What Matters In The End

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"Sakura" a male voice said, beside her.

Slowly she turned around to face the man, and when she did her emerald eyes opened in shock, and she froze right there and then on the spot. She became silent and trembled just a little.

Syaoran glared at the man for interrupting their important conversation. He skeptically examined him, and then looked towards Sakura. The expression on her face was one different to the one he saw a minute ago. She looked as though she was sad, pained and hurt, scared even.

Who the hell is this guy? Syaoran thought, and gave him another glare. His cold amber eyes met with ruby coloured ones.

…

Chapter 6

Syaoran continued to glare into his ruby coloured eyes. There was just something about them he didn't like. So he crossed his arms to show his superiority.

Sakura however stood still, not knowing that to do or say to the man in front of her. She was face to face with her old flame and emotions she thought she left behind a long time ago came to the surface. She was scared to look at him but she examined him closely.

He looked more mature since she last saw him. He was more built and tanned but he still had the same dark brown hair and the same shade of ruby coloured eyes. She remembered how she loved those eyes. It reminded her of the shade of flowers he used to give her every morning before they went to school.

He gave her a kind smile, "It's good to see you again" he said walking closer to her and eventually stopping centimetres away.

She remained silent and continued to look at him, shuddering underneath his gaze.

Syaoran looked over at Sakura's direction again, and saw that she looked very uncomfortable.

"Dude, I don't think she's in the mood for talking" he harshly told the ruby eyed man. He may be mean but he was brought up with manners.

The guy looked at him. "I don't think that this concerns you" he said giving him a look of his own.

Syaoran didn't budge at his stare, and the both of them continued to look evilly at each other, sending off sparks.

"Hey Sakura we got invited to a party" yelled a happy and bouncy Tomoyo who was running towards her best friend in the other direction.

She got to the other side of Sakura, and noticed that she didn't seem herself. Confused she looked over at Syaoran who was frowning at someone. She followed his gaze, over to the other side of Sakura. She tilted her head slightly because Sakura was blocking her view and from the moment she saw the ruby eyed man, her eyes filled with anger and hate. She quickly stepped in between Syaoran and Sakura and held onto Sakura for moral support.

"Darren" she spat out, "What the hell are you doing here?" Her voice seemed to be a lot harsher than her usual sweet voice.

Syaoran looked over at Tomoyo in surprise. He would never have expected for Tomoyo to be like that. She would be one of the last people in the world he'd expect that kind of attitude from.

Darren looked over at Tomoyo unfazed by her tone of voice but he could see why she would act like that. He didn't want to start an argument and make things worse for him.

"I'll be filling in for a teacher in this college for a little while", he softly spoke to her.

Sakura's grip on Tomoyo's hand tightened. Tomoyo immediately put her arm around Sakura's trembling body and took her aside.

"Shouldn't you be in jail or something" she angrily told him, continuing to be mean.

She had just hit one of his soft spots and little anger rose within him but he quickly shook it off when Eriol arrived to the scene and stood on the other side of Sakura for reassurance.

Syaoran could feel the tense atmosphere the four of them were giving out. He looked at all their serious expressions. He was obviously missing something important.

"Im a changed man now"he said looking sincere to the three in front of him "and I came here to make it up to you guys,"

Tomoyo gave him a glare. "Im sure you are" she snorted and then softly looked over at Sakura, who had been very quiet all this time. "Come on Sakura, Let's go home".

Sakura looked at Tomoyo with a thankful smile and nodded, but before she left she gave Darren one quick nod of the head and walked away leaving him with the guys.

Eriol waited for the two girls to leave before punching Darren straight in the face full of anger and disgust. He couldn't let the girls see what he was about to do.

Darren didn't expect the punch coming, and doubled back, landing flat on his backside.

"That was for Sakura" he said fiercely, and stood on top of him making sure he could feel his weight. "This" he said punching him in the same place on the face, opening up a wound "is for Tomoyo", "and this" he lifted his fist in the air to try and punch him one more time but Syaoran held him back.

"Eriol, enough" Syaoran said dragging him away from Darren.

Darren was copping a beating badly and Syaoran felt just a tinge bad for him. Eriol sure could pack a punch.

"No, let me go" Eriol yelled and wriggled his way out of Syaorans strong arms.

He tried to rush over and hit Darren again but Syaoran was too quick and stronger for him and held him back. It was a good thing no one was around or else they would have a lot of explaining to do.

Darren got off the ground and wiped the blood coming from his mouth. He wasn't angry, No… "I guess I deserved that, and I've learnt from my mistakes. Im a changed man Eriol" Darren told him, bowing and turned to walk away.

"Darren" Eriol's voice came serious and threatening.

Darren stopped in his spot, but didn't turn around.

"Stay away from the girls, and if I see you trying anything on them you'll wish you were never born" his voice came low.

Once he heard Eriol's threat, Darren gave a nod and walked away.

Eriol sighed as he watched Darren's retreating figure, "Come on, we may as well head off home as well".

Syaoran looked at Eriol. Everyone seemed to be surprising him today. He just couldn't believe Eriol would go lose his temper and punch a guy, Tomoyo turn all mean and evil and Sakura not smiling and being her cheery self.

