Hi guys, I really was stuck on how to play this out, I mean I had an idea on how this was gonna end after that dramatic moment with Li and Saku, but now I'm not sure. Oh well, tell me how you like it okay? haha .

It didn't take quite as long as last time did it? 0.o yeah yeah I know the answer...

A Love Before Time

Li stared at the girl lying on the bedspread in their room. It had taken a lot to carry Sakura home once she had collapsed; a lot being a big understatement. Not because the girl was heavy, but in reality because he had made it so everybody in their environment was able to see him. If he hadn't done this, people would have thought this young girl who had fainted was floating. That was what had taken energy, energy that he would have to rebuild. As of now he made sure no one could see him, not even a worried Touya right by his sister. Fortunately no one else had seen Li, being the stranger he was, carry Sakura into her room.

Never once did Li move from his position in front of the window. In fact he just stared at Sakura the whole time, hoping she would wake up. The expressions that shone on her face would make anyone who noticed cringe. Her hair looked damp from sweat, her clothes tangled in the spreadsheets, and her voice letting out a few moans and sighs of his name, and making him long to ease her pain.

The pictures of what Sakura had changed this time kept playing in his head, and Li thought he was about to go crazy. He knew he would disappear as soon as Sakura woke up, wouldn't he? I mean the wedding would still be on right? He would get married in the past with Emike; just what he had wanted, right? Why the hell could he not remember ?! No matter what he saw in his thoughts though, he knew he wanted to spend his last few minutes with Sakura.

Before Sakura had collapsed, he had wanted to tell her that he really could never be with her, and he was pretty sure she knew it. But now...

Li gave a low, cold chortle of laughter under his breath. It's funny how he could seem to think of nothing else except for a sweet child crying out "I do not love you." Reluctantly his eyes closed, as he rested his head against the back wall. The things he had done to this girl since she arrived...sardonic amusement washed over him. He had to admit though, she had done her job. Sadly she had performed her duty. His only worry was how come she still hadn't woken up when all he could see she changed was done. In other words, her dream was over from what Li could see and she should be doing anything but sleeping.

Li knew Sakura was lying with her statement. He wondered why he had been so blind to Sakura's real feelings in the past. Maybe it was shock, after all he had been so sure of himself. Thinking back, he remembered how forced out her words sounded and how pain had flashed on her eyes when he pulled away from her. But the question was, would he carry on with the wedding? He was beginning to think he was cursed. His head pounding, he placed two fingers on the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes.

Everything Sakura did made him fall in love with her even more. You'd think a person would have a limit to how much he could love an individual, but no Sakura seemed oblivious to these limits. He didn't want to marry Emike, he wanted Sakura. He wanted Sakura to be in his time. Being torn apart from her...it was hard to think of. But If it meant dying once more he would do just that. He would die for Sakura because he wanted to be with her. That wasn't selfish was it? Expecting the girl to be with him when he had nothing to give her? What if one day she forgot about him? Li gave an emotionless smile.

It didn't matter. Ghost or no ghost. It didn't matter.

Past

Syaoran sighed roughly and strolled into the courtyard. Leaning to the nearest wall he placed two fingers on the bridge of his nose, and shut his eyes. For the past hour he had been ignoring everyone, from the maids, to his family members here to bask on his wedding day. They couldn't expect him to carry on with the wedding did they?...Fools.

But Sakura. Li gave a disgusted scoff. He had told her that he would marry Emike. That she had fufilled her purpose, and she needn't come back anymore. And if she did? stay away from him. What if she never came back again? The question had been bothering him ever since their last meeting, and it was growing worse.

"I didn't even give her a chance to react. Just pulled away." Li's face displayed nothing but blankness as he crumpled to the hard floor, one leg propped up and his right hand half resting, half dangling on it. There was a deep growing discomfort at the pit of his stomach that he had never felt before, and he knew it wouldn't disappear until Sakura was back into his life. No matter what he did, nothing changed the fact that he loved her. Sure things would never be the same again but he still loved her.

