Author's note: I'm finally updating (praise me). Although now that I think about it, this probably isn't the story most people want me to update, haha. This story has long been on hold and since I'm on the last chapter of my old fanfic, I decided to kickstart this story again as a sign that I intend to focus on it right after I finish the other one. So, enjoy reading. A review would make me very happy.

And yes, for those reading my other story, the next chapter will (finally) be up in maybe 3 or 4 days. Proofreading is a bitch.

Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura or any of its characters. CLAMP gets all rights to this work. Ohkawa-san, adopt me, please?

Chapter 5: A Rotten Ledge

Rating: T

-oOo-

Tomoyo adjusted the strap of her bag and balanced the parcel she was holding with one hand. She and Sakura were supposed to meet tomorrow for brunch but she just had to see Sakura try on the new dress she made. She could no longer wait another day before she could put it on Sakura. She rang the bell and waited for it to open.

The door opened and Tomoyo froze as she met Touya's slightly murderous gaze.

"What is it Tomoyo?" he asked curtly.

She had rarely been on the receiving end of Touya's "looks" so she was a bit unsure as to how she should react. "Uh... I wanted to see Sakura?"

Touya opened the door wider and moved so Tomoyo could enter. "Upstairs," he told her in the same curt voice and then left her on her own. Tomoyo watched his back until he disappeared before journeying up the wooden stairs to Sakura's room. The door to her cousin's room was left ajar and Tomoyo pushed it slowly open with her foot.

"Evening, Sakura!" she greeted her cousin cheerfully.

Instead of Sakura's usually cheery voice, she was greeted with the sight of her cousin eating a tub of ice cream on her bed. Sakura wasn't really one for moping so Tomoyo was confused at the turn of events. She walked closer and saw the label. It said Super Triple Chocolate with Super Thick Fudge and Super Chocolate Brownie Bits. Not a good sign. Usually, the amount of chocolate Sakura consumed was directly proportional to how depressed she was.

She placed her parcel on the foot of the bed and sat beside Sakura, staring at her for a few seconds. Sakura only spooned another big dollop into her mouth. "What's got you so depressed, hm?" she asked after a few seconds.

Sakura ate another spoonful before answering. "The world."

"What's wrong?"

"Everything."

Tomoyo remembered that even Touya was acting a bit odd today. He was glaring at Tomoyo the moment he opened the door. "Touya seems out of sorts, too."

"Niisan and I got into a fight," Sakura answered.

That caused Tomoyo to raise her eyebrows in surprise. She had never heard of a time when the siblings ever fought. They had always seemed to understand each other completely. "Oh."

Sakura looked at her with her eyebrows drawn together. "Is that all you're going to say?"

"Well, I'm still a bit in shock. This is Touya, right? I mean, doesn't he give you practically anything you want? He spoils you rotten, dear. You, on the other hand, listen to him like all his words are divine commands from Kami-sama. To think that you could actually get into a fight..."

"Well, shit happens."

"Oh dear, now you're getting vulgar. What happened exactly? Your parents aren't going to happy when they see you later. I can already imagine Nadeshiko-san giving her usual monologue about happy families. Speaking of which, where is your mother? She's usually home when Touya is."

"Mom ran off to Mexico with Dad for their twenty-something anniversary. I forget."

"Huh. And that's why you guys fought?"

Sakura scooped out the last bits of ice cream in the tub and scarfed it down. "Not really. Niisan doesn't want me helping him with his work."

"Start from the beginning so I can understand."

Sakura placed the tub on her bedside table and told Tomoyo of the fight she had with Touya more than an hour ago. She told her of her mother's surprise trip and the request she gave Sakura. As soon as they entered the house, Sakura told her brother that she'd do what their mother requested. She told Tomoyo of how Touya vehemently refused her help. He even went so far as telling her he'd be angry if she brought it up ever again.

"I know I can be a nuisance but he didn't have to shout at me. It's the first time he ever did that and I didn't know what to do. I just grabbed this ice cream tub and a spoon and rushed back up here. He hasn't gone up since," Sakura said in a dejected voice.

