Ok, as I said last chapter, this will be the last propper chapter. There will be and epilogue, and a sequal.

Chapter 18

Forgiveness

It was three weeks after the birthday catastrohpie, and the sleepover had ended. True to his word, Syaoran had not spent another night in the house, only going over to collect his things.

Sakura was still depressed, but at least she had stopped crying. In fact, she now realised that she had been falling for Syaoran, hard. She looked upon his actions as the worst thing that anyone had ever done to her. While this was an overstatement, it certainly gave the others a vague idea of how badly she was hurt.

Syaoran went back to hating the world. Even though his parents were fully recovered, he spent his time either in his room, or outside. When in his room, he would blast his music, and curse Sakura's name. He was determined to hate her, but knew that he never really could. He could only stay mad at her. Hating someone and being mad at them were two different things. He was just angry when he was talking to Eriol on the phone. He didn't really mean what he said.

While outside, he would usually kick a soccer ball around with a few guys from school. He imagined the ball to be Touya's head. That had always given him better aim.

SYAORAN

One day, Syaoran was wandering aimlessly around the park, having skipped soccer practice. He didn't pay any attention to where he was going, and walked straight into someone.

"Sorry." He grunted, as the girl dropped her things. He bent down to help her pick them up.

"Thanks, Syaoran." A small, sad voice joined him on the ground. Syaoran looked up, and saw Sakura crouching in front of him, picking up her dropped items. Syaoran almost lost his balance.

"Talking to me again, huh?" He said coldly, handing her the rest of them, and stood up. Sakura also stood, and sighed.

"I can't stay mad forever, right?" She offered hopefully.

"Well, I can." Syaoran wasn't exaggerating, either. He still hated his first teacher because she said that he had to go to the pricipal's office, when he didn't do anything wrong.

"Look-" Sakura sighed, but Syaoran cut across her.

"I don't care what you have to say." Syaoran looked anywhere but at her, "Just... go. I'm outta here." He began to walk off, at a very fast pace. Sakura jogged after him.

"Syaoran!" Sakura shouted, "Wait!" He ignored her.

"Syaoran!" Sakura almost cried, latching her hand onto his arm, and pulling him to a stop.

"What?" He demanded, doing his best to intimidate her. It didn't work.

"Meiling told me your parents moved up leaving to live in Hong Kong. She said you were leaving tomorrow afternoon." She blurted, "Is that true?"

"Yes." Syaoran said curtly, "Now, if that's all, I have to go home. I'm not fully packed yet." Sakura dropped his arm, and turned her back to him.

"Well," He was sure he heard a strangled tone in her voice, "Good luck with everything. In Hong Kong and all." And then she ran off, hair flying all over the place.

"Thanks... I guess..." He muttered to her retreating figure.

SAKURA

"Well, I guess this is it." Sakura scanned the sky from her bedroom window. Syaoran would be gone by this time tomorrow. She knew that she should still be mad at him, but seeing him in the park today had... softened her anger a little.

She was hurt by his cold, harsh manner today, but she understood why he was acting like that. Hell, if it were her... well, she wouldn't be that cold. But she'd be pretty darn mad.

"I'll just be glad when life goes back to normal." She sighed. But, things would never be normal. Normal was Syaoran, teasing her, annoying her, and generally being around. Normal was when she used to dread stepping out, for fear of being teased again. Normal was her sick sense of 'maybe things will change'. Well, things were changing. Too fast for her liking.

Looking back, she tried to define the moment where her feelings had changed. Her initial thought was when she found out his sisters had died. But, she realised, that wasn't it. She furrowed her brow, and thought harder.

Her eyes shooting open, she realised that it had been there all along. She didn't know how, or why, but it had been there. She groaned, and set her head in her hands.

"Now it's too late to do anything..." She almost sobbed. She jumped as the phone rang.

"Hello? Sakura speaking." She answered it, masking her voice well.

"Hey, Sakura!" Tomoyo said brightly on the other end, "We're all going over to Meiling's for a goodbye party they're throwing for Syaoran. Wanna tag?"

"Nah." Sakura slipped, and accidently let her voice waver.

"Sakura, are you ok?" Tomoyo asked. Sakura could hear the concern in her voice. She gained control of herself, and answered.

"I'm fine!" She said, with a fake sunny voice.

"Sakura, you need to get out more." Tomoyo scolded, "For the past few weeks, you've barely left the house. I'll pick you up in ten." She left no room for argument as she hung up. Sakura sighed.

"Might as well change..." She sulked, and got dressed.