What the hell was his problem? he had acted like she was acid as soon as he heard what she said. Was his ego that big that he was sure she would have said 'I love you?' she made a choice to a sudden question he had shot out and he had treated her like dirt because all she had done was answer his question. What a moron he had been. All this was his fault. He had to make things right again. Or atleast as right as they could ever be.

"She hadn't answered correctly." Syaoran grumbled, sounding like a little child. He had meetings to go to, jobs he had to attend but he wasn't doing them. How could he if everything flooded back to Sakura?

"Ahh you must be Li, Syaoran."

Li raised his eyes lazily to an older man a foot away from him, his whiskey eyes showing such mirth. He was incredibly tall, having to bend to meet Li's own eyes. His glasses made him look like a professor of some sort, no one he had ever met. Rolling his eyes he continued to lose himself in his thoughts, ignoring the man like he had done everyone.

The stranger smirked and stood straight up. "You're quite similar to yourself in the future Li."

This unwillingly caught Li's attention as he returned his gaze back to the man, now able to see all of his attire. A white shirt with sleeves, and a very odd, yet long looking cravat of some sort. His pants were brown and straight, accompanied by matching, shiny, quite foreign shoes. All in all, not an outfit of his time.

"I'm sorry, I don't often converse with strangers in my household. You are?" his voice still showed uninterest but his eyes were narrowed suspiciously now. He still hadn't rose from his position.

"I'm Fujitaka. You can say I'm a friend of yours in the future."

"Friend you say? well then perhaps you could acknowledge my wanting to be alone and leave."

Fujitaka grinned. "To make it more clear, I am Fujitaka Kinomoto."

Li's eyes widened slightly in surprise as he lifted his whole face now to meet the man's. "Kinomoto?" remembrance flashing through him, Li forced himself to his feet. "Sakura." he whispered silently.

Fujitaka nodded. Li in the future had treated him like this too before Fujitaka had intoduced himself to be someone of importance. Sakura's father. It wasn't like Li's composure changed dramatically,of course not. He was still very stubborn, arrogant, and untalkative, but the position of Fujitaka had Li speak to him with a fairly enough respect.

"You don't appear so well Li."

"I do not feel so well." Li crossed his arms, wanting to get past these little polite casualities. "You traveled all the way from the future is it? you must have something of importance to tell me."

Fujitaka didn't say anything. He knew Sakura had just visited him, after all how else was he supposed to get into her dreams. He felt bad for making Sakura continue in her sleep while he was having a conversation with Li so he wanted to make this quick. Except Sakura was no where to be seen. If she wasn't awake, and not with Li then where?

"Where's Sakura?"

"She went back." Li tapped his fingers impatiently on his arm, not wanting to yet again be reminded.

"She couldn't have, I'm here. That is unless-"

"Unless what?" Li interupted. Why was he looking like that? Was she hurt? Damn it, if it was my fault...

"Don't worry, I'm sure she'll be fine as soon as I leave. But the truth is I wanted to speak of Sakura's burdens."

Fujitaka smiled once again, irritating Li with his cheerfulness. This was where Sakura got it from. He didn't like being around this man. Qualities were too similar to his daughter's.

When Li didn't say anything, Fujitaka continued. "To sum it up, Sakura's job was to change your past so in the future you would never have died, instead you would be happily married to the one you love. Emike. It makes you wonder how a job as simple as that would take as long as it did."

"What are you implying?" Li looked up into the sky, watching the clouds move slowly in the wind.

"You fell in love with her didn't you Li?"

For once in his life, Li had nothing to say as he teared his wide eyes off the environment and snapped his direction to the man in front of him. "I...I..." he wanted to look away but was caught in the heaviness of the older man's gaze.

No one had ever asked him that, not even when he was with Emike, and he had never told anyone who he really loved. He might have said it to Emike, and Sakura but never to another.

