Synopsis:

Sakura fell in love with a man she knew was out of her league. He had an incredibly long line of suitors waiting to enchant him and become his wife. What would he see in her that the other women did not have? As fate would have it, they cared for each other deeply. Their love blossomed over time. But one fateful day, he disappeared. She was told he was dead. But she held on to the belief he was still alive. Alas, he reappeared, but not as a her Li Syaoran, but a fiancé of the daughter of the Wang clan. He did not know Kinomoto Sakura existed, let alone a certain little boy who carried his surname.

Chapter 5: Warmth

"I'll be driving," Syaoran stated, as he took the transponder key fob from the family's long-standing chauffeur, Sakamoto Ryuichi.

"Are you sure, Syaoran-sama?" the middle-aged, soft-spoken driver asked as he took in uncertainly the unexpected sight before him – the Young Master cradling a girl in his arms, holding her securely as if she were a child. He marvelled at how tenderly and carefully the usually stoic boy held the girl, who was deeply comatose, close to him.

"I didn't drink so it'll be safe."

"Sure, Syaoran-sama."

Ryuichi held the door open for Syaoran who gingerly eased the sleeping Sakura down onto the passenger seat, adjusting the seatback slightly to ensure that she was comfortable. A tiny smile crept up on Ryuichi's face as he watched how attentive and genteel the Young Master was as he fussed over the girl who was in his arms a few moments ago. He perceived that she must be someone special to him. The thought instantly warmed his heart. He had watched the Young Master grow up all these years and go through the different phases of his life. From a tottering toddler with a face of cherubic innocence to a fine, young man who oozed charm that he didn't know he had. It had been heart-wrenching witnessing the Young Master transform from a boy who had such vibrant sense of wonder and excitement to a man wrapped in a whirlwind of struggles and gnarled by his premature assumption of duties as the heir of the Li clan, which had inevitably caused him to guard himself so staunchly and build invisible walls around him. Hence, Ryuichi was heartened to get a glimpse of his soft, nurturing side.

After ensuring his companion was safely tucked in the passenger seat, Syaoran jogged over to the driver's side with Ryuichi trailing behind. He reached for the door handle with a gloved hand and held it open for the Young Master. After the latter had slipped into the car, the older man closed the door and bowed. "Drive safe, Syaoran-sama."

With a nod of his head, Syaoran mumbled his thanks as he buckled his seatbelt and turned the ignition on. The engine revved to life.

Ryuichi watched as the glossy, black Bentley cruise away, at a speed slower than what the Young Master would normally go, until it was just a speck.

Sakura stirred, her eyes fluttered open. The sky was as velvety black as she had last seen it – how long ago was it? She moved her head in a slow, sweeping arc, and her eyes grew large as they landed on the Li son's recumbent form next to her. His eyelids were gently pressed together, his arms hanging limply at the sides. What was he doing here? Why was she with him?

Sakura scanned her surrounding – she was in the Lis' car and it was parked at an inconspicuous corner near the entrance of the Li compound. She scoured her mind for the events that occurred earlier on and to her utter horror, she vaguely recalled snippets of her inebriated ramblings and outrageously inappropriate gestures, which she was not even sure if it was part of reality or her somnolent dreams.

She peered warily at the sleeping figure just beside her. Surely… she didn't behave outlandishly… or did she? Sakura let out a sigh of frustration, as she castigated herself for her idiocy, calling herself stupid over and over again. She dreaded what was to come when the Li son awakened. She contemplated if she should just make a run for it but she trashed the idea when she looked at all the different, complicated-looking buttons that peppered the car's interior. What if she pressed the wrong button? The consequences could be dire. Kinomoto Sakura was technologically challenged, a trait that was always the source of her brother's jest.

She turned her gaze to the Li son again. He was still sound asleep. Somehow, Sakura thought the seemingly ridiculous situation she was in now gave her the opportunity to observe this inscrutable but deeply captivating man who was just a foot away from her.

