A/N: Well, folks, here's chapter three! I decided to be nice and post the chapter early. But I'm surprised that I haven't reached 40 reviews yet; was that too much to ask? Anyway, I still need that information on Syaoran's sisters! I need to know their names, and the birth order.

The Forgetful Bride

Chapter Three

The next day, Sakura was still feeling confused when she got to work. Two emotions battled inside her: her love for Eriol, and this new, unfamiliar feeling she was having concerning Syaoran. She was so deep in thought that she didn't even notice Tomoyo's strange mood.

"Hey, Sakura, has Eriol-kun talked to you lately?" Tomoyo asked as soon as she saw Sakura.

"Hmm?" Sakura looked up at Tomoyo. "I'm sorry, I missed that."

Tomoyo bounced around a bit, like she was anxious or nervous about something. "Have you spoken with Eriol-kun lately?" Tomoyo repeated.

"No, not since I left yesterday. Why?"

"Oh, no reason," Tomoyo assured Sakura. "I was just curious. He told me that he had something important do discuss with you, but I guess it wasn't that important."

Sakura shrugged. "I guess not."

"So, what did you do yesterday after you got home?"

"Actually, Li-san came over."

"What? What happened?"

"He brought sushi, but instead of apologizing for yesterday, he said he wanted to know why I like Eriol-kun so much."

"What did you tell him?"

"Everything you already know. He's smart, he's handsome, and he already knows about my magic."

"And how did he reply to that?" Sakura blushed and muttered something intelligible. "What?"

"He kissed me..." Sakura said, rubbing the back of her neck.

Tomoyo's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

Sakura nodded, her face completely red. "And the worst part is...I kinda liked it."

Tomoyo gasped. "You did? But what about Eriol-kun?"

"I know! Right in the middle of the kiss, that thought crossed my mind, so I pushed him away; and he looked so...so..."

What?" Tomoyo pressed Sakura.

"I don't know! Hurt, maybe, or surprised. But...right before he left, he called me Em."

"Em?"

"He said it's short for Emerald, since apparently, in some lights, my eyes 'sparkle like emeralds'." she put the last three words in finger quotes.

Tomoyo, ever the romantic, couldn't help but squeal. "Aww, Sakura, I think he likes you!"

"Oh, really?" Sakura replied sarcastically. "I hadn't noticed." She walked over to the wall and started smacking her head against it. "Why does (thud) this have to (thud) happen to (thud) meeee?" she half-sobbed.

"Sakura-san?" Eriol said suddenly, poking his head into the room where the girls were talking.

"Hoe?" Sakura squeaked, straightening suddenly with surprise at Eriol's voice.

"Can I speak with you in my office?"

"Hai, Eriol-kun," Sakura said quickly. As she left the room, she looked back at Tomoyo, who gave her a gesture of encouragement.

Sakura entered Eriol's office, noticing that the office was just like its inhabitant--decorated in shades of blue, it was neat and organized. "Hai, Eriol-kun? Is something the matter?"

"Please, sit down, Sakura-san," Eriol said, gesturing to a chair. Sakura sat. "Sakura-san, I've been noticing that you have a certain...affection for me."

Sakura gulped nervously. "Ano...h-hai, Eriol-kun. I...I do like you."

Eriol nodded and leaned back in his chair. "I hope this won't affect our friendship, or the quality of your work, but...I'm afraid I don't feel the same."

"You don't?" Sakura asked softly.

"I'm sorry, Sakura-san. I don't."

"I...see."

Eriol sighed softly. "Please, feel free to take the rest of the day off, if you like. I feel bad having to tell you this first thing in the morning, but I needed to make sure there was no confusion."

"Oh, of course," Sakura replied. She was battling to hold back the tears. "I'll stay, though; I can handle this." She spoke as though she was trying to reassure herself, instead of Eriol.

"Are you sure?"

"Hai, Eriol-kun. I'm sure." Sakura stood, have a shallow bow, and left the office. As soon as she was back with Tomoyo, she let the tears flow.

"Sakura, what's wrong?" Tomoyo asked. Through the tears, Tomoyo pieced together Sakura's explanation, and was able to figure out that Eriol had just broken the news to her. Tomoyo narrowed her eyes. "I'm going to go have a talk with Hiiragizawa-kun," she said, reverting back to the more formal version of his name.

"No, Tomoyo! Don't!" But the violet-haired girl had already left. Sakura chased after her, stopping in front of Eriol's closed office door. She could hear Tomoyo yelling inside.

"Why did you have to tell her now?" Tomoyo was asking Eriol. "I can't believe you would be so heartless!"

"I'm sorry, Tomoyo-chan!" Eriol replied. "I thought this would be the best way. Don't you think that telling her over dinner would be leading her on?"

"Not if you made it clear that it was a business dinner! I can't believe that I even agreed to marry you!"

Sakura gasped loudly, and the building became eerily silent. A moment later, Eriol opened the door, seeing Sakura standing there, again on the verge of tears. "Sakura-san..." he said softly.

"You...you asked Tomoyo to marry you?" Sakura choked out. Not waiting for an explanation, she bolted for the door. She got out to her car, but her hands were shaking too badly to put the key into the door to unlock it. She leaned against the cool metal, letting the tears roll freely down her face.

Tomoyo came running out after her. "Sakura, I'm so sorry...you have no clue how bad I feel right now."

"It can't be as bad as how I'm feeling," Sakura muttered, not looking at Tomoyo.

"Listen, Sakura. I'll understand completely if you hate me forever, but I just want you to know that I told Eriol I couldn't marry him until he told you the truth."

"So..." Sakura sniffled. "So all this time, you've been trying to help me catch his attention, but you've liked him too?"

"Yes."

"Why did you help me, then?"

"Because you liked him first, and because I thought you had a better chance than I did."

Sakura lifted her head from the top of her car and looked at Tomoyo. "You thought you didn't have a chance with him? But, Tomoyo, look at you! Any guy would be crazy not to fall for you!"

"I could say the same for you!" Tomoyo replied, tears forming in her eyes, as well. "You're gorgeous, Sakura, but it's like you don't know it."

Sakura looked down at herself. "I'm not gorgeous, Tomoyo; I'm a wreck."

"You're not looking at yourself properly, then. Come on, I'll drive you home, and I'll show you just how beautiful you can be." Tomoyo gently pried Sakura's keys from her hand and unlocked the doors. "Maybe we can call Li-san over and ask him for his opinion."

"Why Syaoran?" Sakura asked, wiping her eyes.

"Because he's the only objective eye we have," Tomoyo replied simply. "Besides, you need a date for Eriol-kun's party tomorrow night, right?"

"I'm not going."

"Of course you are! I need you to be there!"

"Why?"

"Because his parents are coming." Tomoyo cringed. "He told me this morning."

Sakura sighed. "Well...all right, I'll come."

"Thank you!" Tomoyo squealed, hugging her best friend. Then she started the car and drove toward Sakura's apartment.

A/N: That's it for chapter three! I'm sorry it was so short and boring; it's mainly just a filler chapter. There will definitely be some more S/S and E/T fluff next chapter, I promise! And Sakura's not actually going to meet Eriol's parents, because it'll be easier for me to avoid creating OCs.

To make it easier on you all, I'm going to say that I need ten reviews on this chapter before I'll update, so 48 total. That shouldn't be too hard, right? Just remember that I won't put up the new chapter as soon as I get 10, but I'll try to do it as soon as I can after I get the tenth review. So remember to review if you want me to continue the story!