Disclaimer: I do not own Itazura na Kiss or Card Captor Sakura

Chapter 9: Sakura, and the Misunderstanding

Sakura ran until she thought her legs would give out. She wasn't for sure where she was running all she knew was that she had to get away. She didn't even notice when the rain started or when she was completely drenched through.

Finally she came to a swing set at an abandoned park. Gasping for air she dropped onto one of the wet seat and let her heart beat quiet. Somewhere along the way her pony tail had came undone so her hair hung like a wet curtain around her face.

She wasn't for sure how long she sat there in the summer rain. Hadn't he just said he wasn't going to run away from me? Well you are running Li Syaoran she thought angrily kicking at the ground. You are running away from me you coward.

She awoke staring at her ceiling the world coming into better focus. She was vaguely aware that her throat hurt and that her head was pounding. Of course she would get a cold. Looking at her calendar she sat up groggily and made her way downstairs.

"Sakura-chan! You should be in bed," Yelan scolded.

Sakura gave her a small smile, and then her eyes rested on Syaoran. He stood by the door with his suitcase ready to go.

Clearing his throat he said, "Well I'll be leaving now."

Yelan tearfully drew him into a big hug. "You better come for dinner once a week at least! Remember to eat your meals! And wear a jacket when it gets cold."

"It's summer mom," he said embarrassed.

Once Yelan drew away he looked over to where Sakura was standing. She met his eyes with her soulful jade green ones. He was worried that she looked so sick. Where had she disappeared to last night?

"I'll be leaving now Feimei," he said to his sister but looking towards Sakura. Feimei gave him a tearful hug goodbye. He waited in the doorstep for a moment looking towards Sakura. She met his eyes once more, and it looked like he wanted to say something but instead he just shook his head and left.

Sakura watched him go from the landing, and her heart dropped to her stomach. Well that's it… she thought sadly.

Yelan came up and wrapped her up in a blanket. "Come along Sakura-chan. Let's get you back in bed. I'll bring you some warm milk and honey."

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Tomoyo and Chiharu came to visit her later that day. All three girls sat on her bed and Tomoyo sighed sadly. "Just when I thought you guys were making progress."

Sakura sighed, playing with Kero's ear. "I guess he's going to work part time to pay for his expenses. He wouldn't tell us where he's going to work or live."

"He didn't even tell his parents?" Chiharu asked appalled.

Sakura shook her head sadly.

"Why would he move out now?" Tomoyo mused.

Sakura shrugged. "He even told me that he wasn't going to run away from me anymore. He seemed happy that I was back…" she said trailing off.

"He said he wasn't going to run away?" Tomoyo asked perceptive as always. "Perhaps it's because he is acknowledging that he has some feelings towards you so he feels like it's not proper to live with you."

"Yeah! Maybe he knows he can't control his raging hormones," Chiharu said winking. Sakura bonked her head with a pillow laughing. Getting serious Chiharu said, "So what are you going to do now Sakura-chan? It's the summer so it's not like you can see him at school."

Squaring her shoulders she said, "I made a promise to myself that I wasn't going to chase him. That I was going to be confident. So I'm just going to try and stay busy. I'll pick up more hours at the children's hospital."

"You're not even half way tempted to find out where he works?" Chiharu said grinning.

"I have the perfect spy costume for you," Tomoyo said dreamily already sketching in her notebook that seemed to appear from nowhere.

"No," Sakura said resolutely. "If he wants to see me… He knows where I am."

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Sakura really did love volunteering at the children's hospital. With starting college her hours had dropped, but now that it was summer she was happy to volunteer again. All of the nurses loved her sunny attitude and the children adored her as well.

One of her favorite children was a little boy named Tenshi. Apply named because he really did remind Sakura of an angel. He was a very sick child and had been in the hospital for a very long time.

Today, at the end of her shift, Sakura made her way to Tenshi's room. She was surprised, however, when someone was already in the room with him. Cracking the door she stared as a teenage boy dressed in a magician's costume performed an act for the child the finale drawing out a stuff white bunny, and handing it to the child. Sakura clapped coming to the room smiling at the young man. He turned tipping his hat to her but stopped seeing her face, "Sakura?!"

"Kai-kun!" Sakura said surprised. "What are you doing here?!"

The two found themselves a bench outside and settled down. Kai grinned spinning his top hat, "I volunteer here sometimes," he explained. "I'm kind of used to hospitals. My mom was sick for a very long time."

Sakura nodded understanding. "My mom was sick for a long time as well. I was very thankful to the nurses for caring for her so well at the hospital she was at. It's not the same of course, being a children's hospital, but I guess I'm making it up to them by warming these kid's hearts."

