Disclaimer: I do not own ccs

CHAPTER 6

Kisses for Sakura

(Normal POV).

It was the last week of March and the first week of April. It was also, according to Sakura, one of the worst weeks of her life. Eight o'clock Thursday morning she was at the apartment. She sat on the couch and hugged a cushion in hope of comfort as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She bit her lower lip and tightened her fist.

The minute she heard the sound of footsteps approaching her, she sat up, roughly wiped away her tears and cleared her throat.

"What are you doing here?" He asked walking towards her.

He sat next to her as she avoided his eyes.
"Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

She kept silent. He carefully studied her expression. Her eyebrows jerked and her hands trembled giving her away.

"What's the matter?"

She looked at him with intensity as more tears filled her eyes.

"Are you crying Sakura?"

"No." Sakura said, choking back her tears and trying hard to sound natural.

"Is it because of me again?"

He sounded unbelievably innocent and fragile. She felt guilty for having given him the impression that every time she was miserable it was because of him.

"No." She muttered again this time a little louder.

"Good. What's wrong then?"

She wiped away the tears again "I was fired."

"Why?"

"He said that I'm always late and always have this uninterested look on my face that scares the customers away. He also said that he never liked me anyway when I told him that I didn't like the place." She said looking at him.

Syaoran chuckled then immediately stopped when he saw a tear fall from her eye. He had the urge to caress her cheek and wipe the tear away. He was yearning to hold her in his arms and kiss her. He dared not to. He knew what would happen if they touched. He would desire her even more.

"What's so funny?"

"The way you handled it. Sakura I'm sure you'll find another job. Why are you crying for it if you didn't like it?"

"I really needed the money. I need it to pay the rent especially and lots of other stuff. Syaoran if I don't find a well paid job soon I'll have to move in with my father again. I feel so defeated." Sakura was still trying to get control of her voice.

"Don't worry, you can stay with me for as long as you like…I'll take care of everything." he sounded unsure. He made it obvious that he was afraid to be too kind.

Sakura managed a weak and watery smile "Thanks."

He turned away and muttered "Sure, It's really no big deal."

Feeling rather awkward, she also turned away. There was a short thread of silence. The type of silence they had both grown used to.

"Isn't it your birthday?" he asked.

She nodded "Yes." She was surprised that he still remembered.

"Consider it a good day to be fired. You shouldn't be crying." He said firmly.
She kept her eyes fixed on him. He smirked and stood up "Don't move, I've got something for you."

When he came back he sat on the same spot and handed her a cherry blossom.

"Happy Birthday Sakura; I know it's not much…"

"Thank you." Her gaze lingered on the tiny flower. "To be honest; I forgot that it was my birthday. I don't keep track of dates."

He could have said anything but he chose to smile at her and she smiled back.

"You can wear it in your hair or…I don't know sell it." He said frivolously.

She giggled and placed it behind her ear.

"I can't believe it; twenty one."

He sighed; she could tell that something intense had crossed his mind. He had a secluded look in his eyes. He immediately pulled himself together and beamed.

"I've got an idea. Why don't you put on your best clothes and I'll take you out?"

She paused. The whole arrangement was random and even though it was a kind gesture, she had a boyfriend and going out with Syaoran would make her feel like as though she was cheating on Ryu. Syaoran read the look on her face.

"You think it sounds too much like a date?" He asked right on target.

"Syaoran it sounds great…but."
She looked at him and saw the look on his face. He looked almost tragic. "There is no harm in having fun with him" She thought.

"I'll go get ready."

She didn't know what to wear. Syaoran always had a way of surprising her. She walked out of her room and into his after knocking.

"Syaoran, where are we going?"

"It's a surprise?" She knew that he would say that. He looked at her and briskly said

"Wear something casual."

"Okay…" She said as curiosity tickled her spine

She eventually found something to wear. By the time she was done Syaoran was standing by the door with his car keys in his hands.

"Are you ready?" he asked her.

"Yes."

Before he could open the door there was a knock that made the both of jump. He opened it; standing before him was Ryu with a bouquet of pink roses in his hands. Syaoran wanted to punch a whole in the wall. Sakura noticed a disappointed look appear on Syaoran's face.

"So where's the birthday girl?" Ryu asked.

She smiled as Syaoran got out of the way. Ryu gave her a bouquet of pink roses. Sakura was flattered. Each rose was perfect. She couldn't stop smiling. When she turned around Syaoran was gone.

