A/N 2007: Okay, by now, if you've been reading all the 2007 notes, you should know the drill ;) Changed the name Caryssa to Xueli, which sounds way more Chinese.

A/N: Hello people! When you read this I'll be on vacation :P Yes I still have vacation but when I come back I'll have to go to school again. Anyway, my ever so sweet editor is back and she was nice enough to post this chapter for me. Otherwise you'd all be waiting even longer for it. Well I hope you enjoy this chapter as well and Thanks for all the reviews!

Chapter 12

The Lodge was crowded with people and smelled like expensive perfume and cigars. Syaoran pulled Sakura out of the way when some people wanted to pass. It didn't escape Sakura's notice that every woman casted a side-way glance at Syaoran. He didn't seem to notice though. With his hand on her elbow he led her through the crowd to a table close by the windows. Even here Syaoran drew everyone's attention.

'No wonder' Sakura thought, 'he's the most handsome guy here in the room.'

Sakura wasn't paying attention to her surroundings and was startled when somebody stopped them before they reached their table.

"Li Syaoran?" a man with grey hair and blue eyes looked searchingly at Syaoran. "You probably don't recognize me but-"

"Of course I do! Hu Li Min, my fathers High-school friend."

Both men shook hands laughing. Sakura just watched. The way Hu dressed screamed money. The suit was definitely an Armani and his tie was made of pure expensive silk.

"It's great to see you again, Li Min." Syaoran looked at Sakura. "Sakura this is Hu Li Min, Li Min, this is Kinomoto Sakura. She and Mei Lin own the cottage next to mine.

Li Min shook Sakura's hand. "It's always a pleasure to meet a pretty young woman like you." His eyes sparkled, "Even at my age."

"Li Min and dad grew up together." Syaoran explained.

"Indeed." Li Min agreed, "Ah, look. Here comes the love of my life."

Sakura followed his gaze, saw a woman with chestnut-coloured hair wearing a fuchsia-coloured dress coming their way and gasped softly. Li Min was at least 60 and the woman, wearing a dress bordering on scandalous, wasn't older than 30.

The woman's eyes looked at Sakura indifferently and then settled on Syaoran. Her demeanour changed immediately, albeit subtly, after seeing Syaoran.

"Well, well," she said in a sultry tone. "Li Syaoran, my first crush. How are you?" She practically fell on him trying to hug him.

"Hello Xueli."

Xueli dragged his head down and kissed him soundly on the lips, while pressing her body flush against his. It looked like she was trying to absorb Syaoran. Sakura was getting uncomfortable. That woman was married for god sakes and Syaoran didn't seem to mind the attention she was paying him. Carefully she glanced at Li Min, but he was looking at it with a tolerant smile.

"Darling," he finally said, "Let me talk to Syaoran for a moment now."

"Daddy," Xueli all but whined, "It's just boring business." she pouted and grabbed Syaoran's arm, hugging it to her chest.

'Daddy, so they aren't married' Sakura thought, 'And Syaoran is that woman's first love. How romantic.' Sakura hoped her aversion of Xueli wasn't too noticeable when Li Min introduced her.

"Sakura, this is my daughter Xueli. You can see I've spoiled her rotten, but she's all I have after my wife died. Xueli, this is Syaoran's friend, Sakura Kinomoto.

"Pleasure," Xueli mumbled, still looking at Syaoran. "Sweetie, tell daddy what you've been up to these last few years." she continued looking at him as if hypnotised and her grip on his arm tightened possessively.

Sakura concentrated on what Li Min had to say and from time to time she commented here and there.

"Sakura..." Syaoran was talking to her and she looked up at him. "It's time if we want to drink something before dinner." he said looking at his watch.

Li Min nodded and shook Syaoran's hand. "It's a shame we can't eat together. Syaoran, I'll call you. Tomorrow or the day after. I've got an assignment for you since you're planning to move back here."

Xueli caressed Syaoran's arm and looked at him from under her eyelashes. "Come and visit us soon, darling..." she breathed.

Sakura wanted to walk to their table as soon as the Hu's were gone but Syaoran stopped her.

