AN: . Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh! –cries- Mou, I'm really, really, really, really sorry about not updating for many many months! –cries again- I had an issue about the final exams so I was under house arrest through most of my break..... I had to study, study, study and study some more. –sigh- I had to toil through the first two months of 2009 studying as well. Some life I have.....

Anyway..... Exams are over and I'm officially free!!!!! Weeeeeeee!!!!!!

Oh... and to make up for my tardiness in updating.... It's a double post!!!! –happiness- ^ _ ^

Right.... Here we go, dalingz......

savagexnymph: -gasp- Please don't cry...... And did I tell you how much I love you already? –sobs- Thanks for the encouragement.. And as for them finding out their true identities.... Stick around, ne?

madmanalpha: -giggles- I like you! And yeah..... it kinda reminded me of that episode in the anime, too..... Hmmmmm...... Which episode was that?? I can't remember..... My head's still swimming with all those equations and terminologies and....... –sigh- Curse school..... And thanks for the quote........ And for being excited and for the greeting and for the insight on the story and for reviewing!!!!!! I really appreciate it! –bows-

Kawii-Neko-Neko-Chan: Blonde...... Well...... My hair's not blonde.... Kinda like brownish-black or chocolate-y brown but I still like it!!! Huggles!!!!! I have blonde cousins and friends, though... I'm really sorry if I wasn't able to catch up to Christmas.... Stupid final exams..... Thanks, though, for the good luck you sent to me..... –cries- I love you sooo much.......

da1wholuvanime: Really!?!?! You think so?...... Arigatoooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh..... And I'll be sure to read those stories, now that my exams are over! And.... caliber......? Eh? –confused-

bubleigh123: Ummmmm...... –nods- Uh-huh...... –sheepish grin-

Noelle Smith the Snow Queen: Waiiiii! Arigato! And.... poor dog.... –sniff- Oh... And I have to say poor stomach to my stomach, too.... –sigh- Blood.......

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Warnings: AU, and major, major OOC's

Reminders: This is not a crossover. No matter how many characters that come from a wide variety of animes I place in this story. I simply do not like OC's. (since I'm no good in making one)

Fiction Rating: T

Summary: She will become Japan's greatest weapon, as long as she falls in love.

He is China's greatest hope, and chance of survival, until he falls victim into a power not even he, as a general of China's greatest battalion, could defeat. He is China's strongest man, until he finds himself falling in love. To his greatest enemy...

Disclaimer: CCS belongs to CLAMP.... All those other anime characters belong to their creators.... Syaoran and Sakura belong to each other..... Wouldn't you agree? –eyes sparkle-

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VII. CRIES

Not when his heart tells him that loving her is the right thing.

-

-

"Problem?" Syaoran queried as he looked at Sakura, sitting gingerly down the park bench, her gaze intently focused on the night sky.

They were in one of the laboratory's gardens, exactly the one Syaoran was walking on when he'd realized he loved Sakura.

"Syaoran. What would you do if I tell somebody?"

Well. He would most probably have a panic attack, or something of the like. Why? Because he was idiotic and too much in love to stop and consider the implications of giving his true name to a girl who can't bear lying. And had little acting experience.

True, he loved the girl insanely, but she was really too honest for her own good.

But Sakura's tone had been so distant when she asked the question, Syaoran suddenly had the urge to comfort her.

"If you think that the person can be trusted, then, sure," he said, smiling. "I'm fine about that."

Which was a blatant lie. Because, at the very moment, he was very well counting the remaining days he had alive.

It was true that Japanese people can be trusted. By other Japanese people. But Chinese? Syaoran was even lucky he'd lasted through this day.

But, though he knew he life was already hanging around the edges, Syaoran would still stay and risk everything to be with the woman he loved. It was irrational, yes, but he'd let go of his last ounce of rationality when he realized he loved the girl, anyway. So why not go all out?

He wouldn't hold her head for telling, either. Heck, she could have told everyone she knew about her secret dates with Syaoran and he would still be okay with it. She had him dancing in the palm of her hand, anyway.

"Really?" she beamed at him, her face innocent and hopeful.

When Syaoran nodded, she smiled even more.

