Helloooo guys!!!i'm back again, I didn't want to keep you guys waiting for so long. I don't really know how i finished this so soon with everything that has been going on here. And I've been so busy with homework and filming a short film, let me tell you it's soooo exhausting, but I'm loving it.

Anyways here is the new chapter, hope you guys like it.!!!


The next day Sakura woke up early to the smell of pancakes. She smiled to herself knowing that it was her father making them. She got out of bed and changed into some short jeans and a t-shirt and then went flying down the stairs. What greeted her was her father turned to the stove making more pancakes with his pink apron on. Sakura smiled and went over to him and hugged him.

"You're finally home!" Her father chuckled and then hugged her back.

"Yes I am. I missed you, you know." At this Sakura smiled and looked up at him. She really did miss him as well. She understood that he had to travel a lot because of his job, but she sometimes wanted to spend more time together, especially now that Touya had his own family, so she had to stay alone most of the time.

"I missed you too, Dad. So… pancakes?"

"Yes! I know you love them just when I make them so I decided I owed you."

"You are the best! Chocolate chips pancakes at last! I've missed them and even if Touya tries he always burns them, he's useless in the kitchen."

At this Fujitaka laughed remembering all the times Touya had burned meals while he still lived with them. He then put a plate in front of Sakura filled with pancakes and then gave her some orange juice. He smiled at the amazement that his daughter's eyes held, she was just like a little kid when it came to him spoiling her.

"So how was your date last night?" He asked also taking a few bites of his own breakfast. Sakura blushed, but eventually told him all about it. They were really close, so she never hid anything from him; he was like her best friend. Even though he travelled a lot he did keep up with his daughter's life and with Touya's too, even if he wasn't living with them. He knew he owed them since their mother wasn't around anymore, plus he figured Sakura eventually would need someone open minded to talk to about stuff like this so he always encouraged her to talk to him about anything.

"I had fun, surprisingly." She finished after telling him all about Syaoran and Meiling and the date the night before.

"So you really like this boy?"

This made Sakura blush and she was about to deny it, but then she remembered Syaoran smiling at her and laughing and she knew she couldn't. She was falling for him, and even though it scared her she smiled at the idea of it all.

"I think… I do, but it's complicated, HE's complicated. He can be the most annoying guy and then he turns into this amazing person who listens and you know he'll be there for you in any given situation. But then there's the fact that there's so much about him that I don't know." At this she sighed confused about everything that was happening.

"Well then why don't you ask him? I'm sure it won't hurt. It seems to me that for some reason this boy trusts you, so use that and get to know him better. You don't have anything to lose." Fujitaka said smiling. He knew his daughter and he knew if she liked this boy then he must be special that's why he was so calm about it. He looked at his daughter who was in deep thought and decided it was time to leave her be by herself.

"I'll let you think about that. Anyways I have to get this house ready for tonight since I told your brother to bring his family down for a barbeque, so you could just go over to Tomoyo's and ask her to come, you can even invite Meiling and Syaoran I would like to meet them. Invite the whole gang I don't mind, the more the merrier. " He said laughing a bit

"Thanks Dad! I'll go over to her house and tell her, I'll be back in about an hour or two." With that she took her dishes and cleaned them up, kissed her father on the cheek and then grabbed her sneakers and headed out the door.

"I think it's about time you found someone especial Sakura, I'm glad." Fujitaka whispered to himself and then went back to the kitchen to do the remaining dishes.

"So… how was last night?" Meiling asked Syaoran who was sitting in the living room watching TV trying to ignore hid cousin.

"Meiling, drop it." He told her getting annoyed. He never liked it when Meiling or anyone else kept asking him about his personal life. There was a reason why it was called personal.

"Come on Syaoran! It's not like I didn't see you with her sitting really close together at the beach, and the way you laughed at her jokes. I know you like her so will you stop pretending?!"

"I don't have anything to tell Meiling, if you saw it then why are you asking?"

"Because…well…I want to know how you felt about it, about Sakura, about everything. Syao… I know you feel something for her, but I know you're also worried about something else." Meiling knew her cousin and she knew there was something he was worried about beside the fact that if Sakura liked him or not. There was always something getting in the way of him showing his true feelings, but she wasn't going to let him get away with it this time

"I mean what is there not to like about her. Sakura is everything you could ask for in a girl. She's smart, funny, beautiful, she challenges you, she never keeps quiet which is great cause she can definitely shut you up, sexy as hell, she can dance her ass of-"

"All right! I get it Meiling! I know all of those things, I'm not blind." Syaoran said infuriated, but he knew Meiling wasn't going to give up just yet so he took a deep breath and tried to relax.

