Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to the wonderful CLAMP, not me.

Sensei, I Love You

Chapter 17

"Um… Care to tell me why you brought me here? I'm supposed to be at Tomoyo-chan's."

"What? Don't you miss the spacious house that you have been living in for the past few months?"

Sakura crossed her arms, tapping a finger on her chin as she thought playfully. "Well, for your information, Tomoyo-chan's house is much more spacious and luxurious. Yours can't compare with hers at all."

Syaoran faked a hurt expression. "I can't believe this! I spent lots on this house!"

"Blame your architect," she replied and stuck her tongue out at him. "Seriously, I need to go back to Tomoyo-chan's place. After all that napping after school, I badly need some time to finish my homework."

"Well, I guess it's a good thing that all your things are here."

Sakura's jaws almost fell to the ground. "What?"

"I said all your things are here."

"Why? How?"

"Magic." He made a show of waving his hands in the air as if he was making things appear in front of them.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Stop being childish."

"I thought it looks cute?"

Sakura choked on her laughter. This guy was going to give her a laughing fit if she wasn't careful around him. Who knew that her serious homeroom teacher had this side of him. She bet the girls in school would go crazy if they found out about this. "Well, for your information, there is no way that you can look cute."

"I guess I've have to try harder then," he said with a grin. His keys jingled as he unlocked the front door and stepped inside, leaving Sakura with no choice but to follow him in. "I'll whip up some dinner for us. You can go up and take a bath or do whatever you want."

"I miss Tomoyo-chan's chef already."

"My cooking isn't that bad," Syaoran whined. He put his helmet on the shoe rack by the entrance and moved deeper into the house. "I bet I can win your stomach with my specialty."

"Oh? I look forward to that," Sakura quipped and headed upstairs into the room Syaoran had kindly let her used. True to his words, all her belongs were there—just three big bags. Those were her only belongings and not forgetting her family picture which was now sitting on the small bedside cupboard. She flipped her cellphone and punched a few numbers before pressing it to her ears. The call was answered on the third ring.

"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo's sweet voice rang in her ears.

"So, were you expecting my call?" Sakura asked, walking over to the windows and looked out at the quiet neighbourhood.

Tomoyo's voice faltered. "Well… I know you are angry about this…"

"I'm not angry," Sakura swiftly interrupted. It was the truth. In fact, she felt a little relieved to be back at Syaoran's place. This allowed her additional time together with him. "Just a little shocked. You even managed to pack all my things within such a short notice!"

"I'll have to thank my friends at my house for that," Tomoyo replied cheerily.

Sakura giggled. "I still can't believe you did this."

"And while we are talking about the issue of shock, can you please tell me why didn't you let me know where you are staying?" Tomoyo asked. "You made me look like a goldfish when Li-sensei broke the truth to me! Oh my gosh! The two of you are actually staying together!"

Sakura winced at the sharp squeal on the other line. She held her cellphone an arm's length away from her ear until Tomoyo settled down. "Um… That's kind of difficult to say, isn't it?" Sakura countered, sitting down on her bed and fingered her photograph. "And not to mention that it's discriminating."

"Hey, who do you think I am?" Tomoyo asked. Sakura could feel irritation emanating from her tone. "I'm your best friend! Of course I'll keep mum about it!"

"All right. So I'm telling you now that I'm staying at Sensei's place until I can get a place on my own. I could have stayed with you and get out of this whole mess you know, and you just had to push me back here."

"Can't help it if the Sensei in question is very persuasive," Tomoyo replied.

"I'm still moving out of this house. The sooner the better," Sakura said. "I wouldn't want anyone to find out about my living arrangement and make a fuss out of it."

"Oh… I haven't thought about that."

Sakura rolled her eyes. Knowing Tomoyo, she would be chuckling like a mad mother hen to get Sakura to find a guy and when Syaoran came along, what Tomoyo did was to give a little push. Okay… a mighty push. "Of course you didn't."

"Bah! It doesn't matter now because no one else knows about this and I know you are somewhat glad about this arrangement."

Sakura gasped. "I'm not!"

"Whatever you say," Tomoyo replied, giggling a little. "Ah! My mother just summoned me. I need to go. Will you give our dearest Sensei a little kiss for me?"

Sakura made a face at Tomoyo's request even though she couldn't see her. "Ew, no. That's just so wrong." She blushed, suddenly remembering what happened in school earlier.

"There's nothing wrong in love," Tomoyo stated. "Nothing."

"So… did anything interesting happen yesterday?" Tomoyo asked. She charged into Sakura's class the moment the lunch bell rang, scarring the crap out of her.

Sakura's eyes widened as she sneaked glances at her classmates, wondering if they overheard what Tomoyo was asking. She gave Tomoyo a pointed glance, warning her without words to speak only when they were alone. She grabbed her lunch box, courtesy of Syaoran, and dragged Tomoyo out of the classroom to the rooftop, where she knew they would have the privacy they needed.

"Tomoyo-chan, you need to be careful when we are talking about the issue," Sakura said after making sure she had locked the door leading to the rooftop. "I can't risk Sensei's reputation in school."

Tomoyo's eyes lit up. "So, something did happen after all!"