"A nuisance? You? To Touya?" Tomoyo was puzzled by what her cousin was saying. Sakura was Touya's little princess. He would never think of her as a nuisance. Sakura brightened up anyone's day. Tomoyo grabbed the tub away from her cousin and waved it in front of her. "Maybe he just got angry you're spoiling your dinner with this junk. Just how many 'Super's can you put in an ice cream flavor, eh? One should be more than enough."

Sakura only answered her with an angry glare.

Tomoyo simply shrugged it off. Sakura would never get truly angry. "Something tells me that there's an impetus to this black mood of Touya's."

Her cousin's glare disappeared and was replaced with one of the cutest frowns Tomoyo had ever seen. "Well, I managed to cause problems for the movie staff each time I visit. The first was with that coffee thing, the second was at the aquarium and-"

"Hold up. Aquarium?"

Sakura briefly explained the circumstances of her second unfortunate meeting with Syaoran Li and its similarly unfortunate end.

Tomoyo was laughing when Sakura finished. "Maybe the director should film you guys instead. This has the makings of a very interesting rom-com after all."

"Please be serious, Tomoyo."

"All right. After those two incidents, what else happened?"

Her cousin blushed scarlet and Tomoyo wondered why she did.

"Something else... kind of happened today."

The way she was blushing told Tomoyo that this was something she definitely had to hear. "Spill it, Sakura."

Sakura covered herself with a blanket and before Tomoyo could pull it off her, she spoke. "Is it wrong to like it if a guy kisses you without your consent?" she asked in a rush.

It took a minute before Tomoyo understood what her cousin just said. "Holy. Cricket."

"I mean... I didn't really like it... I meant -"

Tomoyo forcefully removed the blanket covering Sakura and forced Sakura to face her. "Who kissed you? That was your first kiss wasn't it?" She moved so their faces were inches apart. Her eyes were boring holes into Sakura's own green ones. She was gripping Sakura's arms tightly. "Tell me!" she demanded.

Sakura sighed audibly before answering. "Li Syaoran," she muttered and Tomoyo's eyes threatened to jump out of their sockets.

"Li Syaoran kissed you?!" Tomoyo almost shouted.

"Shh! Niisan will hear!" Sakura hissed.

After a few seconds of silence, Tomoyo looked down and started shaking. Sakura started worrying for her cousin. A few moments later, Tomoyo was cackling like a hysteric. Sakura frowned. She didn't find anything funny with the situation.

Her cousin was able to compose herself enough to say, "I have got to give Li-kun an award," she said as she gave a little applause. "He's amazing! He's done what no man has ever done before. And to think he was able to steal your first kiss with Touya only meters away! He should be revered! A man among men!" She descended into another fit of giggling.

"It isn't funny, Tomoyo!"

"Oh, no. It's hilarious! Can you imagine if Touya knew? He'd have an aneurysm! You had your first kiss stolen right under his nose! He would never live it down!"

"He doesn't know, Tomoyo. Please don't tell him anything," Sakura pleaded.

"I promise not to tell so long as you tell me exactly how it happened. No skipping out on details."

Sakura nodded and started telling her about how she was supposed to take her mother's place today and then how she got locked in the room with Syaoran. She then told Tomoyo of how her phobia kicked in and how she acted while they were trapped inside.

"I was acting crazy and then he just kissed me. I struggled at first but then..."

"You kissed him back?" Tomoyo asked with a grin.

Sakura nodded.

"Did you enjoy it? Word on the street is that he's a very good kisser."

Her cousin grabbed a pillow and covered her face. Tomoyo didn't miss Sakura's little nod and she started to laugh like crazy once more.

"Wow, Sakura. I was worried you'd never find a boyfriend but here you are charming one of the best-looking actors in the industry. I am humbled and in awe of your abilities."

"It wasn't on purpose! To make things worse the door opened suddenly and I panicked and pushed him off me without thinking." She hugged the pillow tighter. "I'm sure some people saw us. We probably caused so much trouble getting locked in there and then they saw us like that! What would the people think of me?"

Tomoyo only laughed louder. "They'd probably think you were the most desirable creature on the planet."

"What are you saying, Tomoyo?"

"I'm saying that it doesn't reflect badly on you, really. Li has it worse."

Sakura tilted her head to the side and raised a delicate eyebrow. "Huh?"