"The table will wait - let's get a drink at the bar first. Sorry about that," was all he said.

Sakura shrugged. "I wouldn't have wanted to miss that little... meeting." she claimed, "Very interesting to see the kind of women you used to hang out with." She plucked the handkerchief out of his pocket, smiled and wiped two purple streaks of lipstick off of his mouth. "That's better. She gave him his handkerchief back and walked towards the bar. "Believe me," she said looking over her shoulder. "Purple doesn't suit you."

An hour and a half later, after a delicious dinner Syaoran was drinking a cup of coffee and looked at Sakura. Sakura flinched inwardly, but managed to keep herself calm outwardly. During dinner they hardly spoke, which was her fault. Syaoran tried more than once to start a conversation.

"I think you're sulking." His eyes glittered teasingly.

"Am I wrong or is it because Xueli gave me a kiss?"

"Kiss?" Sakura glared at him. "Why should I care if you go embarrass yourself with that woman?"

He leaned back in his chair and studied her face. "Well if that isn't troubling you then-" he fell silent and frowned at something or someone behind her, while sitting up in his chair again.

Sakura opened her mouth to ask what was wrong when she felt two hands covering her eyes.

"Guess who?" the man said in his light baritone voice. Sakura recognised the voice immediately.

"Jimmy!" she pulled his hands away, smiling. She hadn't seen him in two years. He moved away to Tokyo and in those two years he hadn't changed a bit. She jumped off her seat and he gave her a hug. "What a nice surprise!" she beamed.

"Indeed." he agreed, his indigo eyes sparkling as he laid his hand on her waist. "You're prettier than ever." he praised and gave her a kiss.

When he pulled back there was a discreet cough. Sakura looked back and saw Syaoran standing closer to her than she expected, looking far from happy.

"Oh Jimmy, let me introduce you to Li Syaoran. Syaoran, Jimmy Bemmel." The men shook each other's hands. "Jimmy, why don't you stay and drink a cup of coffee with us?"

"I wish I could," he said regretfully, "but I'm here with my brother. We're here to pick up his wife." he raked a hand through his blonde hair. 'But I would love to talk to you again. I'm moving back here."

"Why don't you call me when you're done with moving? I still live in that apartment you last saw."

"Great, I'll you then to set up a date." Jimmy grabbed her shoulders, pressed a quick kiss on her forehead and waved goodbye to her and Syaoran, disappearing into the crowd.

Sakura sat back down in her seat and sighed. "It's great that he's back. I've missed him." from the corner of her eye she saw Syaoran frowning again.

"If the guy's so great, then why did you let him go? What was the problem? Syaoran balled his hands into fists.

Sakura looked at him, taken aback. "What?" she asked when suddenly it dawned on her and she giggled. Confused and getting angrier by the second Syaoran asked: "What's so funny?"

"You," Sakura answered between her giggles. "Jimmy was never my boyfriend. He's already married."

Stunned and embarrassed Syaoran replied with a witty "Oh" and his ears became pink. Seeing Syaoran's face made Sakura laugh even harder.

"If only Mei Lin could se us now" she gasped.

Syaoran's face changed from the stunned expression to an amused one and he chuckled. "No doubt that she would pour this all over us." he held the cup of coffee merrily in the air.

The laughing broke the tension that was hanging between them this evening. Syaoran ordered another cup of coffee for the both of them and the evening was spent chatting about books, movies and other trivial things.

Finally Sakura looked at her watch. "It's getting late. We'd better head back." she sighed. Together they walked to the car and Syaoran drove them both back to the cottages.

The night was beautiful, the stars shining bright and the moon clear in the sky. It reminded Sakura of a fairytale.

"Sakura..." Syaoran's soft whisper brought her back.

"Yeah?" she turned her head towards him a soft smile on her lips.

Syaoran swallowed. She looked so beautiful with the moon illuminating her.

"About your proposal..."

"What about it?" She had half forgotten the proposal, the evening being much too nice to remember it.

Syaoran stuck his hands in his pockets. "I accept." was simply said, his face turned away from her.

"What?" Sakura wasn't sure she heard it right. "What do you mean Syaoran?"

"We're getting married."