Sighing, Sakura nodded her head. She won't be able to lie to her friend. "We… um… k-kissed…"

The resulting squeal was so loud that Sakura thought she had gone deaf. Tomoyo jumped half a foot into the air in excitement before pulling Sakura's hands and spinning her around in circles. "You two lovebirds!" Tomoyo said laughingly. "I can't believe that the two of you progressed this fast! Wasn't it just yesterday that you said it's a taboo?"

"Well… As you've said before, Sensei can be very persuasive," Sakura replied with a blush. She played with the hem of her skirt. "But I'm still worried."

Tomoyo sighed heavily and sat down by the door and leaned against the wall. That was the only area which was sheltered on the rooftop. Sakura raised her brow at Tomoyo's disregard of cleanliness. Her laundry maid would be distressed if they found their mistress's uniform dirtied.

"Just bear with it for another one and a half years. You can do anything you want after that," Tomoyo said with a wriggle of her eyebrows. Sakura gaped at her suggestion, at what she could do. Her face bloomed even redder.

"You are embarrassing me!" Sakura exclaimed. "I'm not talking about that!"

"No?"

"No!" Sakura affirmed. "I'm still underage!"

"Well, you won't be underage when you graduate," Tomoyo stated as a matter of a fact. "That leaves you freedom to do things you like."

Sakura slapped a hand on her forehead in exasperation. "I can believe I'm talking to you about this."

Tomoyo giggled. "Teasing my dear friend is so fun."

Sakura shook her head ruefully and sat down beside Tomoyo. She opened the lunch box and stared at the food Syaoran had prepared for her. Did he wake up earlier specially to prepare lunch for her? How did he know she seldom ate in school, just so that she could save up some money? Tomoyo leaned over to peek at the contents and squealed yet again. "Food from your darling? That man is a keeper!"

"Just because he cooks?"

"Usually, isn't the girl who cooks and prepares lunch for their boyfriends?" Tomoyo prompted. "So, this arrangement is pretty unusual."

"I'm a bad girlfriend then?" Sakura sounded worried.

"I wouldn't say that," Tomoyo assured. "It's plain for all to see that he really treasures you well."

"Oh…" Sakura blushed again. "But he loves to tease me."

"Don't fall for their trick," Tomoyo warned. "Guys love to tease the girls they like. I guess it is the same for Li-sensei."

"I need to find some ways to avoid his teasings," Sakura said in between mouthful of food. "It's getting worse every day."

"Then, that just goes to show that he likes you even more every day."

"I hope so," Sakura mumbled in reply.

English lesson was turned into a self-study period since the teacher was away for urgent business. Sakura frowned at the textbook in front of her, wondering why he didn't tell her about it. What could it be that he couldn't wait until school was over? Family? It couldn't be, because he hadn't said anything about his family ever since she lived under the same roof with him.

She realized that she was reading the same passage twice without comprehending a single word. She sighed and closed the book, leaning on her arms on the table and looking out of the window. School would be over in another ten minutes and she couldn't wait to get home and see if Syaoran was there.

Students were whispering among themselves in the halls when Sakura came out from her classroom. Her brows furrowed in confusion. Something must have happened to elicit such responses from the students. She shrugged and walked on, not the least interested in whatever they were talking about. She stopped short at the top of the small slight of stairs leading out of the school building.

"Oh and here she comes." A familiar voice sounded. "And look at how shocked she is to see me here."

Sakura was frozen to the spot, staring at the imposing figure by the sleek black expensive looking car that was parked at one of the parking lot meant for the teachers. Sakura couldn't think of one single reason for his presence in school. Was he looking for Syaoran? He wasn't here.

Eriol sighed and unfolded his arms, beckoning her forward. "We don't have much time. Come."

Sakura heard the murmurs from the students around her. She could feel their burning gazes on her and she couldn't keep her shudder at bay. "What are you doing here?" Sakura asked. She had the right to feel suspicious of the man she barely knew.

Eriol held her gaze and didn't break eye contact when he shortened the distance between them to drag her forward to his car. Sakura didn't have a chance to struggle because Eriol was being forceful. Fear crept up within Sakura at his display of strength. She tried resisting him and pulling herself away from the car, but Eriol had already successfully thrown her into the passenger seat. "If you dare to jump out from the car, I swear that I'm going to do some bodily damage when I catch you."

His threat effectively stopped Sakura's struggles. She shivered when Eriol threw her another warning gaze before slamming the door shut and moving to the other side of the car to get in to the driver's seat. The engine roared to live and the car sped out of the school.

"Where are you taking me?" Sakura asked quietly, afraid that he would flare up again.

Eriol rolled his eyes. "And she likes to ask questions."

"Where?" Sakura repeated.

"You'll know when you get there," Eriol snapped. "Just keep quiet and let me drive in peace."

Sakura gulped and she knew better than to test his patience.

To be continued

Things are going to get a little slower from now on. I think. And there'll be some confusion! Current status of the entire fic still stands at Chapter 24. I'm forever at that chapter. *sobs* At the rate that I'm going, I probably have to take a few weeks off to write... Meanwhile, there's still 6 chapters to enjoy! So I have a month to play catch-up!

Anyway, just to let you know that Sensei, I Love You is also available on Wattpad, where you can read them on the go.