"Tell me something, Syaoran," she said, skipping towards where he sat in the pavement, away from the snow.

"What did you do before the laboratory?"

"I..I was a soldier," he admitted softly.

He couldn't lie, anymore. Not with a straight face, at least. Not with Sakura there smiling at him, making his knees weak.

"I thought you would be," Sakura pondered thoughtfully. "You're so strong, your reflexes are fast, your body feels like.. well.... feels different from a normal human's, you know what I mean? It's like it's fought so many battles."

Sakura babbled on, unaware of the growing blush on Syaoran's cheeks. "Though how you managed to fight and remain as beautiful as a god, I can't know." Then, she beamed. "You really are great, you are."

So are you, Syaoran thought. He would have said that out loud, but he didn't trust his voice enough to remain steady, especially since the stupid blush did not seem to want to go away.

"Ne, Syaoran?" she asked, looking at Syaoran again. "What other hobbies do you have?"

His head fell out of the clouds for a minute. Now, what hobby would he have the would hold significant meaning for someone like Sakura? He didn't even have any hobbies, except finishing off his enemies faster than they can beg, and that really didn't help when he's trying to court an innocent, young girl.

Let's see now. Syusuke had always been one who was chased after by ladies. And though the guy never dated, he knew as much about women as Syaoran did about fighting.

And in one, desperate attempt to get Syaoran to date – which was silly, really, since he didn't date himself – or, at least hang out with those of the opposite gender a little bit more, he had dragged Syaoran to all these Becoming-the-Ideal-Guy excursions that he guessed – and he was pretty much sure that he's correct – was planned by Yumiko.

One of those trips had seen him taking piano lessons.

Which, like the rest of those trips, he had not taken seriously.

But he did know how to play the piano.... Okay, just a bit..... Okay, maybe lesser than 'just a bit', but enough so that he would not be embarrased when Sakura wanted him to play.

Playing the piano seemed a safe enough hobby.

"I play," he cringed a little at how cheesy it sounded. "I play the piano."

The corners of Sakura's mouth tugged down in a cute pout. "You didn't tell me you were musical."

"Well," Syaoran laughed, relishing Sakura's reaction. "If your best friend is musical, hanging out with him all the time would rub off on you, right?"

"You have a best friend?" Sakura asked, her tone curious.

Syaoran nodded. "Obnoxious guy, really, but he's one of the very few that I could trust."

Sakura's tone was wondering, now. "You think your best friend is obnoxious?"

Syaoran shrugged.

Sakura snorted. "No wonder you have so few."

It was now Sakura's turn to laugh as Syaoran's poker face suddenly turned into an expression that can only be described as a pout.

-

-

Kabuto Yakushi was an narcisstic bastard.

No, it wasn't the fact that he flaunted and gushed over Syusuke's arrival in his manor. Nor was it the way he sashayed and went simply overboard in greeting Syusuke.

It was the way he laughed and shrugged off the subject of Syaoran's potential Japanese girlfriend like it didn't matter. Like he did not think much about it.

Like he expected it to happen one way or the other.

Which pretty much said a lot of things about him.

It told Syusuke that the man knew enough to be sure that Syaoran was indeed in love with a Japanese. It told Syusuke that the man thought so much about himself that nothing can ever surprise him. It told Syusuke that he knew that this was going to happen. It told Syusuke that the man already suspected Syaoran to betray China the very moment Syaoran stepped on his doorstep.

That fact alone made it difficult to smile calmly and easier to think of ways to strangle the man.

So easy that, in fact, Syusuke was very grateful to his mother, who was very adament in her quest to instill good manners in all her three children. Why? Because, if it wasn't for the fact that good manners did not allow one to strangle one's host when calling on a house, Syusuke would have done so a long time ago and not even feel the least bit guilty about it.

Syusuke sighed as Kabuto prattled on and on about how great he was to expect the unexpected. Especially because they were talking about Syaoran.

"Enough about me," Kabuto said, smiling at Syusuke's rigid form. "Let's talk about you."

"My life is of no interest to you," Syusuke pointed out.

Just as he expected, Kabuto was too full of himself to even feel offended.

