Hey guys! Here's Chapter 9. I'm really glad to receive your last reviews. Glad too coz' you guys are liking it. Anyway, as I would usually say, have fun reading!!

sw3etest-1258 - I hope this chapter is interesting enough for you! Can't wait to read your opinion bout' this. But don't be too harsh, okay?

chelsea34 - Sorry. I won't rush. Thanks for reminding me.

Daniela93sweet - I'm glad you found it interesting. Don't forget your comments for me at the end of the chapter! I'm looking foward for it.

MlleShadow - Sakura's fan huh? I perfer Tomoyo though. Hehe..

xXangelicprincessXx - Well, thanks for waiting. Here's the update you've been waiting for. Hope you enjoy!

AngelEmCuti - Thanks! Enjoy reading by the way.

Cherry Akira Li - Don't get too spicy. We don't anyone to be burning hot in here.

zakurakiss - What? 10/10? Why don't give it a 100/100?! Lol! Kidding.

rosedreamer101 - Yeah. This is a teenager love. It's my favourite genre and I think yours too, huh?

pyscho-pyro-shrink - Aww...you think it's cute? I think you're cute coz' you think it's cute. Lol...

DiamondRose3 - Well, I'm trying to make it as sweet as possible. Thanks for realizing it. Hehe...

cutecess - Well, I had mentioned their ages in the previous chapters. They're both 17. Glad you asked anyway.

lhaine07 - You just mentioned those two words! Cute and lovable! I love you for saying that! Haha..

mammiie-noodlez - Yeay. Can't believe I've updated it on time, I guess. I'll try to keep up the err...'good' work you're telling me to.

Chapter 9

By Your Side

by Crystal Blueberry

"Sakura! I'm glad you made it here!" Tomoyo beamed, reaching out her arms to greet her best friend. Her long wavy purple hair was tied into a simple ponytail. She looked more matured by doing so.

It was the final day of the festival, which made sense that there were fewer people coming to the small town that night. Situated beside the beach, the small town was definitely a good spot for relaxing and clearing the minds from the busy city-life. With the cool and cold breezy wind blowing, it refreshed everyone who was in the town.

Sakura started to study her surroundings as Tomoyo lead them to a place she guaranteed that will be a lot of fun. There were many colourful but dim lanterns hung on the strings along the way. She could hear voices of children and adults screaming while riding roller coaster. She had been to few of the places like these before but not as merry as this one. As she observed her surroundings, she didn't realize she was walking straight towards Tomoyo who made a sudden stop. Fortunately, she just bumped slightly at her back. Both Syaoran and Eriol also stopped.

It was the doll machine that made Tomoyo paused. (a/n: I don't know if that machine is called a doll machine or what). Her eyes were sparkling observing the cute teddy bears in the luminous box. "Eriol, I want that teddy…," she pointed towards a purple, fluffy pig teddy in the doll machine. It was small but definitely cute. "Eri…" she called his nickname, pulling his sleeves lightly.

"Okay," Eriol smiled his celestial smile, patting her head gently. He had never hesitated to grant Tomoyo her wish. Never did he think to turn her down. That was the reason she chose him from all the guys that wished to be hers. Even so, his soft and warm celestial smile that attracted her most. A simple smile that captured her heart.

Sakura decided that it was better for her to wander nearby for a while rather that getting along those two ways. Besides, it won't be long for Eriol to get Tomoyo a doll from that machine, she supposed.

Her emerald eyes moved around as she scanned if there was anything that would interest her. Truly, there is one. She walked towards an archery stall just a few metres away from their positions now.

"How do you play this game?" Sakura asked the man in charge. He was a bit plump, not really young with a round belly too but he wasn't old either. He looked nice and had a friendly smile.

"You just have to shoot the arrows towards the bottles over there." He pointed Sakura to an archery spot with a few bottles arranged up in a triangle in a field nearby, a small field. "You have to stand 15 metres away from the target and if your arrows hit all the ten targets and break them, you'll get that one over there."

Sakura's eyes moved to where his finger was pointing. A big, pink dolphin teddy! Her eyes sparkled as Tomoyo's once did. (a/n: Girls…..). "I'll give it a shot," she smiled. She was then given a pink bow and eight arrows - real ones.

Sakura pulled the string and released the first arrow. Missed. Never mind. I still have seven left. She calmed herself. Second shot, missed again. Third shot, it hit the bottle but did not break it – considered as missed. Argh! Sakura began to lose her temper. I don't believe I can't break those! She took another arrow and pulled the string with all her might.