"What was that all about?" He asked wanting to know the reason for everyone's abnormal behaviour. "I've never seen you three out of character since I've been here".

Eriol looked away in disgust. "Darren and Sakura were dating at one stage. Sakura was happy and she loved him so much, but one day he changed. The nice, caring, gentle Darren turned into an abusive Darren, hitting Sakura when he felt like it."

Syaoran frowned when he heard this. He hasn't even spoken or got to know Darren and he hated him already.

"Offcourse I wasn't there to help protect her or Tomoyo. I was over in England helping my family. Tomoyo did tell me that she'd come to school sometimes with bruises on her, and when she asked Sakura what happened, she just told her that it was nothing. She was defending that bastard. Even though he'd hurt her so much, she didn't want anything bad happen to him." He continued, staring off into the distance.

"What? So Sakura protected that jerk?" Syaoran asked disbelieving what he was hearing.

"Yeh, she's too nice for her own good." Eriol replied and his face started to look angry.

"One day, when he got really mad at Sakura, he started to hit her till she was bloodied and bruised. Tomoyo was there at the time and Darren ended up turning on her as well."

He clenched his fist tightly.

"Tomoyo didn't give me the details, but when I had arrived, Darren was in jail and the girls were in counselling. I wanted to kill the bastard, but I couldn't. It would have hurt Sakura even more if I did".

"The girls pretended everything was okay, and said that they were fine. But I know they're not." Eriol looked over at Syaoran with sad eyes.

Syaoran stared back at him not knowing what to say. Darren was a jerk. If that idiot ever gets in my way, I won't be as kind as the girls. He told himself disgusted at the man's behaviour.

"It's a good thing the girls decided to go home instead of going to the last class, I'm not really in the mood to learn anymore today" Eriol walked towards the front college gates to where the girls may be, followed by Syaoran.

….

Everyone had skipped their last class and decided to go home. Darren had ruined the mood for them. Why show up now? Tomoyo asked no one in particular. Just when everything was going fine, just when she got over you.

She was worried for Sakura. Since they had come home she spent most of her time in her room and never went out. It was understandable that she would do that, since she did have one of the worst days anyone could have.

She walked up the stairs and down the hallway to Sakura's white and pink bedroom door and softly knocked on it.

"Come In" yelled a sweet voice from behind the door.

Seeing as that was an invitation to go in, she opened the door and walked inside.

The sight in front of her truly made her worry about her friend. There was soft music that was playing in the background and Sakura was dancing across her room, air drumming. Sakura never listened to this type of music and surely she doesn't air drum.

Tomoyo looked at Sakura with raised eyebrows and thought that her friend had gone insane, watching her dancing and drumming around the room.

"Sakura, how are you feeling? Are you okay now?" she asked worriedly

Sakura stopped what she was doing and looked over at Tomoyo with a smile. "Offcourse I am, why wouldn't I be?"

Sakura…Tomoyo knew she was hiding her feelings and sadly looked at her. She decided to let the matter go, since her friend obviously didn't want to be reminded of it.

"I don't know, I was just asking" she shrugged and sat down on Sakura's bed.

Sakura joined her. "Hey Tomoyo" she spoke sitting with a grin on her face.

"Yes, Sakura"

"What's happening with the party? Whose is it, and when is it happening?" Sakura asked. She was really excited about this party. It had been a long time since they've been to one.

Tomoyo stared at her. Sakura seemed to be really cheerful about the whole party thing.

"Sharna's party is happening next Saturday but I don't think we should go". She told Sakura who immediately put a cute frown on her face.

"Aww , Why not? We've been working hard since college started. We need a good break. Please Tomoyo" Sakura pleaded pouting her lips and giving her another one of her puppy dog eyes.

"That doesn't work on me Sakura" Tomoyo replied turning her head so she couldn't see Sakura's face. Sakura however moved to face her again and gave her the same look.

"Please, Please" she begged.

"Argh , alright alright, just stop it with that face. I hate it when you do that." Tomoyo replied throwing her arms in the air defeated.

"Yay thanks Tomoyo" Sakura squealed and jumped on her bed grabbing Tomoyo's hands so she could join her.

"On one condition though" Tomoyo interrupted.

Sakura stopped jumping on her bed and looked over at Tomoyo. "What's that?" she asked.

Tomoyo gave an evil grin. "I get to choose your outfit".

Sakura sweat dropped gave a weak laugh, but soon smiled. She's at it again. "Okay but nothing revealing" Sakura told her.

Tomoyo looked innocently at her. "Offcourse not" she replied.

Sakura held onto Tomoyo's hand once again and started to jump on her bed. "YAY we're going to a party" she cheered.

….

Outside a figure in black stood on a tree branch watching the girls who were unaware of his presence. "I'll see you there Sakura" the figure whispered to no one in particular. He grabbed his cape and swung it around his body. Smoke filled the area and soon he disappeared.

"I'll see you there…."

….

Author's Notes: So how was it? I bet you didn't expect that from Eriol did you. Please Review and tell me what you thought of the chapter.

Stay Tuned...

Always Chikka