"They're beautiful. How did you know I was here and that it's my birthday?" she asked smelling the roses.

"Tomoyo told me. I went to your work place. I wanted to surprise you there but your boss told me he fired you."

"That's so sweet." She blushed "Come in."

"Wait."

Sakura stood still and looked at Ryu.

"You've got something in your hair."

Sakura wanted to explain but before she knew it Ryu had already pulled it out of her hair. He squeezed it in his hands then threw it away.

As she placed the flowers on the table he pulled her towards him and wrapped his hands around her slender waist.

"I can't stop thinking about you Sakura. All I've wanted to do all day is to kiss you."

He looked at her soft lips as a rush of adrenalin fizzed through his veins. Sakura coyly flushed as she tried to catch her breath. He softly kissed her before she kissed him back.
He tightened his grip on her as his kisses became more possessive. He came on stronger than he usually did and she liked it. It was some time before they parted but when they finally did he stared straight into her eyes.

"I want to spend this whole day with you. I'll take anywhere you want to go."

His statement reminded her of Syaoran and how much she let him down. She wanted to go in the room and apologies or say something. Though he did not do anything, Sakura felt as though Ryu was pulling her back.

She decided that they should have a picnic in the park. They sat under an old oak tree. She told him almost everything. He knew what to say and when to say it. The picnic was made complete with many heart warming kisses.
………………………………………………………………………………………………

When night fell they were back at the apartment. They had been in her room for nearly an hour talking and laughing. Syaoran was still home. She would have felt less vulnerable if he wasn't. Ryu was sitting next to her in the middle of the bed. They were looking at old photo albums. He kept a cute smile on his face that barely faded.

"Next week Tomoyo, Eriol…Syaoran and I are going on a camping trip for the weekend. I was hoping that you would come with us."

He wrinkled his face "Camping?"

"Yes camping! You know the great outdoor, tents and camp fires." She said with a perky smile.

"Sure; wait a minute did you say next weekend?"

Sakura nodded.

"I'm sorry. I'm leaving town next weekend on a business trip."

Sakura sighed. As disappointed as she was, she managed a smile. "It's alright."

She focused her eyes on the photo album. Before she could flip to the next page his firm fingers closed over her wrist.

"I'm already missing your lips." He said.

She let him pull her closer to him. At first his kisses were soft and gentle but just like before they became more passionate and possessive that Sakura had to keep up. He moved from her lips to her collar bone. His hands were not as rough as she expected them to be.

"What's gotten into you today?" she whimpered.

"I don't know. All I know is that I want you so bad. I really like you Sakura…you mean a lot to me." His kisses were gentle again.

"I like you too." She was not quiet sure of how to sum up her feelings for him. She lay back. Now he was on top of her. He kissed her lips again as his hands caressed her stomach.

"I want you so much." He whispered gently in her ear.

Sakura closed her eyes and whispered "uh Sya…"

Sakura abruptly opened her eyes when she become conscious of what she was about to say. Ryu kept on kissing her so she assumed that he did not hear her. She heaved a sigh and thought "How could I be thinking of him right now?"

Ryu unfastened the first button on her shirt. Sakura started to feel uncomfortable and her fingers began to tremble.

"Ryu…" she said in a strict tone. He immediately stopped kissing her.

"Is everything alright?" he looked confused.

"Um…we can't do this…here." she hesitated.

"Why not?" He chuckled huskily.

"Syaoran is still around and he might hear us." It sounded like a good excuse. She laughed nervously.

"I don't care if he hears us."

Ryu unfastened the second button on her shirt.

"What I mean to say Ryu is…." she paused "I can't do this. Not now and not like this."

He looked at her startled. He moved away as though forced to.

"I don't understand. Did I do something wrong? Was I too fast?"

She sat at the edge of the bed and hid her face in her hands "No it's not you it's me."

"No…you're doing great!" Ryu sounded pathetic.

"I've never gone all the way." she admitted.

He moved next to her. She glanced at him in his moment of stillness. One of his eyebrows jerked.

"I see. I hope this doesn't sound in anyway wrong but how come?"