Missed.

Missed.

Missed.

Missed.

Even up to the last arrow she hit nothing but the air. Sakura sighed heavily. The dolphin was cute though but it wasn't really her night.

"Give us a second round." A familiar voice came to her ears. She spun around to the direction of the voice. Syaoran… Syaoran was heading towards her with eight new arrows. He had been watching her from behind since she'd left Tomoyo and Eriol. She was being too busy thinking or getting her hands on the dolphin that she wasn't aware of his presence.

"Hold your bow up," Syaoran instructed her. Sakura wasn't sure what he was trying to do but her instinct told her to trust him and obey – which she did. He placed his hand on hers gently and held the bow up together with her. He put his other hand on her other hand that was holding an arrow at the string. Sakura was a bit shocked at the beginning but didn't thought to push him aside either.

They were in a position in which both of them were holding the same bow and arrow with Sakura's hands placed in his. Like a pair of professional archeries, they stood elegantly with Sakura at the front and Syaoran at her back. They were so close to each other or she can say that she looked as if she was leaning on his chest – which she felt so comfortable she didn't bother to move away.

"Be sure to take a perfect view of it, Tomoyo," Eriol whispered to her.

"No one can match my skills in video taping," Tomoyo giggled as she continued to video tape those two archeries in her tape, of course, without Sakura and Syaoran realizing it. If they did, she wouldn't be there right now. (a/n: Those two might have their arrows on her instead…haha…ehem). Besides, with the people beginning to crowd the place where both Sakura and Syaoran were standing, there was no way they could see her taping behind those crowds.

They pulled the string and released the arrow together. Syaoran tried to decrease his strength so that it wouldn't affect Sakura's and in that way, he could ensure the arrow would hit its target and smashed it into pieces. The first arrow was released and soon after the sound of glasses broken was heard. Perfect shot! It hit the middle target perfectly and all the three targets above it fell down and smashed on the ground. Four down, six left. It's still wasn't the time to congratulate herself yet, Sakura thought. With Syaoran standing beside her, she felt more confidence and more strength in her. It seemed as if he was the source of her sudden energy come from.

Second shot, it hit the middle target on the left and the target above it was unsteadily balanced and ended up falling and cracking on the ground. Another two were down. He picked the third arrow and placed it in Sakura's hand. His fingers went through hers and together they pulled the arrow and released it in the air, seeing it flying directly towards its target which was situated at the middle right, causing the same effect as before. Now, to end its final two targets, one on the left and other on the far right, two arrows are needed.

One by one was released from the string and both arrows hit their targets and smashed them into pieces just like the rest. Sakura almost couldn't believe her eyes. Not a single bottle was standing. Everything, everything was cleared.

"Congratulations miss. The dolphin is now yours," The plump man announced as he walked towards his stall to pull the dolphin teddy down.

"We did it! We did it!" Sakura push the bow aside, letting it fall on the ground. She turned towards Syaoran and placed her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He admitted he was a bit surprise of her sudden reaction but managed to stay calm. I'm supposed to be cool, he reminded himself.

The sound of the crowd clapping and cheering made them both realize that all these while, they were being watched by the crowd – not to mention Tomoyo video taping them both. She loosened her arms from his neck. "Sorry," she muttered and turned her head away, blushing.

Don't feel sorry, really. I like it when you do that anyway. Maybe I should do that next time. Second thought, maybe some other time. I'm afraid I won't be able to let you go when I do that. Syaoran chuckled to himself and cleared his throat, making it sounded less obvious.

After a while, the plump man came and the crowd was finally disappearing slowly. "Here you go," he said as he handed her the dolphin teddy. He was then back to his stall and the crowd was completely gone, including Tomoyo and Eriol. Sakura turned to look at Syaoran. He didn't seem to notice her watching him but her wet, soft cherry lips on his cheek does. He turned to face her.

"Thank you," she smiled and quickly made her way towards the place where Tomoyo and Eriol were standing.

Syaoran stood still. Why don't you just say 'I love you'? So I can kiss you right here and then. This time, he didn't touch the skin where her lips met his cheek but just left it there. Smiling, he followed her from behind.

Meanwhile, Tomoyo and Eriol were back to their original positions – near the doll machine. They pretended that they had never moved a single step from that place. Eriol managed to get her the teddy though.

"Nice teddy, Sakura," Tomoyo said in a strange, teasing tone.

"Syaoran got this for me," Sakura said, smiling. Her cheeks started to change into pinkish again.

