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Sick All Over

Syaoran had never considered himself a particularly violent person. Sure, a good sock in the jaw never hurt anyone, but as he stood back beside Sakura's desk after she had long gone, holding her resignation letter lightly in his hand as if he might exert too much pressure and destroy the last thing Sakura had left him, he had to actively tamper the need to actually kill someone. He didn't think he could contemplate much further beyond the short message in front of his eyes. Maybe if he concentrated really hard, he could pretend that was all they had; a professional relationship.

'I hereby tender my resignation with due effect on...' the date didn't matter. He couldn't believe on the day he had come to make amends, she was making plans to leave him. He tossed the paper on the table, then, very carefully, sat down in her chair like an old man.

What had he done wrong, really? He knew he hadn't made the bet. Franco had made the bet. Mortimer had made the bet. Not him. He'd thought Mortimer was drunk, damnit, and now the bastard had come back to haunt him, come back to... take Sakura away. Then he guiltily remembered the two bets he'd made, one with Franco and the other with Mortimer, to take Sakura out each time. But, God, did she think he would ever bet on sex with a woman?

Did he really want a woman who didn't trust him? Honestly, Sakura had just walked out without even giving him a chance to explain! A little voice in his head asked him how he had been planning to explain the bets he had made instead. He shook it off. Sakura just needed time to calm down, that's all. Just like a woman, really, jumping to conclusions. After she'd had her little hissy fit, he'd go over to her apartment with flowers and they'd actually start a proper relationship this time. He had it all planned out. Sakura just needed some time to simmer down, he was sure.

Syaoran reached up absently and rubbed a sudden ache in his chest.

Sakura had been able to stopper up her tears by the time she reached the lobby. Really, she'd had 38 floors of time, so it hadn't been that hard.

Waiting for a cab in front of the skyscraper, she looked up toward the fortieth floor, wondering if he was looking down at her, wondering if she'd ever see him again, even as she cursed herself for wanting to. She should seriously give thought to putting off men for the time being. They weren't coming off very well. One more tear managed to squeeze itself past her tightly- shut eyelids before she ducked her head into a cab. No more crying till she got safely home, she promised herself. Even so, she laid her head against the window and closed her eyes, blocking herself from the world. There was already enough pain inside her.

Letting herself into her apartment, she deliberately passed her dining table without a glance, remembering despite herself how Syaoran had sat there with her and ate Antonello's chicken. Knowing now what he'd wanted all the time... she couldn't go to Antonello's anymore. No, she wouldn't be able to take it.

Changing into a huge T-shirt and her favorite, decade-old shorts, she tucked her emergency-tub-of-ice-cream-just-for-days-like-this under her arm and settled herself in front of the television for what she decided would be a 6 hour-long pity fest. The clock struck twelve. Sakura found it funny how one of the biggest, monumental moments of her life had taken place within... ten minutes really. She would have ice cream for lunch.

But she was determined to get on with her life. Syaoran was not going to spoil her for life's pleasures. That wasn't the Sakura she knew! Plunking the tub of chocolate ice cream on the coffee table before a re-run of The Godfather on TV, she grabbed the cordless phone off it's cradle and deliberately dialled Tomoyo's number at work.

"Tomoyo!" Sakura nearly shouted before she caught herself. "I'm free today. Want to go to The Grey Lagoon? We didn't get to the last time. It's your last week as a free woman, you know. You can consider this your pre-bridal shower!" Sakura wheedled.

"Okay, okay, Sakura! Haven't seen you at all this week, anyway. You always go to the shop after it's closed to do the accounts, all because of your new job! You mustn't work too hard, you know, Sakura." Tomoyo's concern flowed across the telephone lines, soothing Sakura.

"I love you, Tomoyo. I'll see you at... what, seven? We could have dinner!"

"Dinner sounds good. We can meet at the shop then. Right after closing, 'kay? And you know I love you too. Bye Sakura!"

Placing the phone carefully back onto it's cradle, Sakura made a big production of finding the correct pillow to hug while watching The Godfather. Then, once she'd gotten the biggest, softest she had in stock on the couch, she sat very still staring at the screen.

Seconds later, she lowered her head slowly onto the pillow and sobbed her heart out.

That evening, Sakura picked Tomoyo up and they went to have dinner at The Grey Lagoon, the restaurant-with-a-bar on Gingham Road. Sitting at a corner booth, Sakura immediately launched into the speech she had prepared.

"And that's why I'm not taking anyone to your wedding. I'm so sorry, Tomoyo, to spoil your plans, but I don't think I can find anyone on such short-"

"He did that to you?! That sonofa-" Tomoyo had already stood up in full outrage, her wedding forgotten. Sakura grabbed her arm. Usually, Tomoyo was the quiet one, while Sakura had always been the one to fight, but when her loved ones were threatened, Tomoyo turned into an amazon.

"Tomoyo, leave it. He's not worth it, and besides. I've cried enough over him. I don't want to have to see him ever again. At least he lost the bet! Haha." Sakura laughed weakly, and Tomoyo immediately sank down next to her and hugged her, fully realising the depth of the situation.

"Sakura," Tomoyo stroked her hair softly. "You never cry. Do you love him?" Sakura took a deep breath where her face was buried against Tomoyo's shoulder and nodded slowly.

"Oh, poor baby. You know what?" Tomoyo held Sakura firmly in front of her. "We're going to get nice and drunk tonight. I'll get Eriol to pick us up afterward."

Three hours later saw the girls weaving, perching precariously on their bar stools, nearly unable to see straight. Sakura was laughing at something, she didn't really know what. She swivelled dangerously around and pinned a wildly giggling Tomoyo with solemn eyes.

"You know what, Tomoyo? I love you."

"Oh that's nice, Sakura, I love you t-"

"And I love Syaoran," Sakura pushed the table and swivelled back around to her other side, where an elderly man sat. "And I even love you too!". She burst into laughter and gave the blushing regular a smacking kiss on the mouth. "I love everyone!"

She slumped onto the bar counter in a dead faint.

Sakura woke to find Tomoyo leaning over her. It was the same night, and Tomoyo squinted at her out of impaired eyes. "Sakura? You alive there honey?"

Sakura lurched around, realising she was on the pavement, grabbing hold of the pant leg of a man in a business suit. Syaoran, her mind breathed with a sigh. He'd come for her after all.

"Tomoyo darling, we'd better get the both of you home, before you mess up your lovely dresses." Eriol. It was Tomoyo's Eriol. Syaoran hadn't come. He wouldn't ever, either. Eriol hoisted Tomoyo first into the back seat of his red Chevrolet, then Sakura, carrying them like drunk damsels-in-distress.

Opening the door a second later, Sakura just managed to get her head far enough out the opening to throw up in the gutter.

Note: Number 13. Enjoy!