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Syaoran worried a little when Sakura didn’t show up to school that morning. Sakura wasn’t someone who skipped school over nothing, so something had surely happened to her. Perhaps she just slept in and would get to class later – it wouldn’t be the first time it happened. He didn’t want to worry over nothing, but Syaoran couldn’t help it when it came to Sakura.
The boy was considering calling her when Tomoyo tapped his shoulder before the lesson started. “I know that distracted face.” She giggled. “Sakura hasn’t slept in, in case you were wondering that.”
He noticed his cheeks going a little red. “You got me.” He admitted. In front of Tomoyo, there was no point in hiding that. Besides, Sakura was his girlfriend, worrying about her was anything but strange.
“I was waiting for her at her door this morning, but then her brother told me she’s sick and wasn’t coming to school.”
“Sick?” Syaoran immediately turned around to face Tomoyo and cleared his throat when realizing he had raised his voice a little. “Did he tell you anything else?”
“She just has a fever.” Tomoyo calmed him down. “He said she would be fine, but still, I was planning on going to her house after class, if you want to tag along.”
“Yes.” Syaoran didn’t hesitate. “I was already thinking about going anyway.”
“Of course you were.” Tomoyo giggled. “I was going to ask Akiho as well, if you don’t mind. I would tell the others, but perhaps it’d be too overwhelming for Sakura to have that many people in her room when she isn’t feeling well.”
“I agree.” Syaoran nodded. “The less stressing, the better.”
Syaoran couldn’t help but thinking about Sakura during the entire morning. Would her fever be too high? What if being ill didn’t let her rest properly or had reduced her appetite? Did it come out of nowhere, or something in particular was the cause of her state? He couldn’t help but bounce his feet until the bell rang and the day’s lessons were finally over.
Akiho said yes to pay a visit to Sakura with the two of them, so the three friends made their way to the Kinomoto home after buying something to eat – and some sweets for Kero, Tomoyo’s idea. Again, Touya opened the door and let the teenagers in, telling them not to be too loud and take proper care of Sakura.
Though behind his warning tone, there was genuine love and care for his dear little sister.
Sakura had just woken up from a nap when she saw her friends entering her room, a smile instantly growing on her face. When her eyes met Syaoran’s it grew even wider. “Thank you for coming to see me.” She spoke while Kero devoured the sweets Tomoyo had brought.
“It’s nothing.” Tomoyo shook her head. “Are you feeling better? I would’ve checked on you this morning, but your brother said you were sleeping.”
“I still feel a little ill.” Sakura spoke as she placed the back on her hand on her forehead. “My body feels uncomfortably warm and heavy, but I’m better than I was a few hours ago.”
“Is there anything you need?” Syaoran asked. “Have you eaten today, are you hungry?”
“Maybe a bit.” Sakura admitted. “Don’t worry though, my brother said I could call him for –”
“Nonsense.” Akiho intervened, her sweet voice full of fondness. “We’re your friends, we can help as well.”
In any other moments, perhaps Sakura would’ve insisted, but she didn’t have the energy to. “Okay. I feel like having some cookies.”
“I’ll fetch them.” Syaoran didn’t give the other girls a chance to even move, leaving the room and going downstairs, where he found Touya and Yukito.
“Hi.” He greeted them, a small smile on his face when looking at Yukito. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“I did see you, but you were so focused on seeing Sakura that you didn’t notice.”
“Uhm–” He blushed a little. “Sorry. I was worried.”
“Very understandable.” Yukito let a gentle laugh. “How is she?”
“Better.” Syaoran’s eyes then switched to Touya. “She asked for some cookies, that’s why I’m here. Can you tell me where they are?”
Without a word, Touya stood up and gave Syaoran the cookies himself. “Are you planning on staying the whole afternoon?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “I can’t speak for my friends, though.”
“Alright.” Touya meditated the words before talking again. “Yuki and I need to go grocery shopping later, and since I don’t know when our dad will be back from work today, I’ll have to leave Sakura under your care.”
“I’ll take good care of her.”
“You better.” Touya grinned before sitting next to Yukito again.
Sakura enjoyed her friends’ company for a little while before Tomoyo and Akiho decided to leave, not only because they didn’t want to cause any stress to Sakura, but also to give her and Syaoran some privacy – something Tomoyo was more than used to, no one was happier for them than her. The girls knew he would tend to Sakura’s every need.
Syaoran fetched a warm towel and carefully placed it on Sakura’s forehead. He refilled her bottle of water and left the cookies on her desk in case she wanted to eat again. Lowering his voice, he spoke to Sakura until she fell asleep again – and bickered a little with Kero in whispers during her brief nap, spending the rest of the afternoon at the Kinomoto home.
When Sakura opened her eyes again, she realized Syaoran had fallen asleep as well. He was sitting on her chair, his head and arms resting on her desk. Surprisingly, Kero was next to him. As stealthily as she could, she left the bed, rubbing Kero’s head and placing a small kiss on Syaoran’s hair. Truly, she couldn’t have asked for a sweeter boyfriend.
The brief sensation of her lips was enough to wake Syaoran up. “Sakura.” He whispered. “Why aren’t you in bed?”
“I’m better now.” She took his hand in hers and placed its back on her forehead. “See? Just a little warm now. Nothing to be worried about.”
“I can’t help it.” Syaoran stood up. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Partly thanks to you.” Sakura’s loving smile was enough to evaporate most of Syaoran’s concerns. “You didn’t have to stay the whole afternoon.”
“I didn’t mind, truly.” He took her hands in his. “Anything I can help you with, I will do.”
Sakura laughed fondly, her eyes showing nothing but love when she looked at him. “You should stay for dinner. I’m sure my family won’t mind.”
“Gladly.” Syaoran’s fingers stroked Sakura’s hands. “Yue – I mean, Tsukishiro is also here.”
“I assumed.” Sakura shrugged. “I’ve sort of always thought of him as part of my family.”
And that was true. After Yukito discovered his true identity as Yue, the Kinomoto family made sure he knew he had somewhere to belong to. Not only he had always been a true friend of the family, Yue being Sakura’s guardian and Yukito being Touya’s boyfriend made them even closer, if that was possible. There was nowhere else Yukito would rather be.
Sakura didn’t dare to voice the thought out loud yet, but Syaoran was also part of her family now. As she was part of his. Slowly, Sakura let her face fall onto his shoulder. “I love you.” She said in a whisper. “Thanks for taking care of me.”
“I love you too.” Syaoran hugged her, placing a loving kiss on Sakura’s forehead. “You don’t have to thank me. I’ll always look after you. Always.” Then another kiss.
Sakura let herself close her eyes and feel his warm and loving embrace. “I know.” And she was so glad that was true. She knew Syaoran would always be there for her, she trusted him to be, she was sure of his feelings for her.
Sakura was happy that out of all people, Syaoran was the one she had fallen in love with.