran winced even thinking about it and continued to follow Eriol.

Just then, Eriol abruptly stopped causing Syaoran to bump into him. Syaoran looked at Eriol. Eriol just grinned sheepishly.

"Gomen (sorry). I should've told you earlier that the room was approaching." He spoke awkwardly.

"Just hurry up Hiiragizawa." Syaoran gruffly replied. Eriol opened the door and quickly entered. He looked back at Syaoran.

"Aren't you coming in?" Eriol asked. Syaoran didn't feel like responding. Eriol sighed.

"Sakura isn't feeling to happy. She needs some company. Come on. Just go in." Eriol spoke.

"I don't feel like it." Syaoran replied. Eriol gave up.

"Fine. You go wait in the car or something." Eriol responded.

"I'll just stay out here." Came Syaoran's reply. Eriol nodded and entered.

Outside, Syaoran could hear an angelic laugh from the room. Her voice is so beautiful and enchanting. Syaoran quickly shook his head. No, he was in love with Aya and only her. Yet, her voice echoed throughout the hallway and Syaoran couldn't resist. He slowly opened the door and peeked in. Inside, two females and Eriol were there. The female laughing the most was sitting on the hospital bed. Syaoran took a short glimpse at the female. Her auburn locks fell down to her shoulder. Her emerald eyes were gleaming with such joy. Syaoran quickly looked away. He didn't understand. He was in a hospital just three days ago and it was indeed not a joyous occasion. How could a place like a hospital be joyful?

Syaoran leaned against the wall pondering about his thoughts when a male started glaring at him. Syaoran looked at the male. He was tall and his eyes looked like lasers could shoot out at any moment.

"What are you glaring at me for?" Syaoran asked in a rude tone. The man glared even harder.

"Are you here to see my sister?" He replied after a few seconds.

"Who the hell is your sister?" Syaoran responded. Syaoran rolled his eyes. He really didn't have to put up with people like him.

"She's in the room that you're standing outside of right now gaki." He replied.

"Who the hell are you calling a gaki?" Syaoran retaliated. His amber eyes turned from an annoyed to an angry look.

"Who else is in this hallway?" Touya asked.

"Let's see ... you." Syaoran replied. Touya glared at Syaoran even harder. They both glared at each other until Eriol came out of the room to see the glare fight.

"Syaoran!" Eriol spoke. Syaoran stopped glaring and turned to Eriol.

"It's about time you got out of that room." Syaoran replied.

"I was stuck glaring at this bastard for being so incredibly rude." Syaoran continued. Eriol groaned.

"Gomen nasai Kinomoto-san. My cousin here is extremely sick at the moment." Eriol spoke quickly at the pissed Touya. Eriol gave Syaoran a shove towards the exit. Eriol quickly followed not even wanting to face Touya's wrath.

Touya watched as the two men walked into the elevator and growled. He pounded his fist against Sakura's door causing the door to swing open. Touya stomped his way into Sakura's room having Sakura and Tomoyo look at him bewilderedly. Touya opened the window and shouted.

"IF THAT ARROGANT GAKI WAS THE MAN YOU HAD IN MIND, CONSIDER THE PROMISE TO HAVE NEVER BEEN UTTERED FROM MY MOUTH!" It almost seemed as if the wind backed off because it didn't want to tamper with Touya's temper tantrum. The birds in the nearby trees immediately flew away.

"Hoe ... onii-chan, daijoubu ka (are you okay)?" Sakura asked tilting her head to one side. Touya marched over to his sister.

"Promise me that you won't ever fall in love!" Touya spoke. Sakura looked at him confused.

"Onii-chan, I don't think your feeling to well." Sakura spoke as she placed her hand on his forehead.

"Hmmm ... It's warm, but not from a fever. Are you mad at someone onii- chan?" Sakura asked. Touya growled. Sakura gulped. Her brother was obviously pretty upset about something.

"Gaki." Touya mumbled.

"Hoe?" Sakura spoke. Touya shook his head.

"Never mind. Forget I said anything." Touya replied as he got up.

"See you later kaijuu." He spoke while walking out of her door. The birds outside were getting comfy after their little flight.

"SAKURA IS NOT A KAIJUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Sakura screamed. The birds fled again and decided that being near a hospital is not a good place to live.

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"Yay! I finally get to go back home!" Sakura exclaimed with joy. Sakura's two-week time had already passed. The nurse looked up at Sakura and smiled.