"Well you could've fooled me!" Meiling was really getting tired of her cousin always giving up on what he really wanted and what bothered her most was that he mostly did because of their family. They always had to be perfect so there was no doubt that they had to have nothing but the best and this included who they were associated with.

"Syao… why don't you just give yourself a chance, you don't have anything to lose. We're far away from home, right now we can be who we choose to be not what someone else wants us to be, we make our own decisions. So for once, why don't you follow what your heart tells you not what our family does?"

Syaoran stayed still with his eyes closed and his arms resting on his knees bending forward. He knew that what Meiling was saying was true, but it wasn't so simple. Even though he was away from home, he was still under watch; things for him weren't as simple as they were with Meiling. He had an image to uphold for his family, there was no chance for mistakes.

"Syao…"

"I understand what you're saying, Meiling. But things aren't that simple, our family is not build this way. I'm not build this way. I don't know how to care for someone, to open up to someone, not even my family; I… don't know how to love someone who is not part of our family. Sakura… she deserves the best…and I'm not sure if I'm that someone who should make her happy."

"Why don't you give her a chance to decide she has a say in it too, you know."

"Of course I know! But what's the point? Our family will never approve of her, and that'll just end up hurting her and that's the last thing I want to do!"

"But you don't know that! Maybe they'll make an exception. Syaoran you're going to be the clan leader you should have a say in what your future will be. So will you stop being such a wimp and fight for what you want!"

Syaoran just looked at her frowning. This was something he didn't want to talk about since the beginning because he knew she wouldn't understand no one did. He was sure that he really liked Sakura, but he wasn't going to risk her getting hurt because of something he already knew that could happen. If he could avoid it then he would.

"Forget it Meiling, there's no point in us having this conversation. What happen last night was nothing but two friends hanging out, so just drop it." He said making Meiling want to strangle him and knock some sense into him, but she knew how stubborn he was.

"Fine…for now." She said grumpily and then walked out of the room. She would let it be for now, but when the time was right she would bring it up again and make him see that maybe things with Sakura could go in the right way, and maybe his family would see that this girl had brought Syaoran out his shell and they would approve of her, or at least she was hopping for it.

As Meiling left Syaoran stayed sited on the sofa thinking about everything he had told her. He had thought about it before, but every time he saw Sakura everything seemed different, like he could forget about his life at home, about his duties and just be himself. He felt like he could loose himself with Sakura and that scared the hell out of him. 'How can one person make me feel all of this at the same time?' He thought annoying himself further. 'I just like her, it's not like I love her or anything. But still she doesn't deserve to get hurt.'

"Ugh! Dammit Meiling!" He whispered while running his hands trough his hair making it messier than before.

"So… tell me all about it!" Tomoyo squealed as she sat on her bed while Sakura laid on the floor resting.

"Tell you what, Tomoyo?" She asked with he eyes still closed trying to avoid the conversation about the date.

"Oh come on Sakura! It was your first date and I'm your best friend it is so girl code that you tell me all the details about it."

"Girl code? Since when do we have a girl code? You know we're different, we're not like all groups of friends out there… we are way better. And we've never had a girl code." Sakura said trying to direct the conversation in another direction, but she knew that there was no chance for her to win this battle.

"Sakura. Stop stalling and just tell me, you know you'll have to do it eventually."

"Ugh fine! It was good I had a great time. Happy?"

"No! I want details woman! I saw you two together at the beach and he had his arm around you so tell me everything!" Tomoyo said with stars on her eyes. She was even more excited than Sakura last night when Syaoran had put his arm around her.

"You were spying on us!" Sakura said as she sat up from her laying position on the floor.

"I was not…you guys were just in front of us so…you know…I saw." Tomoyo tried to defend herself blushing.

Sakura rolled her eyes but smiled. She knew how Tomoyo was about love and stuff, she was a total girl after all. But she knew that Tomoyo was mostly looking out for her and that she wanted her to find someone who could bring her happiness.

"Fine I'll tell you. We were just talking and stuff. He asked me about Rae and I told him about how we met, how she was when we were dancing together and at first he didn't understand how I could call someone like her a friend, but then I explained that not everything had been bad and stuff like that. And well… then I told him how grateful I was to have you guys and also Meiling and even him…"

"Oh that is so sweet! And what did you tell him so he would put his arm around him?"

"Nothing much. I just thanked him for listening to me that was all." Sakura lied. She hated lying, especially to her best fiend, but she felt like the conversation she had on the beach with Syaoran was just between them. In a way it made it more especial, at least for her.

