HI! I'm so happy! I just got done reading your reviews! It makes me so happy! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! So anyway, I tried making this ch. longer!

Sorry for the late very update!

I had a lot of reviews protesting that I hadn't make them like each other yet. Ho. Ho. Ho. Ho.

You know, I never seem to have time to do anything. I don't have time to really play games, much less the computer. It takes me at least 3 hours to do my homework because of so many distractions. By then, I have to get ready to go sleep.

IMPORTANT! I changed their assignments again! Okay, it now goes like this:

Hospital

Animal shelter

They had a bunch of choices that could do. But they could only pick two, so Sakura and Syaoran chose these two, Okie?

Chapter 7: The Animal Shelter

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This feels good. Sitting here… with Sakura.

Sakura hurried out of the still house. Her dad and Touya were still not home. I'll visit him today. Sakura thought determinedly. I'm too much of a bad daughter. The least I can do is visit otou-san. She ran all the way towards Jun high. (Such a weird name ) She scurried in to her seat and sat just as the bell rang.

-------------------------------------------After School--------------------------

An annoyed Syaoran stood waiting at the school entrance. She's late. Where is she? He thought. She KNOWS that we have to go to the animal shelter. He huffed angrily as he finally spotted a amber head franticly running towards him.

"I'm so sorry, Syaoran-kun!" breathed Sakura as she bent, catching her breath. Syaoran watched her annoyingly. "I was helping Mrs. Kamiya. I lost track of time." She explained apologetically.

"Just don't do that again," Syaoran replied irritably, making his way up the hill. Sakura trotted up to catch up with him.

"We're going to the animal shelter? I love animals! I'm so excited!" Sakura squealed gleefully. Syaoran couldn't help but smile at her giddiness. "Oh!" he heard her say.

"What?" he asked.

"Um…what time are we going to be done?" Sakura asked.

"Around 6:30. Why?" Syaoran replied.

"I…I'm going to visit my otou-san. I haven't seen him yet. I feel like a traitor, not visiting him," she explained. "I'm his only daughter, yet I haven't even sent him get-well cards," She continued woefully. She chuckled meekly. "I really am a bad daughter, huh?"

Syaoran continued walking, speechless. I don't know what to say. He grunted to say he heard what she said. Finally, he broke the silence by saying,

"No. If you worry this much, then you're not a bad daughter. I'm sure Fujitaka-san understands. It would be hard for someone like you to take in the fact that your dad fell in a coma. I'm sure they would understand." Sakura looked up in surprise.

He's…trying to cheer me up? Syaoran-kun… she chuckled.

"Thank you, Syaoran-kun." She said cheerfully. She hummed cheerfully and skipped up to walk next to him.

Syaoran could feel his cheeks grow hot. What the heck…? Why is my face all hot? He thought. Must be my imagination. He stopped to a halt. Sakura, surprised stopped abruptly.

"We're here," he informed. They strolled in. It was a big animal shelter. It smelt old and musty. They could hear a lot of dog barks. Syaoran and Sakura walked up to the counter.

"Hi, we're some volunteers from Jun high," said Syaoran. The lady behind the counter was old, but had kind eyes.

"Ah. Well, hello. My name is Aya Inoue. You can call me Aya. What are your names?" she asked.

"I'm Li Syaoran," he said gruffly.

"And I'm Kinomoto Sakura. It's nice to meet you." She said taking a polite bow. Aya chuckled.

"Okay, well, let's get you to work, shall we?" she said leading them deeper in the building. "Let's see…I'll set you guys with the homeless pups, eh?" Sakura squealed with delight. Aya chuckled. Soon they entered a room filled with puppies. It smelled though. "How about you guys refill the food bowls try cleaning up droppings? Is that good?" she asked. Syaoran groaned.

"It's fine!" Sakura said. She hurriedly went to a little brown puppy and scooped him up.

"Have fun!" Aya chirped before closing the door. Syaoran sighed and rolled up his sleeves.