"Li's known for his monstrous dedication and commitment to his work. You must be one hell of a woman to get him to act like that. Also, having seen your phobia attack first-hand, I know you'd look distraught. No one else can play the 'Help-me-I'm-so-helpless-and-I-need-protection' card better than you can."

"Is that an insult?"

Tomoyo chuckled as she shook her head. "No. I'm stating a fact. I meant that everyone who saw you would immediately feel for you. They'd want to protect you. I bet a million yen that you rushed to your brother when you saw him and started crying when he held you."

Sakura opened and closed her mouth while looking for the best way to answer Tomoyo. "I was scared," she answered lamely.

"I know you were and everyone who saw you would know that, too. Those who saw you in that state will then think that Syaoran's a bastard who'd take advantage of someone when they're vulnerable."

"But he didn't!"

Tomoyo only laughed harder. "Was he that good a kisser that he completely changed your opinion of him? I thought you hated his guts. He must have given you a good first kiss, huh?"

"I'm not defending him," Sakura replied.

"Sure, you aren't," Tomoyo answered in a voice that told Sakura she did not believe a word she just said.

"And it wasn't just the first kiss. More like the first, then second, then third... I kind of lost count."

Tomoyo gaped at her cousin. "It was a full-blown make-out session?" she asked in disbelief.

Sakura closed her eyes and nodded once before she got the blanket and covered herself once more.

"Oh, Syaoran Li, you devil you," Tomoyo said with a laugh. "I definitely have to congratulate him."

"Not funny, Tomoyo!" came Sakura's muffled voice.

"Stop hiding," Tomoyo said as she moved to get the blanket off her cousin. "Make-out session aside, I think Touya just doesn't want you getting into more trouble." Tomoyo did not add that the main reason Touya did not want her to come along was because he had probably already sniffed out the attraction Syaoran felt for Sakura. Touya's sister complex sensors were calibrated to any environment so as to achieve maximum effectiveness after all. He may not have seen it himself but Tomoyo knew Touya already suspected. Tomoyo herself could already see it and she hadn't been there at all.

"But he shouted at me and said he didn't need me," she said in a small, hurt voice.

"My poor little Sakura," Tomoyo cooed. She gave Sakura a hug and Sakura relaxed into it. "Will gossip about my private life cheer you up?"

"Oh!" Sakura looked up and met Tomoyo's gaze. "Hiiragizawa-san!"

"I'll tell you but you have to try out the dress I brought. I was too excited to wait for tomorrow so I went ahead and brought it now. I'll tell you everything after we play dress-up, okay?"

Despite Sakura wanting to wallow in self-pity, Tomoyo's excitement seeped into her and she eventually found herself smiling. "Okay, fine."

"That's my girl." Tomoyo jumped up excitedly and reached for the parcel she placed at the foot of the bed.

-xXx-

Cooking did nothing to ease Touya's frustration. He was still angry at the fight he had with Sakura earlier. The events of today and his mother's well-orchestrated escape made him so angry that he was unable to control it. He had taken it out on Sakura and he had spent the better part of an hour trying to figure out how to apologize to her. The way she looked at him after he shouted at her made him realize that he had crossed the line. Sakura did nothing wrong and she didn't deserve to be treated the way he had treated her. He closed the stove and dropped the ladle with a loud clang.

He was glad that Tomoyo had decided to drop in today. He didn't want Sakura to be alone. She needed someone to cheer her up. Touya didn't have that right since he was the one who caused her to be that way in the first place. He jumped up when he heard his phone ringing. He looked at the caller ID and almost dropped his phone in surprise. Kaho Mizuki was the last person he expected to call him. His fingers were shaking as he pressed the 'answer' button.

"Yes, good evening, Mizuki-san," he answered in what he hoped was his usual calm voice.

"Touya? Good evening. I'm sorry to call you out of the blue like this but I heard about what happened to Sakura today."

"Oh, I see." Touya wondered where she might have learned it.

"Is she all right? They said she looked so terrified when they got her out of that room."

"She's claustrophobic."

"That's so awful. Syaoran wasn't able to do anything either."

That name jolted Touya's brain. "What does he have do with what happened?"