"Aw he's so cute!" Tomoyo squealed again bringing Sakura out of her thoughts. "Did he ask you out again?"

"Of course not, we're just friends nothing else."

"Girl, please. With the way you tow acted last night there was more than friendship in the air. Sakura, why don't you just go for it?"

"Because I don't know him, Tomoyo! I mean sure I know how he acts around us, but other than that there's nothing else." Sakura said as she started to pace around the room. Every time this subject was brought up she would just get so frustrated. It was hard for her to come to terms with the fact that she liked someone she hardly knew.

"Then get to know him! Even your dad told you to, Sakura. Nothing's stopping you, not even Syoran. All you have to do is ask him about everything, just a normal conversation, it isn't so hard."

"I know it isn't. I just…don't know." Sakura sighed and sat back on the floor and hung her head down like giving up on arguing about all of this.

"Sakura, tell me what you're really afraid of." Tomoyo said encouraging her to tell her the truth.

"What if I really fall for him, Tomoyo?"

"What's so wrong with that?"

"I don't want to lose someone else I love. I'm tired of losing people who are important to me. If I don't fall for him there's no chance of anyone getting hurt!"

"But yourself! You can't live scared that everyone you love will leave you, Sakura. You can't control what happens with each and every one of us. What happened to Aunty was tragic and I can't imagine what it feels like, but it didn't happen because of you. The same with Omi, what happened was an accident you had no control over it. If you keep living with that fear that everyone you hold most dear will be gone then you'll end up alone. Sakura suffering is a part of life, it hurts and makes us want to never see the light of day again, but… in a way it makes us stronger, we learn from it." When Tomoyo finished she sat next to Sakura and put her arm around her making sure that she knew that she wasn't alone.

"I don't think I could handle losing someone else so soon, Tomoyo. You know I'm not that strong."

"Girl what are you talking about. You are the strongest person I know. You've coped with everything so well. You've kept yourself on track, Sakura. You don't know how much we all admire you for your strength."

Tomoyo smiled at Sakura who smiled in return and then they knocked foreheads as a sign of affection.

"Thanks girl." Sakura whispered feeling a lot better.

"Don't even mention it. Just promise me you'll try to get to know him, ok?"

Sakura rolled her eyes again but nodded making Tomoyo squeal again. Sakura laughed, she knew Tomoyo was right about everything she had said, but it just wasn't so simple. She knew she would always be scared of losing someone else. And the thought of losing Syaoran made her heart ache, and that made her fell even more confused. 'This guy is going to drive me nuts before Tomoyo does!'

"So are you going to invite them to your house" Tomoyo asked as she went over to her walking closet which was more like another room.

"Of course! I want them to meet dad, I don't want them thinking I'm like an orphan or something since no one is ever home."

Tomoyo laughed but kept looking through the many rows of clothes she had. "They saw pictures, I don't think you have to worry about anything. What should I wear?"

"Tomoyo, you're just going over to my house it's not a fashion show or anything. Wear shorts and flats."

"I know but which ones, I want to look good if Eriol is going, I mean I still have to impress my boyfriend even if we have been dating for a long time."

Sakura smiled at her friend. Even after two years of dating, Eriol and Tomoyo were still madly in love. Every time she would see them just hugging and laughing together and kissing she wished she could have someone as special too. She wanted to feel loved and wanted, and then she thought of Syaoran. She wanted him to look at her the same way Eriol did when he saw Tomoyo, like she was the last woman standing on this earth. 'God! I have to stop thinking so much!'

"You should call Meiling and Syaoran, I'll take of Eriol and the others. Yes, found it!" Tomoyo said as she came out from the closet holding a purple shirt and some jean shorts. "And you should also head home and get ready, I know you want to be comfortable, but you don't want to look like you just got out of bed."

"I do not look like I just got out of bed!" Sakura shrieked. Tomoyo laughed and then went over and took her cell phone so she could call the others, she then walk to her bathroom still looking for the numbers on her cell.

"Go home Sakura! I'll see you later." With that she closed the door to the bathroom and a minute later you could hear her talking with Eriol on the phone, making Sakura sigh.

A few hours later Sakura was in her room finishing getting ready. She was wearing some white shorts and a yellow tank top. It was simple but she still looked amazing. She went over to her closet and pulled out some white and yellow Airforces and put them to finish her look. Just as she got up from her bed and was making her way to the door she heard her brother come through the front door with Naoko and Ryu. She immediately smiled and ran down the stairs.