"Well, better get to work now," he said. He walked toward a door marked: Storeroom. Sakura was heard, giggling, as she was crowded with tiny, whining puppies. Syaoran returned holding a shovel.

"C'mon, let's get to work. Stop fooling around, Sakura." Syaoran scolded. Sakura hurriedly stood up.

"Yes, sir!" she said in mock determination. She also went into the storeroom. She returned with a big bag of dog food. She started filling up the food bowls. They worked in silence. Soon, Sakura said, "Syaoran-kun?" He grunted in reply. "Do you still like Emi?" she asked casually. Syaoran looked up in surprise. Sakura's back was turned to him.

"Duh. She's my girlfriend. Why?" he asked.

"No reason," she replied. When he said that, why did my heart suddenly stop? She wondered. I suddenly felt a deep pang in my chest. Why? Wait, why did I ask him that? Oh my gosh! "Why do you like her?" she continued, hoping she sounded casual.

"She's…cool…kind-wait. Why do you care? I don't need to share my personal affairs with you," he said. Sakura turned, chuckling.

"Oh. Sorry." Why did she ask that? Syaoran thought confusedly.

Before they knew it, 6:30 had come. They were now walking out of the animal shelter.

"Sakura, I can take you to the hospital." Offered Syaoran. Sakura shook her head.

"Uh-uh." She smiled beautifully at him, making his heart beat stop. "You've done so much for me, Syaoran-kun. I cannot ask you to take me to a family problem. Thank you so much. Well, see you tomorrow, Syaoran-kun. Bye." She turned slowly and walked down the sidewalk. Syaoran, shaking his head, seemingly coming out of a trance, turned and walked the opposite direction.

Sakura was now at the hospital. She had took the bus, and gotten there soon. She took a big breath and walked in the hospital. She slowly made way to her dad's room. Before she knew it, she was in front of his room. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her pounding heart. She grabbed the door handle, and took a step in.

She could see Touya sitting on a waiting chair. Yukito was sitting next to him. They seemed to be asleep. Her dad was sleeping on the white bed, his face pale and white. Despite the color of his skin, he looked peaceful. He had a bandage wrapped around his forehead. Sakura quietly made her way toward her unconscious dad, tears slowly forming in her eyes.

"Otou-san…" she breathed softly. She sank into the chair beside the bed. "Oh, otou-san…otou-san…" she said, her voice quavering. "I…I'm so sorry. I have been…a bad daughter." Her voice cracked. "I'm so sorry. I had known that you were in…this…condition. Yet, I didn't come see you…" By then, tears rolled down her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I love you, otou-san. I love you so much." She started sobbing. "I…feel…so empty. Tomoyo has moved to…China. You…you're unwell…I just feel so…lonely. I…I miss you so much. I…miss you, at home, where you're always welcoming me home happily. I…miss you…Touya…and most of all…Okaa-san. I miss our old life. Please, wake up. I miss you so much." By then, tears were streaming down her face. Her shoulders were shaking uncontrollably. She was sobbing, trying to not be too loud. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She gasped, and looked up surprised. Touya stood there, looking grim. He smiled weakly.

"What took you so long to get here…Kajuu?" he said softly. Sakura leapt up and hugged her big brother. Touya wrapped his big arms around his sobbing sister, patting her back, and trying to comfort her. Yukito…standing behind them, smiled.

Sakura had calmed down after a while. She was walking home with Touya and Yukito. She felt as if a huge burden had lifted from her shoulders. After Sakura had cried, Touya had led her to sit on the waiting room chairs. He handed her tissues and she had taken them gratefully. They had then decided to go home.

Sakura entered the school grounds quietly. She had woken up early for a change. Sakura smiled. The gap of her loneliness and emptiness had closed a little.

"Kinomoto!" A harsh voice was heard behind her. Sakura turned around. It was Emi and her group of cronies. "So…" she said in a cold voice," you're my sweet Syao's partner, huh? Well…I'm sure you know who I am, right?" She said dangerously. Sakura took a step backward.