There was a slight pause. "He was with Sakura in that room."

Touya fisted his free hand. He just knew that idiot had something to do with it. "Is that so?"

His answers were clipped and Kaho picked up on his bad mood. "Is something the matter?"

He debated telling her but decided nothing would make him feel worse than he felt now. He might as well let some of his black mood out. "Sakura and I got into a fight."

"Siblings always fight."

"Well, not us. At least not anymore."

"Oh. And how did this happen?" He could hear her curiosity in her voice.

Touya didn't really want to talk about it but he needed someone to ask advice from. He had originally planned to talk to their dad but he had yet to send them his contact details while he was in Mexico. Kaho was the only person he could talk to now. "I got angry and took it out on her. I'm still trying to think of a way to apologize."

"I'm sure she'll forgive you," she said reassuringly.

While he was glad she was trying to cheer him up, it wasn't really working with him. "I didn't want anything like that to happen. I don't want her to get scared of me."

Kaho laughed on the other line. "She won't, Touya. She trusts you more than anyone. She won't just change how she treats you at the drop of a hat."

"I still owe her an apology," he muttered.

"You really are proper with these things aren't you?"

"I am."

There was silence for a few seconds before Kaho spoke. "That's not everything though."

Touya was always amazed at how Kaho Mizuki was able to read him. They were just talking on the phone but it felt like she was right there looking through him.

"How well you can read me," he said in a slightly irritated tone.

"We've worked together so many times, Touya," she replied with a small laugh.

He may as well tell her everything. He took a deep breath before speaking. "My Mom went with my Dad to Mexico."

Kaho didn't seem surprised at this development. "Ah. Another honeymoon?"

"Something like that. She asked Sakura to take her place."

"And this bothers you because?"

Touya sighed again. It was always Kaho's style to fish for information like this. She always made Touya say things he would not say otherwise. "It's not a place for her. She shouldn't burden herself with my problems. I'm the older one."

"And if she really wants to help you, what then?" she asked him.

His sister's nature made her want to help anyone she could. Touya understood this but he also didn't want her to overexert herself. With all the things that have happened to her when she was with him on set, he grew a bit superstitious. He was sure there was some kind of curse following their movie around. Add to that the fact that she was slowly being noticed by a lot of the guys in the cast and crew. He didn't like the way some of them were eyeing her. He would rather she be far away where he knew she would be safe and out of their reach. He had no intention of getting a brother-in-law anytime within the next twenty-five years or so.

"She doesn't need to do anything for me. I can handle myself," he answered.

He knew Kaho had to be shaking her head right about now. "I know this business well, Touya. You need the help. I also don't think Sakura can stop worrying about you. She cares for you as much as you care for her. I doubt those mishaps would deter her from wanting to help you."

"Yes but-"

"You can scare away any potential suitors more easily if you're near her."

Touya smiled wryly. Kaho was far too good at reading him. "…I didn't mean anything like that."

Kaho laughed again. "Oh? You didn't? I was sure that would have convinced you."

"Maybe a bit," he conceded.

"She will want to help you."

Touya let out a tired sigh. "I know. It's the way she is."

"So she had a little accident every now and then. It doesn't mean she'll meet one again."

He had to raise an eyebrow at that. "Three out of three doesn't make me very confident about that, Mizuki-san."

"Well, if she comes with you more often, the odds could improve, yes?"

"Or they could become worse." He didn't like things like that to happen to her every time she came with him. He would rather get out of the movie than put her to that kind of danger.

"I doubt you'd let something happen to her," she said with confidence.

He felt grateful at her words but the fact was that he could not do anything for Sakura those three times. That was what made him feel even worse. He was always there when those bad things happened to her. "I was there today," he said softly.

"Bad luck," she said simply.

"I suppose," he answered. "With those three times I must have reached the quota for my bad luck this year."

"You surely can't think something will happen every time, will you?"

"I'm a pessimist. I don't let anything slide when it comes to my sister."

"Stop it, Touya. Those things were completely out of your control."

"Sorry," he said after a while. Kaho's words were cheering him up a bit. Only a little bit.

"Will you allow her to help you?" she asked him.

This was the question of questions tonight. This was the main reason why he was in this current state. He answered Kaho truthfully. "99.83% No and 0.17% Maybe."

