Preview of last chapter:

Yukito got up and picked it up. It had a heart shaped locket strung onto it. He fiddled with the catch and opened it. A picture of a smiling Syaoran filled the interior. He sighed, closed the locket and put it on her bedside table.

He put his arm around her, not in a boyfriend-girlfriend way, but sorta like a comforting way. "C'mon, Sakura. You can't stay caged up like this." He forced her to face him, and he tilted her chin up.

"Look at yourself in the mirror," he said. "You're pretty and still young. Forget about him; it's not your fault." Sakura smiled at him.

Chapter 4: The Truth

Against her cousin/best friend's wishes, Tomoyo approached Syaoran's house. She knocked on the door. She heard Syaoran say, "I'll get it!" a second before he opened the door.

"Saku- oh. Hi Tomoyo," he greeted, looking rather disappointed.

"Hello, Syaoran," she said through gritted teeth, trying to hide her anger. "Expecting Sakura?"

"Well…yea," he admitted. "But she's not here, so…come in."

"Arigato," Tomoyo replied and walked in. She fell back onto one of the living room couches. "I'm not surprised she's not here. Can't believe you're even expecting her to come walking through that door."

Syaoran, who was pouring himself and Tomoyo a glass of water from a jug on the table, stole a glance at her. Her expression was cold, and her eyes like a solid block of ice.

He handed the cup to her then seated himself next to her. "She told you, didn't she?"

"Told me what?" Tomoyo asked innocently. Her expression hardened again. "That you betrayed her? That you broke the promise you made to her before leaving? That you broke her heart and crushed her utterly?" She took a sip of water. "Need I continue?"

"No," Syaoran sighed, placing his untouched glass on the table in front of her. He glanced up as Akuni walked down in a summer dress brushing her hair.

"Syaoran?" she said, then stopped when she saw Tomoyo. "Oh. You have visitors."

"I'll see you later, Akuni," he said firmly, and Akuni scurried up the stairs again back to her room.

"That's her, then?" Tomoyo asked.

Syaoran nodded. "Well, you're wasting time with her. Your ex," she emphasized, satisfied when she saw him wince, "is so much more than she is."

"If you've come here to taunt me, Tomoyo…" Syaoran said. Tomoyo was about to interrupt with a smart response when he continued. "…it's working."

He looked away, and she knew that he was trying to hide tears. "You think I love her?" he nudged his head toward the stairs, indicating Akuni. "You think that little insignificant brat owns my love? Never."

Tomoyo turned to him in surprise. He faced the front again. "I was forced to, Tomoyo. My parents forced me to. They brought Akuni over and forced me to become a couple with her. She was the daughter of some rich business partner of my dad. You've no idea how much I argued with my parents, but eventually they won."

"I'm stuck with her," he said sadly, hanging his head. "If I try to return to Sakura they'll disown me. The servants here act as spies for them."

"As much as I love her, Tomoyo," he said, tears in his eyes, "I can't."

Then Tomoyo really understood. A forced relationship, which will eventually be followed by an arranged marriage.

"You understand now, Tomoyo?" he asked, standing up. Seeing her nod, he continued, "Then tell Sakura I'm sorry. Tell her everything. Tell her I love her, but I can't return, not without bringing disgrace upon the Li family."

He left, leaving Tomoyo thinking in his living room.

That very evening Tomoyo went to see Sakura, and was surprised to see her hanging out with Yukito and Touya, smiling at their jokes.

She turned to her as soon as she stepped in and smiled. "Tomoyo."

"Evening all," she greeted politely. Then turned back to Sakura. "'Kura, I need to talk to you."

Sakura's smile faded a little. She excused herself from the table and went up with Tomoyo to her room. Sitting on the bed, she asked, "So, what's up?"

Tomoyo decided not to beat around the bush. "Sakura, Syaoran still loves you."

A mixed expression crossed her face at the mention of Syaoran. It was a mixture of love, pain and anger. "Impossible," she said.

"'Kura, as much as you don't wanna believe it, it's true," Tomoyo persisted. "He told me himself, Sakura. If you were there, you would have seen the truth in his eyes."

"And what did you see in his eyes, Tomoyo?" Sakura demanded.

Tomoyo took in a deep breath. "Guilt that he is forced to do this and didn't tell you earlier. Pain that he has to see you so upset without him. And fear that you'll truly leave him. He says he's sorry."

Sakura's fist unclenched, then clenched again, her fingernails biting into her flesh. "I can't believe that, Tomoyo!"

"I know, right!" Tomoyo squealed, mistaking her for joy.

"That's not what I meant!" Sakura said angrily, standing up. "I mean I can't believe him! What you told me, I just can't. You've never experienced this with Eriol before, and I hope you won't because it hurts." She sat on the bed and started crying again. "You didn't see what I saw: he pulled her close and kissed her, like he used to me."

Sakura hung her head. Tomoyo stood. "Well," she said gently, benting down and putting her hand on Sakura's shoulder, "if you don't believe me, go to his house tomorrow and talk to him about his relationship with Akuni or something like that. Then see what he has in his eyes."

Sakura, still with her head down, nodded, the merest shake of her head. Tomoyo guessed she was crying, so it was best to leave her alone. Sighing sadly in her direction, Tomoyo walked out the door.

As soon as she did, Sakura lifted her head and leaned against the wall, wondering, what would your eyes tell me tomorrow, Syaoran? The truth or the lie?

Disclaimer: I do not CCS or any of the characters in it. Sheesh, if I have to say this again…