A/N 2007: Again, nothing big. Got rid of my annoying A/N at the beginning though ; and a minor name change again (but not crucial to the story).

Here's chapter 3 folks! And some reviewers have been asking what happened that 'faithful summer'. Well I can't tell you! It's all part of the plot in my story!

Chapter 3

"Syaoran." She should have been surprised to see him, but she wasn't. That he was here suddenly seemed as inevitable as a new day. "What are you doing here?"

Same as you I guess. Holding a vacation." Syaoran's eyes looked right into hers and Sakura gulped nervously. Just when she wanted to blink, his eyes drifted to her mouth.

"Hao..." he was still staring at her mouth as if his life depended on her lips. "Your pancakes are ready. The syrup is on the table."

Okay." The boy walked away, his shoulders slumped.

With much effort Syaoran was able to tear his gaze away from her lips and look into the direction of his son. "Hao!" His voice sounded edgy. The child hesitated for a while, looked back and mumbled "thank you" then turned around again to walk away, a bit faster than before.

"That's my son, Hao." Syaoran said with a flat voice. Frustrated he lifted his arm and scratched his chest under his loose hanging shirt that he wore.

Sakura's eyes unconsciously roamed over his chest, his flat stomach... Not daring to look further, she gulped again.

She forced her eyes upwards, enjoying the view of the man that she gave her heart to. He seemed taller than she could remember and leaner. His shoulders were broader and his neck was more muscular. He hadn't shaved himself and his hair was as messy as ever. Suddenly Sakura's legs felt like jelly. She wobbled a bit but managed to stand her ground.

"Yes," she made her voice sound casual. "I thought so"

"How are you?" While he was speaking his eyes roamed over her body, just like she did a few seconds ago and she felt very uneasy in her very short pants and pink strapless top.

"I'm fine," she said, pulling her top a bit higher. "How about you? Is everything okay? When Mei Lin and I heard that Misha... It was such a shock."

"Yeah, right."

"We wanted to go to the funeral, but - "

"It was a private funeral, that was Misha's wish. She and my cousin never had a close bond. You were always best friends with her. And concerning you and your niece..." The cynical glare that Syaoran gave her told her enough.

Sakura knew exactly what he was thinking. According to him it was her fault that she and her niece were never that close. If only he knew! But he wouldn't. There were only three people who knew exactly what happened that night on the beach: Misha, Eriol and Sakura herself. Misha was dead, Eriol will keep his mouth shut for sure and she, Sakura, swore that Syaoran would never know the truth. After all, his happiness was more important to her than anything else.

"I didn't tell Hao who you are because I wanted to talk to him about it first." His voice sounded detached. "I had no idea that you would be here. When Mei Lin wrote to your aunt I heard from Rika that she wanted to sell the cottage. So I expected that it would be empty or maybe rented by someone. You see, Misha never told Hao about you. I'll have to explain that we're family first."

"He... er... doesn't seem very happy."

"Hao is going through some difficult times. That's why we're here." Syaoran's mouth contorted, "I was always happy here, so I thought that maybe he could also be happy here in this little piece of paradise."

Sakura met his gaze. "It was a paradise once." She said softly.

In every paradise there's a snake."

It was like he was stabbing a knife through her heart. When she was seventeen and head over heels in love, she cherished a bitter grudge against Syaoran. He judged and condemned her for something, without having any direct evidence that lead to her. He knew her long enough to know that she would never do what he suspected that she had done.

'Men can be so blind sometimes.' She thought indignantly.

Her niece Misha got Syaoran good, with her act of innocence, her sweet smile and her voice as sweet as sugar. He was blinded by her beauty, without knowing what kind of woman she was behind her mask.

Sakura refused to dwell further down her train of thoughts. If you can't say anything nice about the dead, then say nothing at all. And besides, she realized now that she could never blame Syaoran that he drew the wrong conclusion. What should he have thought? A smile graced her lips, as she thought back to a happier memory.