Sakura watched his chest rise and fall slowly and steadily with each inhale and exhale. Even in his slumbering form, he radiated a charm that was inexplicably overwhelming and capable of making one's cheeks flare. He had an overpowering presence that instilled a reverent fear in her, somewhat similar to what she felt when she was around Hideki. But the difference was she didn't feel the need to constantly measure up to a set of self-imposed standards to convince herself that she was indeed compatible with, or even just being in proximity to the versatile, greatly coveted Kimura Hideki. In the presence of the Li son, she felt safe, even though he was almost a stranger to her.

Sakura remembered how she had let derogatory voices erode her self-esteem even when he had confessed his admiration for her and declared his desire to court her. She was supposed to be on cloud nine instead of being in the pit of self-doubt. But amidst the nagging voices that stemmed from her own insecurities, Sakura had felt a ball of shameless pride swell inside her, giving her self-confidence an added punch.

Sadly, borrowed confidence is not confidence. It did nothing except gave one the illusion that they had unwavering faith in themselves when in fact, it was all because of someone or something else. Hideki's favour towards Sakura became the debt that she had been accumulating since they started dating. And now, it was all crashing down on her like an avalanche.

Sakura's familiar world had gone tumbling down in a matter of seconds after the fateful phone conversation the previous day. She had always known Hideki was exceptionally popular among the opposite gender wherever he went, but he had always, always made it clear to his admirers that he was taken and blissfully so. Hence, she had never thought he would one day stab her in the back with another woman. She had guilelessly thought how fortunate she was to have found such a near flawless man she could call her own. Now she was left with nothing but a crushing sense of disappointment and a surge of bitter disillusionment that would continue to linger for a long time to come.

Becoming intoxicated was not habitual for her, let alone going wild dancing and sashaying in the middle of a huge crowd. She attributed her emboldened actions to the confounding effects of alcohol, of which she vowed never to touch even a drop again. Now she only hoped she had not committed any vile acts that would make her a nuisance to the Li son. How would she face him if she had indeed acted foolishly or worse, said things to him she should not have?

Despite the rampant imagined possibilities running wild in her head, Sakura felt her heart experience an inexplicable sense of peace when her olfactory nerves picked up the familiar scent of bergamot. It came from the Li son. She still remembered that embracing smell from their first head-on encounter in his room. She allowed her eyes to roam his slightly dishevelled chocolate-brown hair, his finely chiselled features and broad, athletic frame. He looked somewhat like Hideki, except Hideki had black hair, his body was marginally more ripped and sinewy, and he was a few inches taller. But the way she felt in the midst of the intimidating Li son was somewhat… reassuring. It was a peculiar combination of discrepant feelings that Sakura was still trying to wrap her head around.

Deciding to give her woozy brain a break from trying to fathom the degree of damage she had likely done to her reputation and repulsion that had probably been etched in the Li son, and which had probably intensified because of whatever she had said or done or both in her befuddled state, she entertained her own wishful thinking that she could cast a Memory Charm on the Li son and obliviate every pixel of the earlier events, like how the characters in the Harry Potter series were capable of.

To her consternation, Sakura saw him blink open his eyes and suppress a yawn as he stretched his arms. In that moment, she wished she could just vanish into thin air. Unfortunately, she was still as visible as a lighthouse on a dark night. There was no way of escape from this predicament that she had brought upon herself. Accepting her fate, Sakura readied herself for an onslaught of contemptuous comments from the Li son, who was now eyeing her with a look of… she didn't know what it was. She could never tell what he was thinking because he always shielded himself so well. It was a territory she could never infiltrate into.

"Are you… okay?" he asked, looking uncertainly at her, his tone surprisingly gentle and full of concern.

"I'm okay. How did I -"

"End up here? You don't remember, do you?" Sakura swore she saw a flash of disparagement in his dark, amber eyes.

She did have fleeting glimpses of what had possibly transpired between them a few hours ago, though she could not be sure if they were just figments of her own imagination from her pickled state. Even if they were real, Sakura was not going to admit she had said or done those things. Playing dumb would be the best strategy under such circumstances.

"Not really… no," she murmured with a slight shake of her head, averting her eyes and focusing them on the night sky above.

"Okay," the Li son answered.