Li stared into the knowing eyes of Sakura's father until he finally admitted his answer. His voice was hard and grim, showing this concept was a very difficult and new concept. Except there was no shame, just pure logic and truth.

"I did."

Future

"Eriol?"

Eriol stopped walking and gave a worried glance back to Tomoyo. "What is it Tomoyo? You're not sick are you?" he flashed her a sad look that looked like it would get sadder if she wasn't able to resume with their date.

Tomoyo smiled at the look before shaking her head. "Have you seen Sakura these days? She hardly eats at lunch, and she always looks sad, and kinda sick and angry at the same time, maybe-"

Eriol paced back and placed a long finger to Tomoyo's lips, stopping her run on sentence. "Hey, blue eyes your going way too deep with this. I'm sure Sakura has a lot on her mind." His shoulders gave a slight shrug. "You change when you go through the things Sakura's gone through."

"And what has she gone through Eriol?" Tomoyo's eyes gave a sharp glance at the usual slick boy rubbing the back of his head in an awkward way. "Don't try to keep something from me Eriol, I'll find out. Has Sakura been telling you things?"

"Of course not." he quickly regained composure. "A night ago, I found her sneaking out of her room, but I knew something was wrong. I didn't say anything though, she looked upset enough as it were. Actually she just told me she wanted to sleep in another room because drafts were coming in from hers." Eriol tugged on Tomoyo's arm to get her off the street they were currently standing on. A red convertible flashed across the street almost immediately after that.

"I found her a room and stayed with her until she fell asleep, which was pretty much when she hit the mattress." Eriol ignored the look of gratitude Tomoyo gestured towards him when he pulled her off the street. The young girl was so innocent and thought every little act of kindness was such a big thing. Undeterred, he continued. "We spoke little though, because she looked unusually pale. When I asked her if she was sick she just replied 'No' and that a night's rest should take care of it." he smiled at the sapphired eye girl as they entered a small, expensive looking coffee shop. "That's all I can tell you blue eyes. I didn't press on after that."

"Oh." she replied lamely. He was keeping something from her but she knew if he was keeping it from her, there must have been a good reason. Besides, she didn't want to hear about Sakura's condition from someone else. Only Sakura could tell her. "Eriol?"

"Tomoyo?" Eriol took his attention away from his menu, dropping the laminated paper to the table. Tomoyo had been very quiet since he had told her about Sakura's state, more so than usual, and he was hoping she wouldn't think she would have to fix this problem. It was just like Tomoyo to flounder over such small problems.

"Can we go see her after? It wouldn't interfere with anything you'd planned would it? I mean..." she bit her lip nervously at Eriol's inquiringly, raised eyebrows. "Never mind, forget I brought it up." Embarassed she even suggested a thing, Tomoyo lifted her menu up so it covered her face. She was so lucky to be even going out with Eriol, who was she to demand such a thing from him when he had their time already planned out?

Eriol grinned at Tomoyo's flustered state, thinking he had never seen anything cuter, though he was worried she thought she wasn't worth his time because he was pretty sure it was the other way around. To hell with it, he was whipped. There was nothing he wouldn't do for this girl; too bad she just didn't know it because if she did, she could do some serious damage.

Leisurely Eriol pulled the menu out of Tomoyo's grasp in a quick, smooth motion, earning a sharp sound of protest from the still embarassed girl. He leaned back in his chair in a more comfortable position, his hand still holding the menu. He watched amused as the girl tried to get her hands on his own menu in front of him, but was denied the chance when Eriol picked that one up too.

"Eriol." her voice showed her exasperation as she looked down at her hands not wanting to make eye contact with the playful man.

"Hmm?"

Begrudgingly, Tomoyo raised her gaze so it met with Eriol's. She felt an uneasy feeling grow inside her and pull at her heartstrings as it was growing to be customary whenever she looked at the man. His blue eyes shown with mirth and his lips quirked up.