Kai nodded along. He didn't know that Sakura's mother had passed away. "What did she die of?"

"Leukemia," Sakura said. Looking up into the sky she smiled. "But I feel like she is with me sometimes."

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing in the word. It knows no low, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorsely all that stands in its path," Kai quoted Agatha Christie.

"A poet and a magician," Sakura teased. "Heard from Meilin this summer?"

Kai shook his head. "The elusive Chinese Peony has evaded my path," sneaking a peek at Sakura he said, "How about you and Syaoran? I heard he's moved out…"

Sakura nodded her head. "Yes, at the beginning of the summer."

Smirking he said, "Say Sakura-chan, why don't you buy me lunch. I know a good place."

"Hoe? Now?"

Kai didn't wait for an answer and pulled her along. "I have a feeling you'll love where I pick."

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Kai took her to a very chic café. It looked pretty high end, but Kai reassured her that it wasn't expensive. They settled into a small table by the window, and Sakura happily looked over the menu. She loved cute things and was delighted with the menu being full of adorable latte drinks.

"Are you ready to order?" came a voice.

Sakura looked up to smile at the waiter, and almost fell off her chair at seeing Syaoran. He smirked down at her dressed in his waiter attire. "You work here?!" she gasped.

"It would seem like it," he said crossing his arms. Pointing his head at Kai he said, "Kai works here on the weekends. He put in a good word for me." Sakura looked accusingly at Kai who innocently smiled back.

"So Americano for you," Syaoran said writing down for Kai "With the Italian Ciabatta sandwich," Kai nodded. He was a creature of habit.

Not even looking at the menu she said, "Turkey club with… ano.." she said nervous .

"Don't worry about the drink," he said writing down her order. "It will be out shortly."

Sakura watched him go, and finally relaxed in her chair. How long had it been since she seen him? He had moved out the beginning of July, and now it was at least 2 weeks later. She was pretty proud of herself that she had gone 2 whole weeks.

Kai smirked sipping at the water a waitress brought them. He recalled last week when Syaoran cornered him in the back.

"You volunteer at the children's hospital don't you?" Syaoran had asked out of the blue.

"Yeah sometimes when I feel like it," he had answered wiping a glass.

"Have you ever seen Sakura there?" Syaoran had tried to ask nonchalantly.

"Sakura-chan volunteers there?" Kai asked. "Well come to think of it I have seen a pretty, honey haired girl working there a lot lately."

"So that's where she's been," Syaoran muttered but Kai caught it.

"Missing your darling Sakura-chan?" Kai teased.

"What?! No!" Syaoran stuttered. "I'm just surprised that she hasn't followed me here. I keep expecting her to show up and sit here every night while I work."

Kai smirked. "I guess I could be persuaded to have her come here after volunteers hours one day… for a price."

"I don't care if she comes here or not," Syaoran said gruffly putting down the glass he was holding.

"Okay if you don't care," Kai said going to head back to the front of the house when Syaoran grabbed his collar pulling him back.

"What do you want Mizuki?" he growled.

"Meilin's phone number," he said simply.

Kai had to shake his head at the two. Watching Sakura peek glances at Syaoran every now and then, and he shooting her glances when he thought she wasn't looking.

Finally Syaoran arrived back with their drinks and food. Sakura was surprised to see a cute coffee placed in front of her. It had what looked like marshmallow yellow bear floating on top that seemed to resemble Kero. "Kawaii!" Sakura said clapping happily.

"I don't remember that being on the menu-" Kai said before getting kicked in the shin.

After they had finished Syaoran came back around to collect their plates. "Have you been well?" Sakura found herself asking.

He nodded not looking at her. "Yes, it's been nice."

Kai shook his head at his use of words. Sakura slumped in her chair. "Well I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. Make sure you come for dinner soon. Yelan has been worried," she said standing and gathering her purse.

"Don't tell mother where I work-"Syaoran said quickly.

Sakura blinked at him.

Well of course she was going to tell Yelan where he worked. So the next day Sakura found herself, at Yelan's insistence, at the café. Syaoran smirked seeing them walk into the café. So it had worked.

Feimei had tagged along too, and was happily looking around the café in wonder. Yelan smiled proudly at her son seeing him speak fluent English to an American tourist. "He looks healthy," she said sighing.

Suddenly, a body blocked their line of vision. "Can I take your order?" a female voice said.

"Oh not you dear we want that young man," Yelan said not looking at the waitress, and pointing towards Syaoran.