"I was waiting. There was a guy." She paused in order clear her throat "We had been a couple for years. Being young and naïve, when you find what you think is love you get carried away. I thought we were going to get married. He always made it sound as though we were. No one really wanted us together; especially my brother and my father. I thought we wanted the same things but at the end of it all I was the one who got hurt. I was waiting for our wedding night but it never came and after he left…nothing happened. I sulked…cried and generally behaved in a way that proved one, that I was too childish to be taken seriously and two, that they were quiet right about everything. That's what happened. "

She never talked about it. The whole subject had been too sensitive to touch upon. No one ought to brood over being dumped…dumped…dumped…and had not even cared enough for her at the last to call and tell her himself that everything was over.

Ryu caressed her hand. "It makes sense. So um…tell me…when you're ready."

Though he smiled and acted okay his eyes seemed to say 'you've got to be kidding me.'

"So, what was his name?" he asked.

Her body froze. She saw the question coming but it still hit her by surprise. Her eyes lingered on his face.

"Syaoran."

He raised his eyebrows "This Syaoran?"

"Yes." She relied almost ashamed.

He ran his fingers through his hair almost like he wanted to pull it out. Then he sighed.
"Wow Sakura you two have quiet a past." He said firmly.

Sakura held tightly onto his arm "Ryu he ruined my life."

"I'm not the jealous type and I'm not going to get all paranoid about it Sakura but this is a big deal. It just won't go away."

She looked at the floor "I know. It happened almost three years ago. I was eighteen. We had just graduated. His mother came to visit. There was some party his mother was having. We didn't go because he saw no point of it. We spent the whole night together in my room."

Ryu stared at her with a thwarted look on his face.

"Ryu, I don't know what else to say. Trust me. Things are better now. I've moved on and realized that there is more to life than childish teenage fantasies. I still believe in love…just not the way I used to." Sakura tried to make out the look on his face.

He was attentive. That was all she got from him.

A blanket of silence covered the room. Sakura was desperate for his voice. She wanted to know what he thought and if they still had a future together.

"What an idiot." Ryu broke the silence with a strong bitter tone.

"Huh?"

"He's stupid to have let you go. He's the one who lost everything, not you Sakura. I will never let you go. I promise."

There was something about him that made her believe. She leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. He put his arms around her and held her.
"I promise." He whispered softly.
……………………………………… ……………………………………………………

Later that night after Ryu was gone. Sakura lay awake in bed. She could not stop thinking about what she told Ryu and his reaction. It was the first time she had ever been so open about the past. Her mind drifted over to Syaoran. She nearly called Ryu Syaoran.

"It's not that I have feelings for him. He just came up! I was loosing it. Maybe it's because of those stupid dreams which have grown to become my nightmares." She said to herself.

She gently touched her lips with her fingers "His kisses are just so…unforgettable." She thought. She closed her eyes and remembered the way his breath felt on her neck. He heart beat accelerated.

She shook her head then thought "Come on Sakura! Get a grip. Stop obsessing over the past. You've found prince charming. Don't ruin it!"

Feeling as though she was loosing the battle against herself, she got out of bed and went straight to the kitchen. The lights were on. When she got there, Syaoran was already sitting on a chair, across the table with a cup of coffee in one of his hands and a newspaper in the other. He looked up at her.

"Couldn't sleep again?"

Sakura pulled out a chair and sat on it "As usual."

He smirked and continued with what he was doing before she walked in.

"Where did you disappear off to? One minute you were here and the next minute gone."

He relaxed his shoulders.

"I'm really sorry for ditching you." She said sincerely.

"The way I see it- Ryu is your…ahem." He purposely coughed "…boyfriend. You should be spending time with him." This was one of the hardest things he ever had to say. The words nearly choked him. Just saying 'Ryu' made his feel as though he was being eaten alive.

She slightly nodded.

"I almost forgot…Tomoyo called. She wanted me to remind you about the camping trip."

"I guess I have to tell her that Ryu isn't coming anymore."

Syaoran's eyebrows shot up. The opportunity he was waiting for finally arrived.

"That's too bad. It would have been great if there were more of us." He lied.

Sakura shook her head "No it's fine. I don't think he likes camping anyway."

He plastered a sympathetic look on his face that made him appear sensitive.

Syaoran felt enjoyable sensations from her presence. There were a million reasons why they should be together. Why couldn't Sakura see that?

A/N: Thanks for the reviews again and for keeping the story alive. The next chapter is special. Loads of secrets revealed and more kisses. . I'd also like to thank pollyhi5 for the great advice given when she reviewed chapter 4, I think.