At first Tomoyo didn't say anything, just studied the man and his overconfidence. Until it finally hit her. "You're not angry." she frowned as his grin grew larger, as if to say 'took you long enough' " Her embarassed state rapidly flew into a large rage. She glared at him with all she had. "Eriol, you horrid, impertinant, vindictive man!" not wanting to create a scene she stayed in her seat and narrowed her eyes at Eriol, conjuring up the largest glare she could come up with.

He pretended he hadn't heard anything. "I'm surprised you think I was angry Tomoyo. You don't think me a monster do you?" he slowly gave back her menu, laughing when she snatched it roughly back. "Don't worry, we'll go see Sakura right after this."

"Truly?" Tomoyo asked.

Eriol just smiled his calm, warm smile. "Your wish is my command."

"She told you she did not love you?" Fujitaka urged on. The man was in a foul mood and it was hard getting answers out of him. "How did you react?"

"How the hell was I supposed to react?!" Li leaned further into the wall, his strong shoulders slumping. "I told her not to come back anymore, and I didn't want to see her anymore." he waited patiently for an upcoming lecture from the older man. He didn't get one.

This conversation was taking a long time and Li was very annoyed. Was the man trying to make him feel bad, because it sure was working. I mean did he love Sakura? Yeah right...did he love her his ass. Of course he did, wasn't it obvious? Geez, was he purposely trying to provoke him?! If he had been anyone else, Li would have already let loose his rage.

"And I assume you aren't going to carry on with the wedding any longer?"

Li gave a cold, harsh bark of laughter. "You're the first to say that Fuijitaka." everyone still thought Li would continue with the wedding. Perhaps even Sakura...but he wasn't going on with it. He had told Sakura he would but under the circumstances you couldn't...you could blame him. Damn it all to hell, why did he have to say that?! Now he'll never see her again.

It had been a blow to his ego when she had said she didn't love him, and now he wanted to take everything back.

Li had always had a cool exterior. One that he showed everyone. But despite his accustomed coldness, bitter outlook on life, and untalkativeness to anyone, layed a small area that he had given to Emike. During the time with Emike, he had changed. People around him were all evident to it. His tone grew softer to the public, and he felt more sympathy to others. No one knew if the reason for his personality change really was at the fault of Emike but he began to smile. No one had seen him do so since he was but a child.

Then Sakura had made an entrance into his life. He must admit when he found out who she really was he couldn't stop his advances on her, and deep inside he might have even felt a small sliver of guilt, as tiny as it was for Emike, and yet there was something about the girl. Her accent was a lot different then the people who resided in this land, though she did sound fairly well when she tried to change her voice, and there appeared to be a fresh childish innocence that radiated from her whenever she was around. Her eyes weren't the same green as Emike, and finally she had the sharpest tongue he had ever had the pleasure to go against.

At first, the fact that Sakura seemed to care so much for his future self made Li suspicious even as he was growing fond of the young girl, but until recently he finally began to understand the length at which she would do anything for him in the future. Besides, her face was very easy to read. Not recently, but in her past visits. He'd noted this. Sakura kept her feelings bottled up for his sake and she played her duties responsibly. Too responsible in Li's opinion. His future self can't possibly still love Emike could he? How dense was he in the future, because from what Sakura was telling him, he appeared to be a dolt. Death didn't make you stupider did it?

Li made a face. "I'll have a conversation with Emike first and then we'll see." he couldn't cancel the wedding, where would that leave Emike? No matter what happens he couldn't desert her. If he did, would she run off with that Donovan? Never mind that, would Sakura be with Donovan if she ever decided return then? The thoughts were running off in his head, and making him go out of his mind. Just thinking of those two together made his heart wrench.

Fujitaka gave a light shrug telling him it was his choice and he had no say in it. He quickly changed the topic. He was noticing Li didn't like to talk about Sakura for too long a time. "And of this Simon Donovan? What have you decided for him?"

Li blew a gusty sigh. Did everyone know his problems? "He is of no concern to you, or anyone for that matter."