"I'm sorry ma'am but he is busy at the moment. Could I help you instead?"

Sakura looked up at the waitress, and again almost fell off her hair. "MEILIN?!" all three chorused in union.

She smiled at them cutely and winked. "Don't I look adorable in this outfit? When I heard Syaoran was working here I knew I had to work here as well," she said shooting Sakura a look. Syaoran shook his head in the background.

After eating, Sakura was making her way to the bathroom. She stopped almost running into Meilin. "Sorry," she said apologizing and bowing.

Meilin crossed her arms. "I'm surprised I haven't seen you here. I half expected you to be here every night with some lame excuse."

Sakura shrugged, but she found herself asking, "How did you hear about the job?"

Smirking Meilin said, "Syaoran-kun told me himself." Actually, she had cornered Kai a couple of days ago and got it out of him where Syaoran was working. So of course she had to follow him and get a job here as well.

Sakura looked down sadly. He had told her… She would still never have known if it wasn't for Kai.

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The girls decided it was time for a sleepover at Tomoyo's house. Her mother had spared no expense with Tomoyo's bedroom. Tomoyo had her own movie theater, her own designing section, and a vast closet.

At the moment, Sakura stood for her friend, while Tomoyo pinned a dress on Sakura. It was quite a silly one. It was pink and black and resembled a cat. She even had ears and a little bell on her collar. "T-Tomoyo-chan," Sakura sweat dropped.

Chiharu shook her head reading through a young adult magazine. "Your style is ecliptic but no one can say you don't have a clear voice."

Tomoyo smiled happily. Sakura was her favorite model and was always constantly fitting her into her outfits. She loved design school, but she hated when the teacher's would try to push down her creativeness. So instead, she got her creative outlet by designing for Sakura.

"So Meilin is working with him huh?" Chiharu asked. Sakura had told her friends about the situation earlier.

"And you said that she told him?" Tomoyo asked pondering. "It seems weird that he would be so secretive to his parents and you but tell Meilin…"

"There has to be a trigger for this," Chiharu said sitting up. She had recently finished her first psychology class and the subject fascinated her. "When a person changes their life drastically there has to be a trigger. So… maybe he started living by himself because of-"She gasped and looked at her friends in alarm. "Meilin?!"

"What?!" Sakura and Tomoyo said in shock.

"Think about it! He's never been able to be really close to her," Chiharu mused. "You've always been there," she said pointing to Sakura. "And his parents are always there. She gave up Oxford to go to school with him here. But he moved out so he can actually spend time with her…alone…"

"That's ridiculous," Tomoyo said looking at Sakura worried.

"I know I joked about hormones the other day, but we have to consider it," Chiharu said seriously.

Sakura's heart beat sped up. "But he said he didn't dislike Sakura," Tomoyo defended.

"There's a big difference between not disliking someone and loving someone," Chiharu said frankly. "And they are engaged after all."

"Has he ever explained that situation to you Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked.

Sakura shook her head slowly. No he hadn't. Yelan and said time and time again that she would let Syaoran explain but he still never had.

"Maybe he'll explain it in time?" Tomoyo offered, but Sakura just looked down sadly.

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Sakura made her way to the café determined. She was going to ask him about his relationship with Meilin once and for all. She tried to tell herself that no matter what he said she would be okay, but for once her unbreakable spell she would say to herself wasn't giving her much comfort.

"No matter what he says I'll be okay," she whispered to herself. Glancing at her watch she read the time. Good she was going to make it just in time for him to get off. She had texted Kai earlier and asked for his work hours.

She decided to wait by a tree, and would ask him to go on a walk when he left the building. She only had to wait for a couple minutes when she saw Syaoran leave the building. She was about to wave to him when Meiiln came out after.

She watched as Syaoran put his arm around her, and guided her away from the building. Meilin seemed to lean her head on his shoulder. Her feet felt like lead, and before she knew she was following them. He seemed to be whispering something to her and he stroked her arm reassuringly. Meilin would nod, and then hold him tighter. What was funny was Meilin wasn't dressed in her work clothes but Syaoran was.

She came to a stop seeing them come to an apartment building. She half expected for Syaoran to drop Meilin off, and leave but instead he took Meilin up.

Later she was pretty ashamed to admit she waited out there for awhile but he never came out. Sinking to the ground all sorts of thoughts flew through her mind. Were they living together? That had to be the only explanation.

Finally she stood and was beyond furious with herself. I did what I told myself I wouldn't do. I followed him, and I peered into their very private moment.