"Takashi-san…" She breathed.

"That's right. I'm his sweetie. So if you know what's good for you, you little dimwit, stay away from him, got it? I won't let my Syao be swiped away by lower class people like you," She snarled threateningly. Sakura gulped and took a step backward.

"I assure you, Takashi-san, that there's nothing going on between Syao and me," Sakura said. Emi scoffed.

"Good. Keep it like that," she and her group of cronies stalked off. Sakura sighed. Phew. She thought. She turned and headed for the school building. That was a close call. Who knows what Takashi-san would've done?

"Hold it!" a screech was heard from behind her. Oh no…she's back!

"Y-yes?" Sakura asked meekly, turning around.

"One of my friends spotted you with my Syao sitting together on a bench!" she screeched. "You're lying! What's going between you and Syaoran?"

"Nothing! Nothing's going on!" Sakura replied worriedly.

"Yeah right! You both looked so snug. What's going on?" Emi screeched. "You little-I will make sure you don't like him!" Sakura stomped her foot angrily. Emi jerked back in surprise.

"Nothing…is going on between Syaoran-kun and me. He talks about you all the time. So leave me alone," Sakura said calmly and firmly. Emi seemed very surprised. She actually…talked back!

Sakura turned and headed for the school building. Why? Why did that hurt so much? Lately, I had felt familiar heart pains. But why? Over what? Every time…Takahashi-san's name is mentioned when I'm with Syaoran-kun. Why?

-----------------------------------------------Syaoran's POV-----------------------------------------

Sakura and I had gotten to work quickly. Geez, today, I noticed that Sakura's stiff. What happened now? Nothing bad…I hope. Her face seems red too. Don't tell me she has another fever? Geez, she's got to take it easy. Hmmm….she is different and more hard-working than the other girls, huh? I looked over at her. Yep, she's hardworking all right. Is…she sweating? It can't be that hard, can it? Carrying that big bag of dog food shouldn't be so hard. Carrying a big bag of dog food half her size…

Oh no…I just looked at her…now…I can't turn away! Move, move, move! She'll notice you're staring at her!

But you can't turn away.

Kuso. That conscience again. Leave me alone!

It's true. You can't turn away, and I know why. Syaoran…she's too beautiful for you to take your eyes off of her.

Wh…no! No way! That would never happen! And she's not beautiful! OW!

---------------------------------------------Normal POV----------------------------------------------

"Eh?" a surprised Sakura had barked. She hurried over to Syaoran. Syaoran had dropped the shovel he was using to clean away the dog dung. He had tripped, while watching Sakura. The shovel had banged against his hand. "Syaoran-kun!"

"Arrgh," Syaoran said annoyingly. His hand was red. Kusoooooo. If only I took my eyes off her! Oh no…she's coming over here!

"Are you okay!" Sakura cried dropping to her knees. Syaoran grunted yes. "No! You're not okay! You're hands all red!" Sakura fretted, looking around for a piece of cloth. Syaoran watched amused, as Sakura pulled out her handkerchief. "Ohh….you need to be more careful Syaoran-kun!" she wrapped the handkerchief around his hand and knotted it. Suddenly, Syaoran burst out laughing. Sakura jumped in surprise.

"You sound like my mother!" He laughed. Sakura blushed. He stopped laughing right away and cleared away his throat. "Thanks…" He said, a tint of pink appearing faintly. Sakura smiled charmingly and went back to her work.

-------------------------------------------------TBC---------------------------------------------------

Yay! I'm finally finished! Look, I am so sorry! This took so long! And I'm so sorry it's so short! Well, I start on the next ch. very soon, okie? Maybe right now?

Please review! This is my most popular story right now, with 60 something reviews. I so happy!

If anything doesn't make any sense, then just ask. I'll try to write back and answer your question.

Thank you all who have reviewed! I really, really, really, really, appreciate it!

- Doggy thumper/Cindy