"Li, does this have anything to do with Emike and Simon's relationship?"

"I do not know if there is a relationship Fujitaka so I am not confirming anything, and I already told you that this is my business."

"Well then, what about the merger you had with Simon's clan? Does that mean anything?"

"There is no merger. If you haven't heard, I've called it off." Li rubbed his forehead. When he went out into the courtyard he had expected to get some peace, he did not however expect a long, droning conversation with Sakura's father. "Anything else? I have work to attend to." it was just an excuse but Fujitaka didn't know that.

"Well yes, why did you plan a merger. You seem to despise this Simon." Fujitaka's face formed a frown, that didn't seem to fit his usual self. "Was it just because Emike told you to?"

A corner of Li's mouth twitched up in an unnerving way. His fists tightened. What had Sakura been telling everyone?! He was going to pull his hair out anytime now. Everyone surrounding him seemed to be hounding him for answers. What else had she told people? He felt a small blush creep up his face at her choices. They hadn't really spoke during her visits as he recalled.

Forcing himself to focus, Li regained his composure and shook off his flustered feeling. "I owe you no explanation." he did his best to avoid contact with the man who was looking at him now quiet curiously.

"Li, I would think Sakura would want to know when I get back. You do owe her an explanation do you not?"

"I..." Li growled under his breath. He did. He owed alot to the caring girl he loved. What a manipulative, blackmailing man!

Slowly Li looked at the paved ground underneath him, bracing himself for the whole truth. "Yes, Emike supported me while I was planning the merger. I hadn't wanted it. Donovan's lineage wasn't something I would be proud of, however I couldn't deny his proposition of integrating our prosperity." he looked up at Fujitaka. "We had unfortunately fallen in wealth this year because of the wedding." he explained patiently. "Striking the bargain seemed to be an accommodating decision, so I did what I thought needed to be done. But until recently I couldn't comprehend why Emike wanted it so badly. When I realized it was because of that lout Simon I continued with the plan, hoping I could do something about it. As you can see, I did not have to. Sakura has made things work out." he said the last sentence in obvious distaste.

"And so why have you broken the merger then? Didn't you just say it was an accommodating decision on your part?"

The young man raked his long fingers through his hot hair, gleaming lighter under the glaring sun. "Well as accommodating as it was, I had my suspicions between him and my fiancee. Each day I grew to despise the man's face even more. I tried to keep him away from Emike, in a pathetic attempt for her to stop listening to the Donovan's lies. It was only when I finally grew out of my fondness for Emike that I could see that Donovan's intentions to join with my clan were least then obliging." Li's face grew solemn, as it took a while to put together the pieces. Not the story exactly. No, that was burned into his heart, but why he had been so obliviously blind to the whole ordeal.

"And that was?"

"The man wanted to take advantage of my state and rid the rest of my people. I could even go so far as to say there might have been quite a massacre here if I hadn't noticed soon. His clan is double my size Fujitaka, but the intelligence and lack of initiative they have is enormous. They could never fair with my people. His purpose of joining with my clan was so he could gain the knowledge to get rid of us. I couldn't have that now could I? What would that say about my ability as a capable leader?" He smiled crookedly as he made direct contact with Fujitaka, his eyes changing from impish to grave. "Because I had been so blind to love, I almost had my populace hurt. I take it that was what happened in the future? I died a pathetic death while my clan was eaten away by the reigning of Simon and Emike?"

Fujitaka sympathized a smile. "Give or take." he answered.

"I owe your daughter an uncountable sum then Fujitaka."

The older man just nodded knowingly. "You still want her in this time then?"

" A king needs his queen doesn't he?" he watched the man's reaction, suprised to see he smiled back.

"What are you going to do with Emike?" Fujitaka could see quite clearly he wasn't going to get the answer to that question. He wasn't even sure, Li knew the response, so he changed the direction of the discussion. "And if Sakura comes back to this time once more? What will you do then Li?" he gave a sad smile as he placed his right hand into his pant pocket. "I can only begin to comprehend what she's going through Li."