"I know," Tomoyo mumbled as she and Eriol exchanged glances, chuckling softly.

"You what?" Sakura asked, didn't really get what she had said.

"Nothing! There's Syaoran. Let's go!" Tomoyo quickly changed the topic. She pulled Sakura and they both walked together, each hugging a teddy bear with the guys following behind. They were too busy having fun that they didn't realize what or who was watching their every movements.

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"Here we are!" Tomoyo beamed brightly as she announced.

"Eh?" Sakura turned a bit puzzled. "Are you sure this is the right place? It looks creepy and doesn't seemed fun at all."

A dark man-made cave with a big board carved 'Haunted Cave' on it. Definitely not a place for fun. She could sense it was another of Tomoyo's brilliant idea of making things goes her way.

"Ooooh, believe me. There'll be more fun when you entered in." A brilliant sparkling light flashed in both of Tomoyo's eyes. Without further explanation as well as wasting another moment, she pushed both Sakura and Syaoran into the cave, which automatically immediately closed as soon as they stepped inside – although it was actually by force.

"Hey," Sakura just managed to say before she realized she was being pushed forcefully into the cave by all a sudden. "Hey! Let me out! What are you doing, Tomoyo?! Open the door!" she yelled from the inside, beating the door-like-wall with her the sides of her fists.

Great job, Tomoyo. I owe you one. Syaoran smiled although he was being pushed too.

"Can't you hear I'm yelling in here?!" Sakura continued.

"Actually, no." Syaoran, being tired of her screaming finally spoke up.

"What do you mean by no? She's just on the other side of the door," Sakura said.

"Listen," Syaoran said as he knocked on the door-like-wall several times. "Sound proof. Get it now?" he looked at Sakura.

"Then how are we supposed to get out of here? It won't open and I don't wanna walk in this condition!" Sakura cried childishly.

"You have two choices. First, stay here until someone come searching for you. Second choice, follow me to the exiting door at the other end of the cave," he said coolly and started to walk, leaving her no time to think.

First choice was definitely not her option. Who could've stood alone in the dark? "Wait for me!" Sakura called out. Obviously, she was not that type.

The cave was not really dark but it was not bright either. There were just dim lights hung loosely on the walls along the path. Besides, she didn't know what would comes out from anywhere at any moment since it was called 'Haunted Cave'. The safeties way she knew was to be always by his side.

"Come on Eri. Let's go elsewhere."

"What about them?" Eriol asked, pointing towards the cave from the outside with Sakura and Syaoran inside.

"That's a cave for couples. Only two person allowed at a time. I'm sure they'll be fine especially when they're together," Tomoyo giggled. Eriol nodded his head, understanding what she meant.

After a few minutes………………………………………………………………………

"Ahhh! A mummy!" Sakura screamed, hiding behind Syaoran as she closed her eyes.

"It's a fake," Syaoran cleared their way, pushing the doll covered with cloth aside.

"It's still looks scary," Sakura whined, didn't let go of his sleeves.

Suddenly out of nowhere came a group of bats flying aggressively towards their direction.

"Down!" Syaoran warned as he pulled Sakura in his arms in the acts of protecting her. The bats flew over them and disappeared in the dim lights.

"Are you okay?" he asked her, looking directly into her eyes with his hands on her shoulders. He was really concerned about her safety at that time. Sakura nodded her head slowly. She was still shocked by the sudden attacks of the bats, however, being in his arms a few moments ago was definitely another different feeling.

There aren't supposed to be any bats in here. If there were, they wouldn't suppose to attack people though. Something's not really right here. Syaoran felt his heart was giving a sign of warning.

"Let's get out of here." He took Sakura's hand in his and led their way towards the exiting door.

In the cave control room, a young girl was watching every single movements they made in a computer screen.( a/n: Heck! I forgot how the hell they call those things. Just don't bother about it too much as long as you get the way the story goes). A thin line formed on her rosy lips. "Lucky, eh?" she smirked.

-End of Chapter 9-

A/n: Well guys. That's the end of this chapter. I know the ending has nothing to do with romance and not written well, I supposed. But please don't kill me. There's supposed to be some evil characters in here and I think it's time to 'start' their 'mission'. Anyway, sorry if the next chapter will be coming quite late coz' I haven't finish writing it. Actually, I had written it already but decided to start another one coz' it was going too fast like chelsea34 had said, I shouldn't rush on writing these stuffs. So hold on till the next chapter. I'll make sure they're written well. Till then!