"You have been here for quite some time Sakura-san. I'm glad you can finally return home."

"Yea ... but I'll miss you Nakuru!" Sakura said sorrowfully. The nurse laughed.

"I'll come visit you Sakura-san, every week. I promise." She replied.

"Pinky swear?" Sakura asked holding her hand out in a fist with her pinky out.

"Pinky swear." The nurse, Nakuru replied linking her pinky in Sakura's.

"Arigatou (Thank you)!" Sakura responded giving the nurse a hug. The nurse happily accepted it. Sakura was one of her favorite patients because of her kind and optimistic attitude.

"So Sakura-san, is anyone coming here to pick you up?" The nurse asked. It was 12 in the afternoon. Sakura shook her head.

"Iie (no). I'm 22; I can take care of myself. Honest!" Sakura replied. The nurse laughed.

"I keep forgetting you're so much older than you look. I always look at you and think you're 16." Sakura laughed at the comment.

"Well, Ja ne (see you later) Sakura-san!" Nakuru waved. Sakura waved back.

"Ja ne!" Sakura then stepped outside of the hospital.

Finally, she was back and healthier than ever. Free from the walls that bound her. Now, it was off to the university. Last night, her otou-san and onii-chan brought her car over. Sakura walked over to the car, unlocked it and entered. She quickly started the car and began to drive towards Tokyo University.

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"Sakura-chan is coming today!" Tomoyo squealed. Eriol smiled. His girlfriend was so enthusiastic and full of energy. Syaoran sat in silence. Eriol dragged Syaoran to Tomoyo and Sakura's dorm room in which Sakura would soon be arriving. Syaoran didn't care about Sakura at all. The only thought going through his mind was that Aya was dead for two weeks and a half already. Time flew by so fast.

Syaoran was completely lost in his thoughts when the door opened to reveal Sakura with a smile plastered on her face.

"Konnichiwa minna-san!" Sakura spoke as Tomoyo jumped on to her best friend.

"It's SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK!!!!!!!!!!" Tomoyo replied suffocating Sakura.

"Tomoyo, sweetie, I think you're suffocating her." Eriol spoke as he tapped her back. Tomoyo immediately got off of her.

"Heh ... gomen." Tomoyo said. Sakura laughed.

"It's fine. I'm glad to see that you missed me so much even though I just saw you yesterday. Hoe? Who are you?" Sakura asked as she walked towards Syaoran. Syaoran glanced up to see two emerald eyes staring into his own eyes. Syaoran blinked and then jerked back in his seat.

"Ah ... gomen ... I didn't mean to scare you like that." Sakura said apologetically.

"It's alright." Syaoran spoke. Sakura still felt guilty.

"I didn't hurt you did I?" Sakura asked. Syaoran looked at her. Her eyes, they showed concern for a person they didn't know ... just like Aya's eyes did when they first met. Syaoran let out a frustrated groan as he walked out of the dorm. The three just watched him leave. Sakura felt responsible for his actions so she bolted out of the dorm after him.

"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo shouted as she got up from her seat.

"Iie (no), Tomoyo. Just let Sakura follow him. She'll be fine." Tomoyo sat down.

"What's wrong with him anyway?" Tomoyo asked annoyed. For the past two weeks Syaoran was there, he was always depressed and in a bad mood and it annoyed her way too much.

"He's been through a lot you know." Eriol whispered softly.

"What do you mean?" Tomoyo replied as Eriol began to tell the story of Syaoran's sorrows.

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"Matte (wait)!" Sakura yelled at Syaoran. Syaoran finally turned around to face her. Her panting was loud and her breathing was labored. Sakura weakly smiled.

"Why did you leave all of a sudden? Are you okay? Is anything wrong?" Sakura asked as she shut her eyes and deeply breathed in the air around her. The wind caressed her shoulder length auburn locks causing Syaoran to feel like he was in a trance. Sakura opened her emerald eyes and looked at Syaoran.

"Nothing's wrong." Was Syaoran's only reply. Sakura felt sad. She couldn't do anything to help him. She didn't know why, but she felt that she should be extra nice to him. Syaoran glanced over to Sakura's face to see her gloomy expression.

"What's wrong with you?" Syaoran asked. Sakura sighed.

"I feel so bad that I can't help you. I feel that there's something your hiding from me, but I wouldn't be surprised. You're probably standing there thinking of how nosy of a person I am." Sakura replied.