"How's your sister?" Kabuto asked like he hadn't heard was Syusuke previously said. "Still admires me, does she not?"

Right at that moment, Syusuke had found about a hundred different ways to curse the one whom he thought was foolish enough to think about good manners.

But.... well, it was true. It was just that nobody was ever brave – or stupid – enough to say it to Syusuke's face. And if they did, they never lived long enough to boast of their courage.

Which was saying something.

"Enough," Syusuke hissed. "About my sister. And more of my request."

"And what may that be?"

Syusuke closed his eyes and sighed. It was inevitable. Syaoran might be his best friend but he has his duty to think of. He, at least, have to talk to Syaoran.

Even though Syaoran might not listen to sense.

Which makes sense. He was head-over-heels, that much was given.

"I want to go in Japan," Syusuke declared.

"Off to find a girlfriend for yourself, as well?" Kabuto asked with a sly smile. "Chinese gals not good enough for you?"

Kabuto Yakushi was shameless.

-

-

"Sakura, do you like me?" Syaoran asked in such a straightforward way that Sakura didn't know what to say. She could feel the atmosphere change drastically. Where she was previously laughing at some story Syaoran told her about his friend was now replaced by a serious moment.

A moment she did not feel comfortable in.

Did she like him?

He was handsome. He was strong. He was kind. He was humorous. He was warm. He was love.

But did she like Syaoran?

He filled all of her dreams.

No. No she didn't.

He was her fairy prince.

No, she didn't just like him.

He was everything. He was her body. He was her mind. He was her heart. He was her soul. He was her past, her present, and, if fate was very kind, her future.

She didn't like him. She loved him.

"I...." it came out more of a squeak than anything else.

She couldn't imagine her life without him. Just couldn't.

She saw Syaoran smile. "For all that is worth, I think you're beautiful."

Her face must be as red as a tomato now. "I...I'm not that wonderful."

"That is how I see you, Sakura," Syaoran said, sliding closer and closer to her.

She was suddenly having trouble breathing, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I...I just hope that you won't be disappointed with what you see or don't see from here," Sakura whispered, finding it harder and harder to speak.

Syaoran smiled, tracing the sides of her face. "As long as I get to keep looking, I guarantee, I will never be disappointed."

Then, he closed their distance and their lips met.

Sakura didn't think of anything anymore.

She wasn't even aware of anything, other than how utterly good it felt to kiss Syaoran. How right it felt to be in Syaoran's arms. To have him holding her. To caress his hair and finally feel those unruly chestnut locks with her hand. To twine his hand with hers and know that it fit perfectly, like they were two inseparable pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. To finally be lost in happiness. To be with the one she loved.

She was where she was meant to be.

-

-

The moon no longer held any interest to Tomoyo Daidouji as she closed the blinds and drew in the curtains to the room she stayed in while she was Sakura's guardian in the laboratory.

She sighed. She knew it was her job to warn Sakura about this man. It was her duty to not allow this madness to continue. She was supposed to report this to her superiors.

But Sakura looked so irrevocably happy, she couldn't find it in her heart to do so.

And now.... The kiss.... It was already too late.

Sakura would be hurt.

And it would be all her own fault, she thought as she looked at Syaoran's fiery glare staring back up at her from the computer.

Because right below his picture were the words: Syaoran Li, Chinese General.

-

TBC...

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Kkkkkkkyyyyyyaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kyaa!!!!!!!! Don't they look so uber super cute?!?! –eyes sparkle- I feel like such a dork praising my own story like this but...... Sakura and Syaoran look so good together and are utterly totally meant for each other!!!!!!!!!

-sigh- So.... maybe I should've made them older, ne?

I been raised to think that kissing sounds very weird when you're doing it to anyone besides your family members below the age of 18..... And I've made them 15......

-think- Help me with your opinions?

TOTALLY RANDOM THOUGHT: Oh..... And I just started watching this anime called Special A! Their pairings are so uber cute!!! Though I think that Akira and Yahiro look better together..... –sigh-

Anyway.... review, ne?

Always remember, a review a day keeps muscle pains and writer's block away...

Signed and sealed,

Blue-feathered Wings