"Going through? She's not going through anything Fujitaka." Li scoffed at the man's remark. "She'll probably go back with a free conscience, now that she's gotten everything she came here to do, and she can be left alone in the future." his jaw tightened. "Yes, she's gotten everything she desires. She won't be coming back to this time anymore." he murmered the last part.

"You'll see her again Li."

At that comment, Li's head snapped back up to gaze directly into Fujitaka's face. " What makes you so sure?"

"I know my daughter." he gave a final smile. "I must be leaving you now Li, think about what you plan to do in the next couple of days. This isn't the last you'll see of Sakura, and you should get an idea of how you want your conversation to flow the next time you meet. After all, it might be your last."

Li just glared at the teasing man as he vanished out of thin air.

Sakura twitched slightly as she felt the first sliver of light enter her eyes. A tiny moan of confusion had her widen her eyes to slits just so she could make out her surroundings. An odd heaviness made her feel like lead as she turned to her right side in order to check her clock.

Her green eyes immediately lost their weariness as she spun and came inches away from a very familiar face.

Li, Syaoran.

He just appeared to be staring at her her, though he said nothing. She did the exact same, her own thoughts wandering in contrast to his expressive face. Li had almost a sort of child like essence as he looked at her. He was crouched down, and his hands were against the floor. He would have appeared to be in a pounce like ready state, except his face, a nose away displayed utter curiousity and confusion, mixed in with what looked like a state of guilt. Sort of like a child who had just done something wrong, and was waiting to see how he would be reprimended. His eyes were huge and more exxpressive than Sakura had ever seen.

The moment they made eye contact, Sakura's heart thumped hard against her chest, and both individuals blinked before Sakura felt an uneasiness cover over her like a thick atmosphere. Making a gargled sound she pulled nervously away, and sharply pulling her face in another direction.

Li frowned as soon as Sakura pulled away but he too suddenly felt very strange just staring at the girl. Falling to the ground in a very awkward way, he felt a deep blush flow over him and to his face. He sat with a leg propped up and the other touching, examining his face and wondering why he felt so embarrassed and hot. He hadn't done anything wrong, had he? He had just been examining the girl up close, remembering the short conversation he had with Fujitaka when the girl had abruptly woken. And as if she knew he was there, she had spun around to just inches away from him. It wasn't like he had spied on her.

But now Li stopped thinking of how red he was turning and directed his attention to his whole body. He was still here? Li's eyes shook as he raised his hands to his face. He had not married with Emike then. Confusion hit him in waves as he looked around the room. Sakura's bed, Sakura's closet, Sakura's mirror, and Sakura's desk. All of it was Sakura's. He was still in her time! He had died once more then? Why couldn't he remember what he decided after the conversation with Fujitaka? Did he get to see Sakura once more before the arranged marriage?

"Things are still the same then." his soft voice was echoed in the silent room. He tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling, his two hands supporting him from falling to the ground. "Nothing's changed." he paraphrased from his words.

Sakura slowly turned her head so she gave a quick glance over her shoulder. He didn't seem to acknowledge her existance, and even so she didn't know what to do at that moment. The memories she beared were still freshly imprinted into her. She just wanted to get this over, so why was he still here? He seemed to think he was supposed to leave too, so why hadn't he disappeared yet? In reality, she felt the tiniest of happiness he was still here with her, but that was quickly overcome from the fact that he wanted nothing to do with her. Wearily, Sakura turned back around to her position, her back towards the man behind her. She sighed as softly as she swung her feet back and forth in front of the bed.

"Kinomoto."

Once again Sakura found her face inches away from the dreaded man. He was on his knees and each hand on either side of her. Even then, his eyes met evenly, and directly to hers. His eyes displayed such grief, and Sakura thought she was at the fault of this.

"I'm dead."

"Yep." Sakura nodded, trying to lighten the mood, despite the circumstances.