Syaoran looked at Sakura with curiosity. Could she possibly understand how he was feeling? Syaoran's mouth started to move without the consult of his mind.

"Have you ever lost anyone?" Syaoran blurted out. Then he mentally kicked himself for asking such a question. Sakura looked at him; then gave him a sad smile.

"Hai (yes). My okaa-san." Sakura replied. Syaoran looked at her in a different perspective. Whenever he had seen her, she was so happy and seemed like she didn't have a care in the world, even when she was in the hospital.

"When did she-"

"She passed away 19 years ago, when I was three." Sakura replied; her sad smile still plastered on her face. Silence filled the cool air. Sakura finally started to speak.

"Why do you ask?" Sakura asked. Syaoran looked at her and his cold exterior returned.

"None of your business." Syaoran spoke. Sakura looked at him and understood.

"You lost someone, didn't you?" Syaoran looked at Sakura. Was it that obvious? Were his feelings showing?

"Gomen nasai (sorry). There is probably nothing I can do to ease your pain." Sakura replied sadly with liquids filling into her eyes.

"There is something you can do." Syaoran spoke inadvertently. Sakura looked over at Syaoran as he took a deep breath.

"I need a friend, to help me through this." Sakura looked at Syaoran's eyes. Teardrops tried to make their way out of his eyes. Syaoran shut his eyes tightly and clenched his fist. He wouldn't cry. He couldn't. He promised.

Sakura didn't know why but she felt like she knew him better than she would understand someone like her own onii-chan.

"I'll be that friend to help you." Sakura spoke softly. Syaoran looked at Sakura and gave her a small smile. A real true smile. The first since Aya has been gone.

"Arigatou (thank you) Kinomoto-san." Syaoran replied. Sakura looked at Syaoran and gave him a genuine smile.

"Call me Sakura." She responded as she stuck her hand out to him. He slowly brought his hand out to his front and shook her hand.

"It's a pleasure to get to know you ... ano (um) ... what's your name?" Sakura just realized that she didn't know his name. Syaoran chuckled. Sakura felt a surge of happiness and comfort as she heard his laugh.

"I guess I should introduce myself. I am Syaoran Li." He spoke.

"Should I call you Li-kun?" Sakura asked. It would be impolite of her to call him by his first name unless he allowed her too. Syaoran simply nodded. Sakura smiled.

"I hope we become best of friends Li-kun!" Sakura spoke cheerfully.

"I hope so too." Syaoran whispered.

"Li-kun! Look at the sky!" Sakura exclaimed. Tiny white particles fell from the sky. It was snowing. Sakura started to dance around in the snow. Syaoran looked at her graceful body move.

"Sakura, we should quickly get back. You can catch a cold out if you stay out too long." Syaoran spoke. Sakura whined.

"But it's so pretty!" Sakura protested. She felt a warm substance on her back. It was Syaoran's coat.

"I can't take this! You'll get a cold!" Sakura replied. Syaoran looked at her sternly.

"First you want to stay outside, now you don't. Make up your mind!" Syaoran shouted. Sakura's facial expression turned sad as tears fell from her eyes.

"Gomen (I'm sorry)." Sakura spoke as she ran off. Syaoran stood still and soon realized his mistake. She was only trying to care for him. Syaoran dashed off after her.

Sakura kept on running until she bumped into someone she didn't want to bump into, Kyoji Tatsuya.

"Gomen." Sakura spoke hastily as she tried to run but Kyoji didn't let her go.

"What do we have here? Sakura. How have you been these past few months? I haven't been able to see your pretty face around here." Kyoji said. Kyoji went to Tokyo University just like Sakura and would never stop harassing her. Sakura rarely was alone at the university because of Kyoji.

"It's Kinomoto-san to you. Now could you please let me go?" Sakura asked as she tried to wiggle her way out. Nothing would work.

"Why do you want to leave so quickly, Sakura? Come on, stay with me." Kyoji replied. Kyoji has been infatuated with Sakura for way too long. He hated how she did everything to avoid him.

"I don't want to. Let me go!" Sakura yelled. Kyoji's grip on her arm tightened causing Sakura to wince in pain.

"But I don't want to let you go Sakura." Kyoji remarked as he moved his mouth closer to hers. Sakura shut her eyes tightly. She had never been kissed once in her life and this was definitely not what she wanted to remember. Suddenly, Kyoji's strong grip on her arm disappeared. Sakura opened her eyes to see Kyoji on the ground, his cheek bruised.