"What in the world are those percentages?" Kaho said with a laugh.

"That's what I'm thinking right now."

Kaho laughed a little more before speaking again. "Saying yes would be a good compromise."

He knew what she was getting at but Touya was still reluctant to agree. "Do you really think so?"

"Of course. It'll show you trust her."

Sakura didn't need to be reminded of this. Touya trusted her with anything. "But I already do. She knows this."

"Yet you don't allow her to help you when you're in dire need of it."

Despite his desire to remain cold towards Kaho's entreaties, her words were making sense to him. He was finding it harder to give arguments to support his decision. "Dire need is quite the exaggeration."

"But you don't allow her into your affairs," Kaho told him.

"I don't want her to worry about me needlessly."

He could feel Kaho's frustration from the other line. "Stubborn, aren't you?"

He knew that he was being obstinate but he never cut corners or became lax when it came to Sakura's safety. He definitely did not want her to come with him on set. At least nowhere that Li Syaoran would turn up to. He didn't say this to Kaho because he knew she would say he was being paranoid. However, his gut was telling him to be wary of that man.

Touya brushed all thoughts of Li syaoran from his head momentarily and focused on his conversation with Kaho. "She doesn't need to trouble herself. She should just focus on herself and what she wants to do."

"What if what she wants to do is help you? I know she'd much rather be with you than working alone at that aquarium."

He was amazed at how patient Kaho was being. If it was him, he'd end the conversation. He did not want to deal with anyone as pig-headed as him. That caused Touya to be just a little bit more agreeable.

"Really?" he asked after a few seconds.

"Won't you be happy when she's near you as well?"

It was the truth but Touya didn't want to actually say it out loud. "That is-"

"No need to answer that," Kaho answered with a giggle.

Hearing it from Kaho, Touya felt a little bit of his pride chip off. A very negligible size, really. Not even enough to fill a sake cup with.

"Just be honest with her and it'll work out," Kaho continued.

"There's nothing much else I can do is there?" Touya asked.

"I'm afraid not."

Touya let out an exhausted sigh. "That leaves me with no choice."

"Then I guess I'll be seeing her on set very soon?" Kaho sounded a little too happy and Touya felt even more irritated.

"… I suppose," he ground out.

"Then that's good."

Touya was angry but the sound of Kaho genuinely happy brushed all of that away. Kaho could always make him feel better. "Thank you, Mizuki-san," he said with as much sincerity as he could.

Kaho laughed on the other line. "It's an elder's duty to give wisdom to those younger."

"I'm not that much younger than you, Mizuki-san," Touya reminded her.

"Good night, Touya," Kaho answered.

Kaho always ended their conversations when their talks went into these kinds of things. He smiled and shook his head slightly. He never did understand her.

"Good night, Mizuki-san. Thank you again."

The sound of footsteps going down the stairs could be heard as soon as Touya ended the call. After a few seconds, Tomoyo's voice could be heard.

"Now, all you have to do is steam it a bit with that thing I left you. You know how to work it, yes?"

"I remember," he heard Sakura say.`

There was the sound of rustling cloth. Touya guessed that Tomoyo was hugging her sister. "Don't sleep too late, you'll wreck your skin."

"Hai, hai," Sakura answered with a little laugh.

Touya heard the door open and then close. As soon as he heard the steps near the kitchen, he called out. "Dinner time," he said as he placed a plate of grilled fish on the table.

He tried to stop from frowning when he saw Sakura flinch as she heard him. She slowly walked to the table and took her seat. After Touya finished laying out everything, she started to eat, not a word leaving her lips. Touya watched her for a few minutes before finally relenting.

"Sorry about earlier," he said seriously.

Sakura stopped her chopsticks in midair and looked back at him. "Sorry, too, Niisan." She gave him an apologetic smile and Touya realized that he'd do anything if it meant Sakura was happy. Even if it meant putting her in the midst of people who would want to take her away. Still, he was confident he could easily scare them away. He's had 18 years of experience after all.

"Well, better eat up. We have an early start tomorrow," he said as he reached out and ruffled her hair.