"Li-san, why did you stop the car here?" Sakura queried, tilting her head. She was curious why he chose to park it outside the compound when it was way more sensible to drive through it and get themselves back in the house.

A slight, sardonic smile escaped his lips. "What would the servants or my family members think if they saw you, a tutor, in your… wasted state?"

Sakura blinked rapidly, as if clearing away a fog. Her brows lifted slightly as the realisation settled, undeniable. Well, what he said made absolute sense. I can't return return looking all tipsy and dishevelled. Or worse, I could have said some stupid things and risk losing my job. "Right, that makes sense. Thank you. For considering that aspect," Sakura acknowledged gratefully, her face wreathed in a kindly smile.

"You owe me one," said Syaoran, his voice laced with mock seriousness. Even if he meant it as a joke, no one could tell for his facial expression was perpetually unreadable. Then again, every word that proceeded from the mouth of Li Syaoran had a purpose. How could it not when he had an entire empire that depended on him, its fate hanging by the thread of his decisions?

"H-hoe?!" Sakura gulped. She examined the face of the Li son to determine if he was being serious. When he didn't respond, she knew he meant what he just said. "Wh—what can I do to return the favour?" she asked hesitantly, fidgeting uneasily in her seat.

Draping his arms in a casual fold, Syaoran fixed his eyes on her. There was a proprietary air about him, as he seemed to dictate the flow of the conversation. He noticed how the Kinomoto girl was all tensed up as she awaited his reply, her face shrouded in a mist of disquiet and unease. If only he could smooth away the creases with a touch of his fingers. Even with her hair all tousled and her makeup slightly smudged, she still looked incredibly beautiful. There was a certain je ne sais quoi within her that gave her that extra sparkle, that imperceptibly caused him to be so drawn to her. She was different from all the women he had met and dated. She was like a rare gem in a sea of stones that had gradually left an indelible, paradigm-shifting mark in his heart, awakening it to the goodness of this world he used to shun. Even in her despair and deep disappointment from a broken relationship, she still embodied so much warmth and affection. She still… felt for things, for people, unlike him who chose to steer clear of any kinds of emotions that could otherwise besiege him and crush him under their hefty weight.

The greatest loss in Li Syaoran's life had become his greatest weakness.

But the convergence of his path with the Kinomoto girl's had illuminated a life-changing truth—weakness does not determine his fate, but what he does with it will.

"Go out with me," Syaoran stated, his face as calm as the still waters. But inwardly, he had to expend every ounce of his energy in a supreme effort to subdue his increasing anxiety and frenzied thumping of his heart. He was not used to feeling so unsettled, so jittery, so distressed. He was taught and trained to be level-headed in all circumstances. But everything he had learnt about controlling the human tendencies of his body, mind and spirit had gone down the drain in this very moment. He braced himself for the worst. It was his coping mechanism—anticipating the worst so he could quickly build a shield around himself to safeguard his heart. He could not allow it to be eroded or ripped apart by chagrin, regret, despair—none of the debilitating states of mind could intrude his core. That was what Syaoran was like—impressively unflappable, brutally disciplined and adamantly unyielding. The way he regarded and treated himself extended to how he regarded and treated others. He expected from others as much he expected from himself. But with the Kinomoto girl, he found his meticulously systematic way of doing things and his remarkable shrewdness in forestalling any complications reduced to a mere phantasm. With her, he could not cast accurate projections like he could with business. With her, he could not discipline his heart and mind because they would simply run to her like an unleashed dog. With her, he felt he would do anything just to see her radiant smile, to bask in her warmth.

Logic, intellect and sense could not stand in her sweet, all-consuming presence.

"Wh-what?" Did she hear him correctly? Was she still in her drunken stupor? Was she so intoxicated that she was starting to hallucinate?

Go out with me.

Sakura gaped at the Li son, gobsmacked, with eyes as huge as saucers in total disbelief. Flabbergasted, she remained speechless, her mind was a complete blank.

"You heard me," he said, his voice monotonous. "Spend a day, with me." He continued to stare into her emerald eyes with so much intensity that she could feel his fiery energy searing through every fibre of her skin.