"If a woman wants to be left alone, leave her alone you asshole." Syaoran spoke. He remembered saving Aya those countless times from assholes like him.

Syaoran walked over to Sakura.

"Daijoubu desu ka (Are you okay)?" Syaoran asked. Sakura slightly nodded her head and quickly wrapped her arms around him. Syaoran slowly wrapped his hand around her. Syaoran slowly lifted her off the ground and cradled her in his arms and headed towards her dorm.

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Tomoyo looked at the clock. It was 5 minutes before 7. Five more minutes before she would go to search for her best friend. Tomoyo was sitting on Eriol's lap and snuggled her head in his chest. She didn't know why but she felt drowsy. Abruptly, a series of knocks were heard.

"That's Syaoran." Eriol spoke softly to himself. Tomoyo was already sleeping in his arms. Eriol got up and laid Tomoyo in her bed and headed towards the door.

"Syaoran! What happened to Sakura?" Eriol asked since Sakura was in his arms. Syaoran stayed silent. Eriol noticed that Sakura was being held tightly in Syaoran's arms. Syaoran must've already come to care about Sakura a lot, Eriol thought as he waved his hand in his cousin's face.

"Something happened that won't happen again." Was his response. He then opened the door to Sakura and Tomoyo's bedroom and gently placed Sakura on the bed opposite of Tomoyo. Syaoran smiled as he looked at her and got up to leave when he felt her hand on his arm. Syaoran turned around to see Sakura's eyes slightly opened.

"Ja ne (see you later), Li-kun." Sakura spoke softly as her eyelids shut.

"Ja ne." Syaoran whispered as he left.

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"Sakura-chan! Welcome back!" Chiharu spoke gleefully as she gave her friend a hug.

"Arigatou (thank you) Chiharu-chan. I feel like I'm back where I belong, with my friends." Sakura replied smiling.

"Yes you are!" Naoko said as she popped out of nowhere.

"Naoko-chan!" Sakura exclaimed giving her a hug as well.

"Sakura-chan! How have you been?" Naoko asked.

"You mean since the last time you, Rika-chan, Chiharu-chan, and Yamazaki- kun have visited me?" Sakura questioned laughing. The four had visited Sakura, three times every week.

"Pretty much." Chiharu answered.

"I've been great. Glad to have so many supportive friends, you know?" Sakura answered. She looked at her watch.

"HOE!!!!!!!!!! I'M GOING TO BE LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Sakura shouted as she started to run.

"Ja ne Chiharu-chan, Naoko-chan!" Sakura yelled across the hall.

"JA NE SAKURA-CHAN!" They responded. Sakura was soon out of their sight.

"She'll never change ..." Naoko spoke.

"That's what makes her Sakura-chan." Chiharu replied. Naoko nodded.

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"GOMEN NASAI SENSEI (Teacher)!" Sakura shouted as she entered the room. The whole class laughed. It had been a while since they had Sakura entering the room at the usual late time. The teacher laughed as well.

"You're excused this time, Kinomoto-san." He replied as Sakura took her seat next to Rika.

"Ohayo Sakura-chan!" Rika spoke.

"Ohayo Rika-chan!" Sakura replied smiling.

The teacher's voice sounded throughout the room as fingers hitting the keyboards were heard.

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"Sakura-chan!"

"Tomoyo-chan!"

"How was the first day back?" Tomoyo asked.

"Great as any other day. I had lots of people ask me if I was all right or not though. But why wouldn't I be?" Sakura replied.

"Of course Sakura-chan."

"Tomoyo!" A male voice shouted.

"Eriol!" Tomoyo replied as he ran over and embraced her.

"You two are so KAWAII together!" Sakura squealed as Eriol laughed and Tomoyo pouted.

"Sakura-chan! You know that is SO MY WORD!" Ever since they met each other when they were younger, they were always best friends, and Tomoyo would always carry a video camera around squealing, "Sakura-chan is so kawaii!"

"I know. I had to say sometime!" Sakura spoke laughing.

"I guess so. But try not to use it again!" Tomoyo warned, joking with Sakura.

"I won't! I promise!" Sakura replied laughing.

"If you could grant the permission to do so, Sakura-san, may I take this lovely woman out to dinner?" Eriol asked staring at Tomoyo. Sakura giggled.

"Of course you may. You two have fun and, Eriol-kun, I expect her before 11." Sakura spoke sternly.