Over the next couple of days she was still pretty mad at herself. Then anger subsided into depression. Did she really not care that much about herself? Had she really stooped so low as a human being? In a day and age when women were strong why was she acting so weak? Not being the type of person to talk about her emotions she kept everything bottled in.

Yelan watched her worried as she picked at her food at the dinner table. Fujitaka also watched her and sighed to himself. Leiyun and told him that they were not the reason that Syaoran moved out, but he couldn't help but to feel guilty. He had put his daughter back in this difficult spot. He still didn't fully understand what went wrong with their apartment.

Syaoran stared at her dumfounded. He had mysteriously decided to show up for dinner that night with the excuse that he didn't have anything at home. He really had expected for Sakura to ask him about Meilin, seeing her working with him, but instead she stared at her plate and wouldn't look at him. What was the matter with her?

Sakura stood up first and bowed. "I'm not feeling well. May I please be excused?"

The adults nodded and watched as she walked off. Syaoran stared after her concerned.

The next day Feimei was delighted when her brother offered to treat her out of the blue. Syaoran watched her as she happily dug into her large ice cream Sunday. "So how have you been?" he asked her.

She happily munched away and said, "Good! I've been taking swimming classes, but Gege why treat me all of a sudden?"

Syaoran ruffled her hair and said, "I just wanted to see my little sister… Also… how are things going at home?"

"Good," she said shrugging. "You were just over not that long ago-"

"Sakura was acting weird," he said getting to the point.

The power of sugar took over. Feimei nodded. "Yes. She's been very boring lately. She won't go rollerblading with me, and she hasn't been going to her shift at the hospital. Mom says she is very sick."

"Sick?" he asked trying to keep his voice level and uncaring.

Feimei nodded. "She hasn't really been eating, and she won't talk to anybody. Very weird."

Syaoran nodded slowly. So she was sick, but there had to be another reason behind this.

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Reinforcements were called in with Tomoyo and Chiharu bursting into her room.

Sakura finally decided to open up to them, and both girls screeched in alarm. "He's living with Meilin?!"

"And that's not the worst of it," Sakura sighed. "I acted like a total fool. I followed them, and spied on them. I'm so embarrassed with myself."

"Oh Sakura-chan," Tomoyo said patting her hand. "Please don't take it out on yourself."

"He's not worth it," Chiharu said.

"I know," Sakura said sadly. "Honest, I don't care if he's living with her or not. I'm just mad at myself."

Her friend's seethed. Sakura could say she didn't care, but they knew better. Leaving the house Chiharu made a rash decision. "I'm going to give him a piece of my mind. I'm going to tell him everything I've kept bottled in."

For once the usual serene Tomoyo couldn't agree more. "Let's give him a piece of our mind."

They found Syaoran leaving his shift at the café. Both girls ran up to him and cornered him. He looked at them bewilderedly as they fumed in front of him.

"You Li Syaoran are a jerk!" Chiharu screamed. "Do you know how much Sakura-chan's been hurting over you? Don't you care?!"

"How could you do this to her?! At least tell her straight to her face that you don't like her rather than giving her false hope," Tomoyo also said. For some reason, even though Chiharu was fierier he couldn't help but to think Tomoyo looked fiercer. Her amethyst eyes seemed to regard him like a predator.

He decided to mess with them. "Who are you again?" he asked knowing full well who they were.

Their mouths' dropped open. "Who are we?! And you call yourself a genius," Chiharu scoffed.

"Why are you here?" he asked bored crossing his arms.

"Don't you know how sad Sakura is because of you?" Tomoyo asked.

"Because of me?" he asked ears perking.

"You didn't think no one would know about you living with… with… her!" Chiharu said.

"She followed you guys that night," Tomoyo explained. "She saw you put your arm around her shoulders. She saw you go up with her."

Ah… he thought. So that's what's going on.

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The next day Sakura showered and dressed. She braided her hair like usual and made her way down to breakfast. "Good morning!" she chirped to an astonished household.

"S-Sakura-chan?" Yelan gasped over pouring Leiyun's coffee.

"Good morning," she said smiling at picture of her mother. Fujitaka smiled proudly at his daughter. Last night they had a heart to heart.

"Sakura-chan, I hate to see you like this," he said sitting on her bed.

"I'm a pathetic human being," she said opening up and telling him what happened.

Fujitaka listened carefully. "No you're not pathetic. It just shows how much you've grown." She stared at him. He explained, "In the past you would be upset over the fact he lived with another girl. But instead you are upset at yourself. You've grown up my Sakura," he said patting her leg.