Spend a day with the Li son? Why?

After a long heavy silence, Sakura managed to regain her composure and sat up straighter, as though trying to navigate the conversation in her favour. Narrowing her eyes and folding her arms in front of her, she intoned, "Why would you want that?" She knew about his dating history and it puzzled her profoundly that he would want to spend one of his precious days with her. Her. A girl who was insipid like a plain toast. A trait that was ruthlessly proven true less than twenty-four hours ago. Why would someone as regal and unassailable as him want to go out with a plain Jane like her—Kinomoto Sakura? Surely with just a snap of his fingers, he could command any woman he desired to go out with him. So… why her? Was it because he was tired of the superfluous beauty that constantly surrounded him, instilling the sick desire in him to find novelty in drab, unadorned girls like Sakura?

She willed herself to maintain eye contact with the Li son as she awaited his response. She wanted to hear what ludicrous reasons he had sitting in that conceited, arrogant head of his. Having been betrayed by the man whom she had trusted wholeheartedly, Sakura was bound and determined to guard herself, her heart, as resolutely and steadfastly as she could. She would not let it be trampled and crushed all over again.

"Would you like to go on a date with me?" Hideki asked, his cheeks a light shade of pink, his feet shuffling from side to side.

Sakura looked at him with incredulous eyes. Kimura Hideki, the star player of Tokyo U's basketball team wanted a date with her? The notion was somehow preposterous and unthinkable. "Me? You want to go on a date with me?" She looked over her shoulder to make sure he was indeed speaking to her.

Hideki chuckled and ran a hand absently through his freshly washed hair. He had just finished his basketball training. "Y—yeah. Would I have the honour to?" He looked at her expectantly, his tone earnest like a little child requesting for an ice cream cone.

"Why… why me?"

"Why not you?"

"Well, you… have at least a dozen girls who - "

"Don't quite match up to you," Hideki finished. Exhaling slowly, he confessed, "I've—I've liked you for some time."

"You did?" Sakura could not believe her ears. Kimura Hideki had a crush on her?

Smiling sheepishly, Hideki admitted, "Since middle of Year 1. Remember? When we had to work on a group project for Economics?"

Sakura sifted through her brain to retrieve that particular memory. "Ah, yes. I remember. I… I didn't know."

"Of course you didn't," he answered, "I kept it to myself because… I wasn't sure if you would like me back. I was a coward with zero experience in love." Hideki rocked back and forth on his trainers as he continued, "Your authenticity and passion for the things you believe in attracted me. The more I got to know you, the more attracted I was to you." He paused as he took in a deep breath before speaking, "Before I knew it, I… I found myself… in love with you." His cheeks went a shade darker and his voice grew soft at the last four words.

Upon receiving an unexpected confession from someone whom she never imagined would even notice her, Sakura's eyes widened and a flush spread across her cheeks. She took a step back, completely caught off guard. For a moment, she was silent as she tried to process what she had just heard. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. She had just received a confession from Kimura Hideki, whose name alone could make every girl swoon. And this eye candy of nearly the entire female population in Tokyo U was in love with her. It was… hard to believe. But it made her heart do a somersault and a reverse leap all at once.

Finally, Sakura found her voice and uttered faintly, "I… don't know what to say—I mean, this is really sudden. I… I'm not sure what to say." A small, nervous laugh escaped her as she shifted her feet from side to side, unsure of how to handle the new tension that was hanging heavily in the air.

With newfound courage, Hideki gently took her hand in his and looked her in the eye. "You don't need to give me an answer straight away," he said hurriedly, "We could just… you know, hang out. And get to know each other better before we commit to anything."

Sakura gave his hand a light squeeze and took a step closer towards him. She gave him a tiny, bashful smile and replied, "Sure, we could hang out."