"Yes Sakura-san." Eriol replied as he took Tomoyo's hand in his and started walking away from the university.

"I give it a couple more months before he proposes." Sakura whispered to herself, giggling.

"How about you come to dinner with me tonight, as an apology for last night." A voice spoke. Sakura turned around to be face to face with Kyoji. Sakura stayed silent and wished that Eriol and Tomoyo stayed a little longer.

"Gomen (I'm sorry), but I'm busy." Sakura replied walking away.

"I'm not taking no for an answer Sakura." He spoke as he put his hand on her shoulder. Sakura yanked herself out of his grip and started to run away from him.

"You can't run away from me Sakura." He replied as Sakura kept on running and ended up bumping into a person. The person held her close in an embrace and glared at Kyoji.

"How many times do I have to tell you to leave her alone, before you actually start to leave her alone?" The voice asked. Sakura held on to the man tightly. He seemed like he was going to help her and his voice seemed so familiar ... but she couldn't put her finger on it ... not now anyway.

"Mind your own business you asshole." Kyoji replied trying to grab Sakura from the man's grip on her.

"I'm minding my own business, but you're bothering my friend, so I have to make this my business. Leave her alone." He replied. Kyoji finally took a look at the guy to realize it was the man from last night. Not wanting to start anything now, he left.

"Sakura-san, are you okay now?" A gentle soothing voice asked. Sakura lifted her head to see her savior.

"Li-kun! Arigatou!" Sakura spoke as she wrapped her arms around him tightly. Syaoran slightly blushed as he tightened his arms around her.

"Your welcome. Why is it that you always happen to run into trouble?" Syaoran asked.

"It's not my fault!" Sakura replied angrily.

"I'm joking. It's not your fault at all." Syaoran replied as he started to stroke her hair. Sakura sighed as she inhaled his scent. He smelled like cinnamon.

"I'll escort you home. It doesn't seem like its safe for you to get home." Syaoran spoke sternly. Sakura blushed but nodded as she starting walking with Syaoran. He started up into the sky knowing that Aya would be happy that he helped someone.

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"Arigatou for walking me home." Sakura spoke.

"Your welcome and stay out of trouble." Syaoran replied. Sakura pouted and then smiled.

"I'll try my best!"

"Good. When do you get out of the university?" Syaoran asked.

"Ano ... 3 o'clock. Doushite (why)?" Sakura questioned.

"I'll see you at three then, every day you're at the university." Syaoran responded.

"You don't have to."

"I know I don't, but I want to." Syaoran replied. Sakura smiled as she gave Syaoran a hug.

"Arigatou." Sakura responded as Syaoran walked away.

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Syaoran entered Eriol's dorm room, tired. He collapsed on the sofa and soon entered a dream ...

~Dream~

Syaoran was on a hill and sitting under a tree.

'Syaoran ...' A sweet, melodic voice spoke from above him.

"What? Who are-"

'Forget me already? That's so mean Syaoran!'

"A-A-Aya?" Syaoran asked.

'Took you a while!' Aya spoke giggling as she jumped down right next to Syaoran.

"How can you-" Syaoran started. Aya placed her finger over Syaoran's lips.

'How can I talk to you? Took the words right out of your mouth again, didn't I?' Syaoran simply nodded. He couldn't believe it. She is there, right next to him.

'I only have a short period of time to talk to you, so I'll make it short and simple. I am not your soul mate Li Syaoran. I know that your stubborn self will take a long time to process that so I don't even want to hear you argue with me because I know. I've seen your future, only a simple guideline of it. I do know that you'll be happier without me. So stop thinking of me ... as your dead fiancée. Think of me as a close friend, who's always going to watch over you and your soul mate, the person you are destined to be with. Don't let her slip out of your grasp, Li Syaoran. I'm watching you, always. I wish you the best of luck in life and your marriage and DON'T THINK OF THIS AS A DREAM!' Aya shouted as her smiling figure faded away in front of Syaoran.

"Aya!" Syaoran yelled as he reached out in front of him to feel nothing.

~End of Dream~

"AYA!" Syaoran yelled as he bolted up onto the couch. Did he have a dream ... or was it real as she said? But what did she mean by her not being his soul mate? It was completely insane ... or was it? Syaoran ignored these feelings as he fell back onto the couch.

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Shorter than usual. gomen. I've been busy. so yea. don't know when the next chapter will be up. maybe 3 weeks? I dunno

Arigatou to all you reviewers out there!

~cherrixwolf