"What's so funny?" he snapped seeing Sakura smile.

Sakura looked up, surprised. "Excuse me?"

"Do you think it's funny that - "

"Oh, about the snake." Sakura played with a lock of her auburn hair. "No," she said casually, "I was thinking of something else."

"Something or someone else?" sounded Syaoran's taunting voice.

"That's for me a know and for you to find out." Came the teasing answer of Sakura.

Suddenly Syaoran's hand shot out, grabbing Sakura's left hand. "No ring." He stated "Not up for commitment?"

Sakura jerked her hand out of his. "Things like that are possible without expensive diamonds, you know" she added snapping.

"No ring, no rights" Syaoran said. " So the battle isn't over yet. I'm curious who will come out as the victor."

Sakura was put out of countenance; this was a side of Syaoran she never knew. She searched for a witty answer when she heard Mei Lin calling.

Sakura! Coffee's ready! And Tomoyo called. She said that they couldn't make it this weekend because of an important meeting. Oh my... Syaoran! What a surprise! Won't you come and have a cup of coffee with us?"

"Hey, Mei Lin." He called back. "Not now, but I owe you one okay?"

The smile changed him. He was the Syaoran of the past again- handsome and kind. Sakura felt her insides melt and it wasn't because of the sun.

When Mei Lin disappeared into the house again, his smile disappeared also. So you're here with my cousin."

"That's right. So no man." Sakura made a face. "Too bad huh?"

"Oh..." He shrugged. "It's always more exciting when there is a bit of competition, right? Wasn't that the reason you went after Eriol Hiiragizawa? Because he belonged to someone else?"

"That's why I didn't felt like coming this weekend," Sakura's voice sounded bored, "I didn't want the risk to run into you."

He ignored her teasing comment. "So you'll be leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes, I will." She confirmed. "I just came as a favour to Mei Lin."

"Is she really planning on selling the cottage?"

"That's up to me to decide."

Syaoran raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"Mei Lin doesn't like to go here all by herself. At least that's what she told me and Tomoyo. But I think there's more to it."

"What do you mean?"

Sakura shrugged. "I mean what I said. And don't ask me how I know. I just have these feelings. Call it woman's intuition." She heard Syaoran snort at that. "Anyway I'm allowed to keep the house if I want to, because she doesn't want it anymore. And if I don't want to keep it- "

"Then it will be sold." Syaoran looked at Sakura. "So what are you planning to do?"

'I'd already decided, but now that you're here I'm not so sure anymore.' Flashed through Sakura's mind. "I'm not sure," she said aloud, "I promised Mei Lin that I would tell her today. So I'll just be on my way then to tell Mei Lin my decision." And Sakura started to walk away.

"Wait a moment!" He grabbed her by her arm.

"What?" He was standing so close that she could smell the faint scent of his skin. So close that she only needed to extent her hand to touch his cheek. Oh, how she longed to touch it!

"After breakfast me and Hao will be dropping by to meet his aunt. And you since you're here too." She heard the loathing in his voice as he said the last part and felt her heart twitch painfully.

"That's seems to be a excellent idea." Sakura bit out. "He looked quite frightened when he saw me. Probably because I remind him of his mother."

They looked each other straight into the eyes and Sakura regretted the words she said when she saw the pain in his eyes. She'd never seen it before. She pushed her hands into her pockets to prevent herself of hugging him close. If things just were like they were before... That time had past though.

"I'm sorry Syaoran," she whispered, "You must miss Misha." Tears were stinging in her eyes and she quickly turned around so he wouldn't see them. "Sorry, but I've got to go." She managed to choke out before she walked away.

This time he didn't stop her.

TBC
Does anyone have any ideas? I mean what happened at the beach last summer? I gave a few hints/suggestions away in the 1st and this chapter. If you want to find out... KEEP READING! And trust me I know what I'm doing. R&R plz! I need to know what you think!