Ever since that confession, Sakura and Hideki had been spending a copious amount of time together—studying for their midterms and finals, lunches, dinners, movies, waiting for each other to go home together after trainings, talking on the phone till the wee hours, being there for each other at every competition—cheerleading or basketball. Finally, Sakura had given her heart to him on their graduation day and the many days and months after—wholly and unreservedly. She had loved Hideki with all her heart and if giving her heart to someone would reap such excruciating pain, she wondered if it was a price worth paying for the fleeting moments of happiness it might bring. Perhaps she might have been better off guarding it instead of giving anyone the power to break it. Sakura let out a shaky breath as she lamented her foolishness and over all the memories with Hideki that were now nothing but sources of despair and resentment.

Sakura cast a sidelong glance at the Li son who was raking his fingers through his hair as he let out a soft chuckle. It sounded… nervous? He licked his lips and fixated his gaze on the windshield. His pensive, slightly withdrawn expression caused an inadvertent tug at Sakura's heartstrings. That look. Of forlornness, longing, a quiet sadness that seemed to have taken residence in his heart for a long, long time. She remembered how she sensed his inner conflict beneath his aloof, uncaring countenance and wondered what he was really like underneath all those layers of defence he had so fastidiously placed around him. But right now, she was not in the mood to study another man. All she wanted was to be alone, to grieve and then move on.

In spite of herself, her heart leapt when he fixed his eyes on hers. That smouldering, penetrating, commanding gaze that could cut through steel and demand all her attention. When he began to speak, Sakura held her breath as though afraid.

"I want to get to know you," he started. "And I hope… you'd give me the chance to."

"What would you like me to say?"

"Say yes."

"Hmm."

"Remember, you owe me one."

Sakura saw a sly smirk playing on his lips. He probably wanted to experience what it was like being with a commoner like her and he would very likely find her a bore and that would be the end of it. Just a day wouldn't hurt. And besides, he didn't say it was a date and she did owe him a favour for protecting her reputation. As long as she kept her heart in check, all would be fine.

"Alright, you said a day, right?"

"No more, no less."

"Okay, which day works for you?"

"How about next Saturday? The kids will be away with my sister next week till Sunday."

"Sounds good."

"Great. Let me know if there's any place you'd like to go. If not and if you don't mind, you can follow my lead." The Li son fished out his smartphone from his jacket's pocket and said in a businesslike tone, "I'll need your number."

After exchanging their numbers, Sakura let out a little yelp when she saw the time on her phone. It was almost five in the morning. How on the earth was she going to sneak up to her room without bumping into anyone in the mansion? The servants were usually up and about by this time.

Noticing her distraught state, Syaoran asked, "Everything alright?"

Sakura glanced at him, her forehead creased. "I'm not sure how we're going to get into the house without anyone noticing."

Raising his eyebrows as if a sudden realisation had dawned on him, Syaoran said, "I've a plan. You aren't afraid of heights, right?"

Peering at him hesitantly, Sakura mumbled, "No, I'm not." How could she when she was the flyer of her team's pyramid formation?

"Then just do as I say."

Sakura swallowed. She had no choice but to place her faith in this man whom she barely knew. Strangely though, the weight of his words and just his aura of calm strength gave her the assurance that she could indeed trust him. As Syaoran started the engine and moved the gear lever to 'D', Sakura could not help but to steal a glance at his side profile.

Li Syaoran—was really handsome. And strikingly so.

And she had said it to his face without any qualms in a secluded spot at The Alley hours ago.

But handsome men cannot be trusted.

Can they?

"What makes you think I can climb trees?" Sakura scoffed in spite of her efforts to remain respectful towards the son of her boss. She peered up at the tree that was in front of her, towering over everything else, including the mansion. It looked primeval, with rough and deeply textured bark that seemed to bear the marks of countless seasons. The sheer size of this ancient tree was not something someone her size and non-existent tree-scaling experience should contend with. Scowling at the Li son who was already rolling up the sleeves of his white button-down, Sakura was completely nonplussed by how he was going to lead his clan with his warped sense of logic. Scaling a tree as massive as this was insanely precarious.

"Don't you know how dangerous it is? I don't think I want to risk my life over my reputation," Sakura pointed out, her arms folded resolutely over her chest.

"Not if you're with me," Syaoran replied plainly.

Sakura's face scrunched up with deep suspicion and asked in a tone as polite as her worried mind would allow, "What do you intend to do?"