She hadn't thought of it that way. So maybe she had kept her promise to herself after all.

"But you need to stop acting this way. You're worrying the people who care about you. Yelan is about to make herself sick stressed about you. You don't want that do you?"

Sakura shook her head. So today she woke up with a new determination. She was going to face the day, and stop worrying the people around her.

She was munching happily on her toast, when the sliding door opened and everyone was surprised to see Syaoran.

"Xiao Lang?" Yelan asked surprised again.

"Morning," he said simply taking a seat at his usual chair, and helping himself to some toast.

The family's eyes flicked back and forth between the two uneasily.

Sakura smiled at Syaoran said, "Good morning Syaoran-kun."

He stared at her for a moment before saying, "Good morning."

After breakfast he stopped her from helping with cleanup and said, "Could I talk to you for a moment?"

She nodded and followed him out onto the street. The two walked in silence for awhile. "How's your new home?" she asked finally.

"It's very spacious," he answered.

It has to be she thought to herself. For two people to live there. "How about your meals?"

"I usually eat at the café or I have someone make them for me."

Her mouth went dry. Yes of course. She remembered how great of a cook Meilin was. Finally she couldn't stand it she had to say it now or she would never be able to say it. "I think it's great that you two found love," she said making him stop. "I've had a one sided crush on you for so long now, but I feel that crush has fueled me into becoming a better person in some ways. I put more effort into school, and learned to be confident in myself. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you fall in love with someone I want to be happy for you. I want to be a good friend to you. So if you say that you love Meilin and that you are happy living together with her then I'll be happy as well!"

"Syaoran-kun!" a voice called.

Sakura turned and was surprised to see Meilin making her way down the street. However, she wasn't by herself a beautiful, tall, dark haired, older lady walked with her. Once they got closer the older lady smiled at Sakura. "Ah is this Sakura Kinomoto?"

"Hai," Sakura said bowing. "How did you-"

"Meilin told me about you," she said smiling. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Meilin's mother Na Li."

"It's nice to meet you as well," Sakura said surprised bowing again.

Looking at Syaoran Na Li explained, "It's been so nice to have Xiao Lang around so much lately. It's been such a trying time for our family."

Sakura blinked at him.

"My grandfather died," Meilin explained. "It happened very suddenly a week ago. We were very close," looking at Syaoran she said. "He used to train Syaoran and I in karate so he knew him well too. My mother has been in town this week to comfort me."

Sakura's mouth fell open recalling them walking home with his arm around her shoulders. So he had been consoling her. "So you're not living together?" she found herself asking before she could stop herself.

Meilin and her mother laughed. "Of course not," Na Li said. "But he has been a great comfort to Meilin as well so I've been making him dinner in the evenings."

Sakura stared at Syaoran dumbfounded. He just grinned and crossed his arms.

"Well if you'll excuse us. I wanted to see Yelan for a little bit before I fly back home," Na Li said before leaving with Meilin towards the Li household.

"Sakura, I moved out to be alone. Why would I want to live with someone?"

"But you are engaged…" she muttered.

"No we're not," he said simply.

Sakura stared at him confused. "But she says you're her fiancé?"

He sighed. "It was a silly promise we made to each other when we were six. She asked me then if she could marry me in the future if I didn't find anyone I loved more. And I had agreed. I didn't realize she would take it so seriously."

"So… you're not?" He shook his head. "So you found someone you love more-"

"Let's head back to the house," he said quickly cutting her off. "I wanted to talk with father for a moment before my shift."

Sakura watched him go more confused than ever but then smiled. Running up to him she caught up with him, and the two caught up with events that had happened to them over the past couple of weeks.

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Author's Note: Yikes. This was the chapter I was dreading to write most of all. I will fully admit that this episode or scenes are some of my least favorite in Itazura Na Kiss. I understand that Kotoko really loves Naoki but to be so depressed over a boy just enrages me. I'm not a diehard feminist, but it really bothers me that she would turn herself into a zombie over him. Also, one of things I love about Sakura is how strong she is. So I didn't want to bring Sakura down by making her so depressed over Syaoran. So instead I decided to make her mad at herself. There's been countless times in my life where I've been so angry at myself for how I reacted to a situation that I've gone into a similar depressive state. So I really hope that point came across okay. Also, and this is especially in the Korean version, but I can't stand it when Oh Ha Ni goes to Baek Sung Jo's restaurant every night. So no way was I going to make Sakura seem so desperate. Anyways! Thank you again to all my loyal readers. I know it hasn't been an easy story so far in the least haha.

Like always, I love and adore reading reviews. I really do. So please review!