A cool breeze began to blow and Sakura shivered. Unconsciously she began to rub her arms. Syaoran took off his coat and put it on her.

"You're cold" he mumbled. The coat was still warm and smelled like him. Sakura pulled the coat tighter around her.

"Thanks."

Syaoran wiped a few auburn locks out of her face. "You said I had 'till midnight" he continued, "and according to my watch I still have two minutes left." he looked at his watch, "Well, one minute now. Sakura... you seem kind of... shocked. Have you... you haven't changed your mind, I hope. Sakura?"

"No, no I haven't." she managed to squeeze out of her constricted throat as they walked further towards her cottage. Another silence descended upon them, but this time it wasn't an amiable one and Sakura broke it quickly.

"We'll have to make plans" she said softly.

"We also have to tell Mei Lin."

"I'll tell her and explain everything."

Syaoran nodded. "But the others don't have to know."

"So what do we tell them? That we suddenly fell in love with each other?"

"Everyone will probably think that. I'll talk to Hao first thing in the morning. He probably has to get used to the idea but I don't see any trouble. He likes you a lot. If it's okay with you I think we should get married as soon as possible."

"I agree. That way we'll be able to get ahead of aunt Mitsumi."

"Would you like a small wedding?"

Suddenly the enormity of it all came crashing down on Sakura. She was going to marry Syaoran!

"Sakura, I asked you if you wanted a small wedding?"

Startled out of her reverie she exclaimed: "No!" at Syaoran's surprised stare she continued: "Not entirely. I mean I'm only going to marry once, and I want it to be perfect. I want my friends to see it. And I want to marry in white."

Syaoran's eyebrows rose, but he stayed silent.

"You know white is the colour for virgins..." he remarked after a while.

It was dark so Syaoran couldn't see the flash of pain in Sakura's eyes.

"It's my wedding, Syaoran and I want to wear white."

"Alright. So it's going to be a real wedding. Sakura... Just out of curiosity. What do you gain out of this marriage?"

'The bittersweet luck of seeing you everyday,' she thought, ' Lonely sleepless nights when I'm crying, wanting you, but can't have you. Your love...'

"A son who is very sweet," she replied, "Nothing more I guess. I'll have my own work, my own friends. Everything that's precious to me, I want to keep. Though I suppose I'll have to give up my apartment... I presume you want to live in a house with your family."

"A house?" he echoed, "Why not a home, Sakura?"

"A home is different," she whispered, "It cannot be bought, no one can built it. A home comes forth from love."

"I love my son." His eyes glittered bright in the dark.

"But you don't like me," she stated. "So no matter how much Hao and I will love each other, there will always be a gap between us. That's why our house will never become a home."

They arrived at Sakura's cottage and as if agreed they stayed under the branched of the old willow tree.

"It's not that I don't like you Sakura," Syaoran said softly. " I... I have something against the way you sometimes behave. So once we're married," he grabbed her shoulders, and to Sakura's amazement, she felt his fingers trembling. "It's going to be a real wedding, Sakura. Our house will become a home and... and I won't allow you to see other men."

"What?" Sakura slapped his hands away and backed up against the tree. "I thought I said that this was only in name? I'm doing this for Hao! And don't think you can keep me away from my friends either!"

Syaoran angrily slammed his hands on both sides of Sakura's head, against the tree.

"As I said: It will be a real wedding! I expect your loyalty and you'll get mine in return. And believe me, after the vows I'll make sure you keep your end of the bargain."

He cupped her face and slowly brought his closer to kiss her. The kiss was fierce, gentle, possessive and above all intimate.

When Syaoran pulled away Sakura's lips were swollen and their breathing was heavy.

"Remember Sakura. When we marry you will be mine and no one else's." and with that he walked away to his own cottage, leaving Sakura stunned.

Still leaning against the tree, she slid to the ground. "What have I gotten myself into?" she whispered to the sky and snuggled deeper into Syaoran's coat.

TBC
Well folks, that's all for now. I'll continue it when I get back from vacation. I think I really deserved it, because during the whole vacation I've been working my ass off! My editor will vouch for me . Anyway, please leave a review! Thank you people!