An impish grin lit up his face and he said mysteriously, "Something fun."

He held out his hand, palm facing upwards. Sakura noticed it was toughened and slightly calloused, but there was a certain grace in the way he offered it that made her want to trust him.

"I promise you, you will live to see the sun rise," Syaoran reassured, though his burnished eyes glinted playfully.

Sakura swallowed and reluctantly, she took his hand. To her surprise, a surge of comforting warmth spread through her, causing her spine to tingle and her shoulders stiffen. Syaoran gently pulled her behind him and guided her arms to curl around his shoulders as he crouched on his haunches, letting her climb onto his back.

"Hold tight," Syaoran instructed.

Sakura gripped her elbows tightly and pressed her fingers on the soft curves of her arms, trying to leave as much space between her and the Li son as possible. His shoulders were reassuringly broad, the muscles in his back felt robust and snug, and the nape of his neck was firm but smooth. His scent of bergamot still lingered on his slightly tanned skin. Sakura was amazed at how such a distant and detached person like him could have such an inviting and soothing presence, which gave her a sense of security she could not find in anyone or anywhere else. It made her feel invincible, like she would never be harmed or hurt in any way. It gave her a mystifying sense of peace that all was and would be well.

When Syaoran ensured that Sakura was perched safely on him, he hoisted her up, his hands holding her legs. Sakura could hear him mutter inaudible words under his breath. The imperceptible sound that came out of his mouth was unfathomably transformed into a luminous burst of white blue light that circled and glowed at his feet. Sakura was momentarily stunned by the inconceivable, ethereal sight below her. A gasp of admiration and amazement escaped her lips. She had never seen anything so celestial, so mystical.

Then, with a slight bend of his knees, he launched the both of them upwards, his body shooting towards the sky with astonishing speed. Sakura shrieked as she tightened her hands and legs around Syaoran, almost squeezing every ounce of breath out of him. Her eyes were tightly and forcefully shut, as though opening them would hurl her downwards onto the ground.

After what seemed like a decade, though in reality only a few seconds had passed, Syaoran landed on one of the branches, his footing light but steady. He craned sideways to check on his rider. "You alright?"

Sakura was breathing erratically, her mouth dry from all the screaming and her heart was throbbing painfully and frantically in her chest. It didn't seem possible that she would ever recover from the insanely frenetic, staggering, terrifying episode she just had.

"I can't believe what just happened," Sakura managed to speak, almost in a whisper. There was an unmistakeable tremor in her voice.

"Told you, you would live," Syaoran said, his voice casual, as if this whole landing in a tree in one exploding leap was something he did on a daily basis, like exercise.

After regaining her equilibrium but still not ready to loosen her hold on the Li son, Sakura asked, "What was that underneath your feet earlier on? Your feet—your feet seemed to give off some kind of glow."

Syaoran's back stiffened. "You—you could see… it?"

"You mean I wasn't supposed to?"

"As far as I know, only those with magic powers are able to observe the myriad expressions of magic spells being cast. So unless…" A sudden realisation interrupted his flow of speech. Carefully and slowly, he let his temporary rider down, who wobbled and almost fell off the tree branch as she realised how high up she was. Syaoran caught one of her flailing arms and hugged her around the waist in one swift, nimble motion. He gazed upon her ashen face, its owner apparently appalled by the sheer fact that she nearly lost her footing and was on the verge of succumbing to the effects of gravity. A smile crawled up on Syaoran's lips as he stated matter-of-factly, "You have magic in you."

Not daring to move even an inch, Sakura remained in his embrace, her brain ticking over the preposterous claim he had just made. Really, he and his peculiar mind. "I don't know what you're talking about," Sakura squeaked, still trying to restore her calm. "Magic? That only happens in fictions."

"Ever seen things others can't? Or sense stuff that you can't really explain in words without appearing unhinged?"

What Syaoran had just said brought her into a state of epiphany. He verbalised what she had been grappling with nearly her whole life. She recalled all the shimmers, glitters, radiantly coloured clouds of billowing smoke, gently swaying solid air, out of the world melodies, sharper than usual senses, the baffled looks on faces when she tried to explain what she had seen or heard.