"I didn't marry Emike?"

"There's still two days until the wedding." she shrugged indiferrently. She tried to not keep eye contact because visions of pained brown eyes would glare back at her. She tried not to touch him because her touch had been like a disease the last time. "You still have time." she added, hoping her words made him a little happier.

"Kinomoto. Look at me." his voice showed no room for hesitation.

"I am." Sakura stretched the truth. Of course she was looking at him, just not at his face. "Something wrong?" she asked, cheerfully.

"A... are you o...okay?" Li's voice showed deep concern, as he felt his face heat up, as it normally did.

"I'm fine." Sakura answered, finally giving him the benefit of the doubt and looking up at him.

"You don't look fine." he questioned right back.

"I am fine." Sakura realized he was trying to take her mind off everything in the past by making her annoyed with him. He had once told her how entertaining it was to be the cause of her irritation.

"Aren't you going to thank me for asking?"

"Thank you." Sakura gave a small smile. He had said that in hid usual cold voice which made it very amusing, but it didn't take her mind off of what was more important.

Li must have sensed this because he began to look at her with his narrowed eyes. Sakura wondered what he was trying to say, and soon understood that his eyes were telling her he was sorry. Sorry for all the grief he had caused her since he had known her. Sorry for something Sakura thought he needn't be sorry for.

"It's not your fault Li. I said the words didn't I?" she didn't give him a chance to say anything because he seemed unable to think of anything appropriate to say. Instead, Sakura leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closely into her.

Li was caught off guard with the action."S...sakura." Both his hands were still on the bed, his face now resting on her shoulder. "What a...are you doing?" after all that happened, this was the last thing he thought Sakura would do.

Sakura shook her head into Li's own shoulder crook. "Don't look at me like that Li." she pressed him closer to her as if he would disappear. With the hug she was making up for what could have been. If she had only said the three simple words when she had the chance. "I was so afraid. I thought I was never going to see you again. When I said what I did, I really thought you would marry Emike and I would never see you again. I'm so glad. Even if I only have two more days until you're gone. I'm happy you haven't left me yet. I was so afraid."

Li's eyes widened in wonder. She was afraid for him. Relaxing, he slowly encircled his arms around the hesistant girl. Gently he pulled her into him. "I'm still here." he reassured. "I'm not going anywhere." he placed a hand against the back of her head and allowed her to nestle closer into him.

As he held her, he questioned whether she knew herself, what she wanted. She told him she did not love him, and yet was scared he would leave her. But that wasn't the case. Li knew perfectly well that though she wanted him to stay with her, she couldn't ruin the relationship between Emike and himself. And so she was forced to say what she had in order to respect what she had once promised to him. Emike's love. She just didn't want his hatred towards her in the process.

"Do you think I'm going to have to go back?"

Her enthusiam had Li break out in a smile. "Perhaps. That is unless you stop your faintings, and decide not to sleep for the next two days."

Sakura, unamused and grimacing hit him on the shoulder. "Shut up." she quipped, pulling her head further back and asking, "What will I do next time then? Should I stay away from you?" she narrowed her eyes roguishly. "I'm not going to be responsible for the actions I take if things get bad."

Li too disasembled himself from the girl, growing too attached. He stood up so he was towering over her, forcing a smile back down. "Try not to hurt me too much then." he smirked. "I can't tell you what to do though Kinomoto" he looked down into her curious eyes. "I'd say yes stay away, because I know what I am capable of. You're going to have to decide for yourself. " he tossed the girl an irritated glance. "I don't think I'm going to attack you." he snapped suddenly. He glared down at her petrified face. "Stop looking like that."

"Like what?" Sakura asked impishly.

"Like I will attack you!"

"I'm not." she responded right back. "I'm more scared that you'll be happy to see me. Then I'll be forced to take actions."

"Save your antics." Li rolled his eyes. "Why would I be happy to see you?"