LATER, SYAORAN

He stared at all the people around him. It was the largest party that had ever been thrown for him. Yet, he didn't want it. He wanted to get out of there.

"Hey, Syaoran!" Chloe latched onto his arm. Syaoran looked at her, disgusted. She was basically naked! All she wore was a skimpy, beige boob-tube, and the same coloured miniskirt that didn't even properly cover her ass. Not to mention it was her fault that he and Sakura weren't talking anymore. He shook her off.

"Go away." He said coldly. She ignored his words, and began to speak to him coyly.

"You know..." She trailed her finger along his arm, "Since it's your last day here..." She traced it up, and to his jaw, "I thought we could..." She leaned into his ear, and whispered something.

"No." Was all he said, as he saw someone very unexpected walk in through the door, "Fuck off, bitch." He shook her off, and made his way to the new arrivals. By the time he had gotten there, one of them was already gone.

"Hey, Sakura." He said softly. She jumped, and blushed cutely at him.

"H-hi." She stuttered.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, sounding a little more harsh than he meant to.

"Look," She sighed, still blushing, "If you don't want me here-"

"That's not it." Syaoran said quickly, "I'm just surprised, is all. Walk with me?" Sakura nodded, and they went out the back. They walked silently through the large gardens, and sat on a bench to watch the sunset.

"Syaoran?" Sakura whispered silently.

"Yeah?" He turned to look at her. She was staring at her hands, and fiddling with the hem of her shirt.

"I just wanted to say... I'm sorry." She sighed, and looked at him, blush still evident of her face, "I never should have reacted like that the other week. Tomoyo told me what really happened on the way over."

"How would she know?" He asked, eyebrow raised.

"Eriol." Was her response, "Forgive me?" She asked hopefully.

"Nope." Syaoran shook his head, "Not yet." Sakrua nearly cried. She turned her head, not able to look at him.

She didn't see him scoot over to her, or lean in closer. She didn't know what was happening when he put his hand to her chin, and turned her to face him. All she knew was that his lips found hers, and it was heaven.

They spent some time on the bench, just talking after that. Both confessed their love for the other, and promised to keep in contact. They both knew that they would have to have a lot of trust in the other to make their relationship work. But... they'd at least try.

"Hey!" Tomoyo and Eriol fell out of the nearby hedge, Tomoyo with her trusty videocamera in hand, "Eriol! Look what you just did! You just spoilt a perfectly cute moment!" Sakura blushed. Syaoran poked her in the side.

"Wanna get 'em?" He whispered. Sakrua giggled, and stood up.

"My, what a lovely idea, Syao..." Tomoyo giggled at Sakura's pet name for Syaoran.

"Shall we?" Syaoran raised his eyebrow. Sakura nodded. Eriol realised what they were talking about.

"Run away!" He yelled, and ran for the house. Tomoyo squeeled, and followed.

Sakura and Syaoran laughed, and followed at break-neck pace. In no time, Sakura had caught Tomoyo, and had tickled her into submission. Ten minutes later, they were laughing at Syaoran chasing Eriol all over the garden. They leapt over small hedges, and ducked under awnings, as Syaoran continued his pursuit. Syaoran, laughing, pretended to give up, making Eriol let his guard down.

"Gotcha!" Syaoran tackled Eriol into the dirt. He laughed, and stood up.

"Ouch." Eriol winced, and accepted Syaoran's outstretched hand. Syaoran, still laughing, pulled Eriol to his feet.

The four went back inside, and had a good time together for the rest of the night. Sakura was glad that her father and brother were out of town for the week. That allowed Syaoran to spend the night at her house. Tomoyo was a bit cut up that Sakura didn't invite her over, too, but one mischevious grin from Sakura, and she was giggling like mad.

Eriol leant over, and whispered something to Tomoyo. She turned scarlet, and muttered something about 'teaching him a lesson'. She took Eriol's hand, and left the house. Sakura giggled, and took Syaoran's hand, leading him out.

They walked silently through the streets, stopping to kiss every now and again. Sakura giggled as they continued along their way. They finally reached the gate, and kissed again. Sakura, still kissing Syaoran, fiddled with the gate, and opened it. Pulling on Syaoran's shirt collar, she led him up to the door and opened it.

When they got to Sakura's doorstep, Syaoran swept Sakura up into his arms, and carried her inside, using his foot to close the door.

OK! DEFINATELY NOT putting a lemon in here. Yes, they did "IT". I'm gonna leave the details to your imaginations. Next, is the epilogue.