"Hey, hey! Where's the fire? Slow it down there kaiju." Touya told her from the kitchen watching her fly down the stairs. She smiled at him and then hugged him which he returned happily. "I missed you too, kaiju."

"Sakura, not kaiju! Get it through that big head of yours." She said smiling and walking towards the back yard were the grill was at. There she saw Kaho and greeted her and then her father holding Ryu. When he saw her instantly his eyes lit up with happiness.

"Aunty Sakura!" Fujitaka laughed and put him on the floor and he immediately ran towards her.

"Baby boy!" She said as she caught him in her arms and lifted him. She started to kiss him all over his face while he laughed.

"Aunty, stop!" He said giggling. Sakura laughed but stopped kissing him so she could hug him properly.

"Give me a kiss, little guy." She told him and he gave him a small innocent peck on the lips. "So…how are you?"

"I'm good! But I'm really hungry and Pops says the food won't be done right now." He said pouting making Sakura laugh.

"Oh, baby. Come on I'll get you a sandwich so you won't be so hungry, but you have to eat when the food's done ok?"

"Yeah! I'm so hungry I could eat a cow." Everyone laughed at this, Ryu always said things that would surprise everyone, he was really smart for a five year old and he was very aware of the things that surrounded him.

Sakura took him to the kitchen and sat him down on the counter and started making the sandwich while he told her about all the things that had been going on while he was at school. Right when she gave him his sandwich the doorbell rang. She knew it was the guys so she took Ryu again and walked towards the door to greet them.

"Hey guys. Come on in." She told the group. They all smiled at her and high five Ryu who giggled at them.

"And who's this cute little guy?" Meiling asked coming in last with Syaoran and Mat who smiled and gave Ryu a kiss on the forehead being his godfather and all.

"I'm Ryu! And you are?" Everyone laughed, he was certainly not shy.

"I'm Meiling, I go to school with Sakura." Meiling said as she gave him her hand so they could shake it and gladly took it saying that it was nice to meet her. He then looked behind Meiling and Sakura followed his gaze. Syaoran was standing there smiling at her; she locked eyes with him and lost herself.

"Are you Meiling's boyfriend?" This brought Sakura and Syaoran out of their own little worlds surprised by the question. Syaoran turned to him and chuckled.

"Nah little man. I'm her cousin I also go to school with Sakura. I'm Syaoran."

"Syao…ran? Well…nice to meet you!" He said giving Syaoran a high five. Sakura giggled at the exchange between those tow. It looked like Ryu would get along well with Syorand and vice versa. She would've never thought Syoran would be one to get along with children, but watching him talk with Ryu proved her wrong.

"Hey Sakura, dad wants to give Ryu something he brought from his trip. Oh hey guys!" Touya said as he walked into the living room. Everyone greeted him, especially Mat, while he took Ryu from Sakura's arm. The he looked over at the two new faces and asked them who they were.

"Sorry. This are Meiling and Syaoran, they moved here from Hong Kong a few months ago. They're in the group with us now. Guys this is my brother Touya."

"Nice to meet you. Anyways we should head outside so you guys can meet Dad and all that stuff."

About an hour later everyone was outside talking and joking around just enjoying themselves, while Fujitaka and Touya grilled some burgers and hot dogs. Sakura was sitting on the floor looking over at the group of people she loved the most and smiled. Right at that moment she felt like the luckiest girl in the whole world for having people like this as her family.

"Hey." She heard someone say from behind her. She turned around and found Syaoran sitting down next to her.

"Hey yourself. Are you enjoying yourself?" She asked smiling. He grinned and nodded.

"I've never been to family reunion like this. I mean I have family reunions and everything but everything is really formal and perfect. But this is so imperfect that just makes it…perfect I guess." He whispered while he looked at Ryu playing around with Mat and Yamazaki.

"What's it like? Having a family were everything has to be so perfect, so controlled?" Sakura asked remembering her conversation with her father and Tomoyo earlier. She had to try too since he clearly showed interest in knowing stuff about her.

Syaoran remained quiet for a while trying to figure out how to answer her question. It wasn't normal for him to talk about his family. To him his private life was just that private, but he felt like he wanted to let Sakura know what it was like, he felt and he knew that he could trust her and that she would understand part of it. She would not pity him.

"It's… tiring I guess. Keeping an image kind of makes you lose sight of who you really want to be. Back home everything is planned out for us, we don't really make decisions for ourselves. It can get frustrating, but when you don't know anything else…you forget that you're being controlled." He finished frowning.

"And now…how do you feel?"