Li Syaoran… understood. He knew why.

"I did. Actually, I still do," Sakura mumbled, meeting his gaze with her incredulous ones.

He had made the penny drop. He had just helped her apprehend why she could see and hear and sense all that she did. It was… the magic running in her veins, through her cells, illuminating and magnifying those which were easily brushed off by most. Lightning bolts of revelation struck her from all corners as she let the truth sink in. She wasn't the only odd one in this world, after all. If having magic was considered odd, that is. For that, she wasn't sure if she should feel relieved or if she should be wary about the implications of having magic brewing and bubbling inside her would culminate.

As though he could read her feverishly working mind, Syaoran said, surprisingly tenderly, "There's nothing to fear. It can be your friend, comrade, your help in times of need." Seeing her still confused expression, he added, "It's like a kind of energy. You can see it as a powerful, invisible force that flows through and connects everything, even people, in the universe. It exists on a different frequency from those that govern the natural world. That is why not everyone has the ability to sense like we do. If you partner with it like how you would a friend, it could work in your favour."

We. He made it sound like they were on equal grounds, when in fact, the worlds they came from were so fundamentally, radically different. But for some strange reasons, she relished the idea that they had something in common, even if it was as remote as a shadow in the fog.

"So… what do I do now that I know I have magic in me?" Sakura asked, still clinging on to Syaoran for dear life.

"It's an insanely complex field of study," Syaoran explained, "But the mastery of it is not something that is beyond reach."

Loosening his grip on her, Syaoran took hold of her hand, which felt so soft and right in his. Pointing to the window in front of them, he said, "Did you lock it?"

Sakura suddenly realised they were standing right outside her room. She shook her head. Then, Syaoran gently led her towards the window to her room. He slid open the glass pane and helped her climb through the opening. When she was safe inside, Syaoran continued, his feet still planted steadily on the branch, "I may not be the most qualified person to teach you about magic, but I have learnt from the best and… I believe I can offer you guidance should you ever need any."

Sakura smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Li-san. For tonight, for everything."

"If you're truly thankful, then drop the honorifics," Syaoran said, leaning towards her. "I believe we aren't too diverse in age."

He was even more handsome up close. Sakura felt her cheeks redden. "H—hoe?"

Noticing her slight blush even in the dimness of their surrounding, Syaoran stifled a chuckle before he said with a serious front, "For a start, believe in yourself, and the power within you. Cliche, but important in the practice of magic."

"Ah… okay. I will remember that," Sakura mumbled, her cheeks still embarrassingly heated. "Thank you… Li-kun."

Syaoran grinned, like how he did in that photo that stood on his desk in his room.

It was so infectious that it made Sakura beam as brightly as the morning sun even though her eyelids were as heavy as lead.

Keep smiling like this, Li-kun.

"Wait. Wait wait wait. You said Li Syaoran asked you to spend a day with him this Saturday? Li Syaoran?" Tomoyo asked, her amethyst eyes were as wide as the two fancy porcelain plates that sat on the tea table between them. They were each adorned with a slice of triple chocolate cake which the two best friends had yet to touch. The girl with thick tresses as dark as the midnight sky pooling at her waist seemed to have too much to digest in her system, none of which fell into the category of food. She huffed, "I can't believe you're only telling me now."

Bewildered by Tomoyo's utter shock at a piece of seemingly innocent news, Sakura said, a tad hesitantly, "Sorry, Tomoyo-chan. I didn't think it was that big a deal."

With an exaggerated flurry, Tomoyo cupped one of Sakura's hands in hers. Looking at her with star-struck eyes, she stated with a tone of urgency, as if she needed her listener to understand what she was about to say, "Li Syaoran—is very, very notable among the upper class."

"I know. You told me before."

"Yes, but I don't think you understand the impact of this matter. From my insider sources, he has never once initiated a date with any girl in his entire life. You are the first."

"Okay," Sakura drawled. "How accurate are your insider sources?" she raised a sceptical eyebrow as she fed herself a mouthful of chocolate cake. The cream was so rich and satisfying.