Sakura's eyes became saucers and she stared at him with her mouth open.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh? I thought you were coming with me? We have a location shoot again tomorrow so we'll have to be at the station early."

Touya new he made the right choice when he saw Sakura's smile then. "Thank you, Niisan! I'll do anything you say!"

He returned her smile. "Eat up. The food will get cold."

"Yes!" she answered and started to dig into her food with more enthusiasm.

-xXx-

"Good work, Li-kun," the director said as soon as Syaoran finished his scene.

"Thank you, Director," he answered politely.

The director answered with a nod. "You can go back for the meantime. We'll just call you up when it's your turn again."

"Hai." Syaoran gave a deep bow and turned to leave.

They were in Kyoto today. Half of the crew went ahead the night before so the actors could just ride the Shinkansen to get to the location. He and Yuzuriha Nekoi were up first. Syaoran did his job flawlessly as usual. He paid his greetings to the other staff before walking back to his tent. He looked up at the clear sky and smiled. It was the perfect weather for filming. the humidity was just right as well. He took a deep breath and took in a huge whiff of the fresh air. He felt invigorated. Nothing could ruin his day.

As he walked back, several other people greeted him. He thanked them with a bow as he went. Just as he was greeted by the assistant producer, Syaoran saw a familiar shade of brown. The clothes the person was wearing looked familiar as well. He closed his eyes and bit his lower lip.

"You're hallucinating, Li Syaoran," he said to himself. "After the disaster at the amusement park, there's no way her stuck-up, prickly, overbearing, sour, cactus Onii-chan would allow her to be here."

He laughed to himself unaware that his monologue had gathered him a few looks from the other staff near him.

He turned to where he saw the scene and saw the figure turn around. He had not been mistaken. It was indeed Sakura Kinomoto. Looking nothing like a woman should. She was by herself on top of one of the many small bridges scattered in the large garden. She was ignoring everything around her as she was happily throwing things into the pond. Syaoran had an uncontrollable urge to see her smile not just from her profile. The memories of the taste of her came unbidden to his mind and Syaoran groaned.

"No, you will not go to her, Syaoran Li. It's the stupidest thing you'll ever do," he scolded himself. Nothing good ever came out of them being together. It would be safest if he stayed far away from her. Unfortunately for him, his legs were of a completely different opinion, he found himself one step behind her without him realizing.

"This is unexpected," he said in a normal voice. Without intending to, his voice took on the timber it usually did when he was seducing women on-screen. Syaoran told himself inwardly that it had not been intentional.

Sakura whirled around in shock and Syaoran's brain registered that there was something oddly picturesque about the sight of her hair moving wildly like that. He wanted to grimace at the thoughts he was having but he kept his face a perfect mask. "Li-kun!"

He smiled a little at hearing her refer to him with an honorific. Again, it definitely wasn't intentional.

"After everything that's happened, I assumed your brother wouldn't let you out of his sight." He moved to stand beside her. It was a distance of two feet since one foot would make it so easy to grab her. There's always safety in numbers, Syaoran was always told. Too bad he didn't really understand it didn't apply to a case like this.

Unlike him, Sakura showed no sign of awkwardness despite their last adventure together. "He has some scenes now," she explained as she looked back to the surface of the water. "I told him I'd stay put here."

Syaoran followed her gaze and saw koi gathered underneath her. He saw her drop something into the water again and the koi started swimming vigorously beneath them. She was feeding them, he realized.

"Where is Nadeshiko-san? Why are you the one accompanying him today?" he asked after a few seconds of silence. They had a truce in effect but Syaoran found it harder to speak to her when they were talking normally like this.

Sakura laughed half-heartedly. "Mom is in Mexico having another honeymoon with my Dad. They go on one very year. It's kind of annoying this time because she didn't even say a word to us. She just told us minutes before their plane went airborne."

"So you're left with her job." Syaoran needed no further explanation.

Sakura only shrugged. "There's no one else who can do it."

"I see," he replied with a nod. "Did-"

Syaoran could not finish his question as he saw her pitch forward into the water. He reached for her and before he knew it, his entire world went black.

-oOo-

Author's note: Hmm. This story is full of cliffhangers. Anyway, thank you for reading up until this point. Leave a review and tell me what you thought! :D