Syoran looked over at her and smiled making her blush. "I feel… free. Like I can be myself, but it's no so simple to just let go and be like you guys. I still have to remember that eventually I will have to go back and take over the family business and take care of everything and everyone. So even if I'm here enjoying myself with you guys I can't just forget who I am back home."

"And that would explain why you can be a cold hearted jerk sometimes." She said smirking, obviously joking around.

"Nah, I'm a cold hearted jerk for other reasons. But you have to admit I have been treating you better."

Sakura rolled her eyes but kept smiling. She knew what he was saying was true; it had been a while since they had a fight. But she also caught what he said before about him being that way because of other reasons. She wanted to know, but she figured that he didn't want to talk about it now; it wasn't the place or the time for it.

"Sakura…I ….its not easy for me to open up to people, but I want you to know that I'm trying. But some things are better left unsaid; my problems are just that, mine and I don't want to drag any of you into them." He explained looking for understanding in her emerald eyes.

Sakura was surprised by the seriousness of his statement, but she completely understood what he meant and she would respect his decisions no matter what.

"We all have problems we need to deal with just by ourselves, so I understand. I may not know completely why you are the way you are, but I'll take whatever you give I wont push you to tell me stuff you don't want to. But I want you to know that no matter what I'm here if you ever need help or just someone to listen." She reassured him.

"Syaoran! Come and play with us!" Said an over exited Ryu as he ran towards them.

Syaoran smiled and turned towards Sakura kind of asking permission to go with the others. She giggled and nodded.

"Come on little guy, let's see what you've got." He said as he ran towards Ryu making him run the other way laughing.

"Well I see someone has a thing for the new guy." Kaho said as she took the place Syaoran had been occupying.

"Seems like Ryu really likes him."

"Well yeah, but I wasn't talking about him you know."

Sakura stayed still for a minute forgetting how to breathe. Had she been that obvious? And if Kaho knew it would only be a matter of time until Touya would find out.

"I wont tell him, don't worry. I know how he can get so I'll cover you."

Sakura turned towards Kaho and smiled nervously. She knew that Kaho could keep a secret; she had been there for a long time and no matter what she would always listen. And best of all, everything that they talked about stayed between them, Touya never found out unless Sakura told him herself.

"Am I really that obvious?" She asked Kaho who smiled and shook her head.

"No. Or at least when you're not together one might not notice, but I did see you and I've known you since you were younger so I know how you act when you're nervous." True to her word Kaho had always known when something was bothering Sakura. Since Sakura's mom had died, she understood Sakura sometimes needed a woman figure in her life apart from her friends of course, but just someone who could give her a different outlook on life. Kaho had made it clear that she didn't want to take Nadeshiko's, Sakura's mom, place, she was more like the older sister she never had and Sakura was grateful for it.

"Well as long as Touya doesn't notice all is good." Sakura said sighing in relief.

"Well he will find out eventually if it turns into something more than a friendship. And besides he seems like a good kid plus he's hot! I think you have great taste." At this both girls laughed. "You'll be fine, girl. You always have. And when it comes to your brother you know he's just being his over protective self, but I can handle that. Go and have some fun with your friends don't worry about if you're obvious or not."

"You're the best, Kaho. Thanks!" She said as she got up. She then went over to were Meiling and Tomoyo were talking and laughing.

"So you noticed too?" Fujitaka asked Kaho as he gave her a glass of soda. She just smiled and nodded and then looked over at Syaoran who was playing around with Ryu and the guys.

"I think, if it leads somewhere, that they'll be good for each other. He looks like a nice kid even if he doesn't show much emotion, but when I saw him with Sakura he looked so relax so at peace. He reminds me of Touya in a way."

"Yes he does have similarities with Touya, that's why I also think they would work out together. I think they could bring out the best in each other, and that Sakura could eventually brake through his walls. And maybe he can bring her some confidence back; maybe she can learn that not everyone you love will leave you." Fujitaka said hoping for the best. He knew his daughter was afraid to love for fear of losing that person, but he could see that she really liked this kid. So he was hoping for the best, for both of them.

"All we can do is hope that all goes well." He whispered while he smiled at the group of people in his house. He was thankful that this entire group of people had been brought into his chidrens life. They had made everything better in their life. They had created a new family and he was thankful for everything each and one of them had done.

'Things are going well so let's keep hoping it stays like this, huh Nadeshiko' He thought as he smiled.

Well that's it for now. Hope you guys liked it. I don't know when i'll be able to update since I haven't even started on the next chapter so i coul use some ideas. Take care!!! Let me know what you think!!!