"A hundred and one per cent," Tomoyo replied confidently. "He must be really taken in by you. Which obviously isn't a surprise." She winked mischievously.

"Erm, Tomoyo-chan, I really appreciate your love and unfailing faith in me but… I don't think we should get ahead of ourselves. It's just an exchange of favours. He helped me and I reciprocate. Besides, guys with a background like his can't really be trusted." Sakura took another mouth of the chocolate cake. She sighed blissfully, "Where did you get this cake from? It's so delicious!"

Tomoyo tightened her hold on Sakura's hand and said in an admonishing tone, "Sakura-chan, now isn't the time to rave over a cake! We are discussing your future here!"

Sakura rolled her eyes. Her best friend could be so dramatic at times. She pulled away from Tomoyo and crossed her arms over her chest. "In case you've forgotten, I am still walking out of a broken relationship. I am still trying to heal." Sakura placed a hand over her heart and cast her eyes downwards as she gave a theatrical sigh. Come to think of, she had not shed a tear since the phone call. Perhaps she was still trying to make sense of everything.

Tomoyo's eyes softened. "I'm sorry I haven't asked you about Hideki-kun. Did you guys manage to talk after that phone call?"

Sakura shook her head and her eyes seemed distant. "I don't think I'm ready to talk to him."

Tomoyo reached over and held both of Sakura's hands, giving them a gentle squeeze. "When you're ready, you should let Hideki-kun explain. Whatever happens, you know I'm always here for you."

Sakura smiled gratefully at her best friend. "Thank you, Tomoyo-chan."

"Alright, back to our original topic—"

"Tomoyo-chan!"

So much for the sentimental moment they had just shared earlier on. Sakura laughed in spite of herself. She listened as her excited best friend blabbered animatedly on about what she should wear on Saturday, the possible places Li Syaoran would bring her, how he would evade any potential stalkers, and to Sakura's utter embarrassment, planning a dream wedding for her and the Li son. It seemed that the topic of Hideki had gone by the wayside.

When Tomoyo had learnt that Sakura and Hideki were officially seeing each other, she had been excited and happy for her. Hideki was her first, real boyfriend after all. Tomoyo had fussed over what she thought she should be wearing on their dates and pressed her for juicy information about the progress of their relationship. Sakura had filled her in on every detail she could recall and they would gush over Hideki's tenderness and thoughtfulness.

"Isn't he sweet?" Tomoyo would comment at every opportunity she got. It was like a punctuation for every recount Sakura shared.

But there were times when Sakura would suspect if Tomoyo's saccharine reactions and remarks were just her way to give her a boost so that she would feel more confident about her relationship with Hideki. Now that Sakura thought about it, the way Tomoyo would look at Hideki was often one of caution and reserved politeness. If she had harboured even a remote sense of trepidation about her relationship with Hideki, Sakura could not tell. Tomoyo was always supportive, encouraging and assuring.

Perhaps, back then, her extraordinarily observant and intuitive friend already knew her heart was not entirely safe in his hands and would one day be broken by the very one who desired it.

Perhaps.

Tomoyo knew and understood Sakura inside out, like an open book. She had always known she had always felt she didn't deserve the best, that she should just settle for less. She could not see how much value she was to the people around her. She saw the best in people but she only saw lack in herself.

As she watched her best friend savour the chocolate cake that she could not stop glorifying, Tomoyo's heart broke just a little for the heartache that Sakura was probably trying to hide. But at the same time, she was somewhat relieved that things didn't work out between her and Hideki.

Because.

Sakura deserved the best.

Though she didn't personally know Li Syaoran, and only heard of him from her fellow blue blood acquaintances (which typically consisted mostly of enraptured talk), Tomoyo had a hunch that there was more to him than just his alluring good looks and icily hot personality. He was (to Tomoyo's puzzlement) affectionately known as the irresistible heartbreaker by every lady who knew or heard about him but she believed—no—she knew her best friend's heart would be perfectly safe with him.

Syaoran. Sakura.

Even their names alone sound like they were destined for each other.

SummerSensations: Thank you for reading till the end! 3