Disclaimer: I do not own CCS.

Okay. *takes deep breath*

Guys, this chapter is just a filler chapter, because I'm just using it to lead up to the actual festival.

Soo...it's a little short.

But anyway, enjoy it by all means! (:

In reply to: mustdecide - worry not, worry not. the bullying will end. (for now.) and yes, eriol will make a later appearance in regard to his cards. :D

Thank you so much for all your reviews! Please feel free to ask my anything that...I can answer without giving the plot away! :D

Chapter Twelve

"I'll meet you on Saturday in the library at 11 then. Remember to bring your math's stuff."

Sakura nodded. "Yes! Um…Syaoran-kun, about Saturday night- " She felt hands push her down the stairs and cried out in panic, but Syaoran grabbed her arm and yanked her back. He looked around, but the culprit was gone. He turned back to Sakura.

"You okay?" His amber brown eyes were layered with honest concern. She blushed and looked away.

"Yeah…thanks for saving me."

That had happened two days ago, and Sakura was glad that nothing much had happened since then – yet. She had been planning to ask Syaoran if he wanted to go to the local festival with her (which was coming up the very next day), but had missed her chance.

Tomoyo-chan had not replied her text either, and when Sakura asked her in the morning, she said that she was busy. Maybe she was just thinking too much, but her best friend seemed a little different. Almost as if she was avoiding Sakura on purpose. Sakura put her pen down and stopped listening to the teacher. A heavy question stayed, to which she was unable to find an answer to.

What had she done to deserve all this?

Syaoran made his way swiftly back to the classroom, ignoring the squeals of his fan girls.

It was lunch time, and everybody should have been out of the room, but when he glanced up a minute ago, he could have sworn he saw somebody moving around inside. Somebody who didn't belong.

He grabbed the handle and slid the door open sharply.

"You." The blonde haired girl looked up and her sapphire blue eyes widened. She moved away quickly from the desk she was at. Sakura's desk.

"Senpai…" Syaoran made his way over and pushed her against the wall roughly, his eyes scanning Sakura's things for any signs of damage.

"What are you doing here?" His voice trembled with anger. "It was you, wasn't it. You were the one behind all this shit." Fumiko shook her head frantically.

"No! I neve-"

"You were the one who put the pins in her shoes! Do you know how much blood she lost? Did you know how much pain she had to go through?"

"NO! I never did anything like tha-"

"You were the one who pushed her down the stairs! Stop denying it, you filthy little liar!" She pushed against him, shoving at his chest, tears flowing endlessly down her cheeks. She was shaking badly.

"So what if she got hurt? I got hurt too!" Fumiko's voice rose hysterically. "It's always about her now! The way you look at her! The way you talk to her!" Syaoran brushed her quivering hands away.

"Stop your god damn nonsense." She looked up at him, a fierce gleam of resolution in her eyes.

"No." She wiped her tears away. "No." She repeated. "I won't stop. You can't make me." Syaoran growled angrily. She was right. He had no proof that it was Fumiko behind all the bullying.

"What do you want?" She paused, considering his open offer.

"I want you to be my boyfriend." He heart stopped beating for a second. Be her boyfriend?

"Fine." He didn't have another option to choose from. He had to do this for Sakura. This was the only way.

"There's a festival tomorrow night. Go on a date with me." His heart sank. He'd been planning on going with Sakura, but he had no choice now. He had to protect her.

"Fine. I'll go with you, with one condition: promise me you'll never hurt her again." She nodded.

"I promise." He turned to go.

"Wait!" He stopped. "Have you ever, ever, for even a moment, taken my feelings seriously?" Fumiko waited. He started walking again. The door slammed, and she collapsed to the floor, sobbing. He didn't say anything, and yet the answer was clear.

No.

His spiked, blonde hair glinted in the sunlight. He fingered his dragon necklace as he walked up to her. He couldn't believe his luck. She was alone.

"Sakura-chan?" She turned around, startled. He leaned against a tree and smiled gently. "Hey."

She smiled back nervously. He leaned towards her, his grey eyes wide and eager. "Listen. There's a festival tomor-"

"I know that." He studied her carefully. Her eyes seemed to be filled with sadness, her voice cracking with sorrow.

"Hey, what's wrong?" She glanced at him for a second, and in that second seemed to be deciding whether he was trustworthy or not. Then she sighed, and her problems came tumbling out.

"I just wanted to go to the festival with Tomoyo-chan and Syaoran-kun and Eriol-kun, but they're all busy. I feel like Tomoyo-chan's avoiding me, even though I can't think of what I've done wrong." I think I know, Katsu thought.

"And Syaoran-kun says he needs to study, even though he's naturally smart." Katsu's hands curled into fists instinctively at the sound of his name. God, how he hated his half-brother. But he really has to thank Syaoran for giving him this chance.

"Well, I'm free. Why don't you come with me?"

"Li-kun!" Syaoran started and focused on the teacher.

"Yes, Sensei?"

"This is the third time I've called you! Pay attention!" The teacher turned back to the board and continued with the explanations. Syaoran sighed and ruffled his hair. How could he pay attention when he'd just promised to be some bitch's boyfriend?

He stared at the back of Sakura's head, silently apologizing to her for lying about not being able to go to the festival with her. At least he could relax now. Nobody was going to hurt her.

Nobody.

The next chapter will (obviously) be about the festival, so please look forward to it!:D

And please leave me a review. (:

Until next time then,

Ja ne!