"Why were you staring at me sleeping then?" Sakura jumped out of bed, happy to stretch her stiff body.

"It doesn't mean I was happy to see you Kinomoto." Li rose his eyebrows, contemplating Sakura's logic.

"Of course it doesn't." Sakura said. "I was already there for you to see. You were waiting to be happy to see me awake."

The ghost crossed his arms. "Enjoy your fantasies." he said, unconcerned and regarding her conclusion with skepticism.

Sakura just shrugged. "Li?"

"What?" this conversation was quite pointless, yet he was somewhat entertained by it, especially with the next choice of Sakura's words.

"I just wanted to say...uh, I didn't exactly...but I can change it, no Syaoran-uh Li, I." she chuckled nervously, scratching her head, completely embarassed. Boy was she acting like a total loop head. She looked up at him to see him watching her in that way that made her lose all the thoughts in her head, her blood rush to her cheeks, and her eyes watch him with intense curiosity. She stuck frozen in her position, her lips parted slightly. After a brief moment of silence, Sakura felt the deep need to change the subject, not that they were speaking of anything anyways.

"You think you'll forgive me if I go back?"

Li's eyes softened as he took a step forward to brush a strand away from Sakura's face. "I'm not sure." he gave a wolfish grin and shrugged when he saw the she had wanted a better answer than that.

"It'll all depend on whether you can resist seeing me in the past again, sweetheart." he didn't give the chance for Sakura to scowl back at him, before he disappeared out of the room's atmosphere. Sakura hated it when he did that, because you could never tell if he was still in the room or not. Either way, she still stuck her tongue out, calling him a jerk in the process, and hearing the lightest of chuckling at the back of her head.

Was everything fine again? Things were always different in this time and in the past. If the future Li was angry at her the past one wouldn't be, and vice versa. It was like two different people. Odd, for she knew why the past Li wouldn't be angry for he knew nothing of what happened in the future, but the future Li did. He knew what went on in the past. Yet he was never angry at her unless she made him go mad in their time. Sometimes thinking about that made her smile. She understood that the reason Li left was because he didn't want to cause her any more pain, and staying would cause recent memories to surface. Besides, she had been blabbering like an idiot. When had she become so soft? She could barely recall the sharp tongued, distrusting, cynical girl that she was. If her past self could just see her love sick self now, she was sure she would be sick. Even now she was taken back by her change in attitude as she became more and more attached to Li. Sure at first he had been rude and cocky himself, but he had changed somewhat too. Sakura often liked to believe it was because of her.

Sighing Sakura gathered her thoughts. So in the end, things wouldn't go her way. Only Emike's. Slowly her gaze rested on her backpack, the thing not interesting her by itself but the contents within. Would the plan work? Ignoring the feeling deep in the pit of her stomach, she assumed as longing, Sakura began taking out the equipment and setting things up. She would call Li as soon as things were ready, feeling almost a hundred percent sure he would comply to the request once he knew the purpose.

During that conversation, neither of them had not touched the topic of Sakura's last words to Li in the past. Not because it was insignificant, hardly. But because Sakura knew she had been lying,...

Then again, Li had known it too.

Hmmm, does Sakura know Li loves her? she seems pretty dusgusted at herself for losing pessimism...haha it's okay Sakura, being nice is a GOOD thing. . meh, who am I to judge. What is this 'niceness' you speak of... haha. OKAY well how was it? explained some things didn't I?- OH no!!! Sakura's setting up Simon's dirty plan! AHHH stay tuned to see what'll happen. Hope you were satisfied. 0.o Yell at me in the reviews. ;)

What else...Oh YEAH! if you guys know any good escaflowne fics, can you keep me posted? I'm going into this deep thing with it...maybe even growing a bit obssessed...haha thanks so much. And if you want, check out my own little fic about Van and Hitomi, I call it Hesitated strike, Hesitated kiss! I feel real good about it! cough, only TWO chapters, cough Well until next time, bye guys! thanks for all the reviews. -silent wanderer