AN/ Hi. Its been awhile since I've posted anything so here it goes. Hope everyone is having a happy new year.

Disclaimer: Don't own ccs nor the characters.

SWEET MISERY

Chapter 1

The little arrangement

"Come on Sakura!" Tomoyo repeated for the second time. Sakura never spoke about it. They had been best friends all their lives and she told Sakura everything. Sakura kept secrets many which frustrated her. It was unfair and Tomoyo had to pretend she didn't care. Sakura looked at her for a second.
"Remind me, why I'm doing this again?" she asked letting her face descend into a cute frown. She tightened her fist and rolled her eyes. She felt like she was being forced to live with that monster. Monster was a little too harsh of a word but it was a close comparison. She couldn't stand looking at him, what made Tomoyo so certain that she could live with him. Sakura was certain about one thing-she would go crazy and would probably be forced to stay in a mental institution. She could just picture that smirk on his face. He barely smiled and always had smart comments that provoked her. It had been so long since they actually spoke. She barely knew anything about him. She wondered what kind of man he had become but was too scared to see.

They had a history together. There was a time when they were crazy about each other. They were once inseparable.
"They make such a cute couple." People would say. They lived in their own world. No one could touch it. They told each other everything and vowed to stay together.
"We were young and naïve. It was silly and childish." Sakura would reply whenever
people asked about their separation. She could never find the right words. They would fake a smile and pretend to not care anymore. Sakura knew exactly what they were thinking. Their eyes said it 'poor girl, she looks like a mad dog. She's really not that special without him.'

"You don't have to talk to him, you just have to you know…live with him. There is a huge difference between the two. It's only a couple of months. You told your Dad you were moving out and this is the only accommodation I could find." Tomoyo's tone was calm. She was proud of the way she was able to tolerate Sakura's mood swings.
"Easy for you to say. He's obnoxious and bigheaded." Sakura's tone grew softer "You don't understand the way he makes me feel. I could just cry." She loosened her fists and placed her hands on her lap.
"Syaoran is a nice guy." Tomoyo was almost lost for words.
"You don't have a history with him." Sakura muttered. "Can't I move in with you?" Her eyes glittered.
Tomoyo quickly glanced at her before putting her eyes back on the road.
"I and Eriol's apartment is small and it only has one room and…" she paused "The reason he moved in was to be with me. Three is a crowd." Tomoyo blushed.
Sakura nodded to show some understanding. "Do you guys share the bed?"
Tomoyo parked in the driveway before she replied. "What kind of question is that?"
Sakura grinned "A sensible one. Do you hear wedding bells ringing?"
"Shut up." Tomoyo playfully replied. "Stop being such a smartass."

Sakura looked up at the building. It was no less that five stories and each apartment had a mini balcony. She unfastened her seat belt and opened the car door.
"Oh look Sakura, Syaoran is home." Tomoyo said pointing at his car.
"Great!" Sakura replied sarcastically.
"I'm calling him. He can help us carry your luggage up. He lives-I mean you guys live on the 3rd floor."
Sakura shot Tomoyo a disapproving look "That won't be necessary. We can do it ourselves. My stuff isn't that heavy."
"Okay fine."
They carried a couple of her things and made their way to the building.

"Well Sakura, we're here." Tomoyo said before placing her hand in her pocket and pulling out a set of keys. "These belong to you now."
Sakura faked a smile and took them from her. Tomoyo knocked on the door twice before it opened.
"Hi Tomoyo, you're earlier than I thought you would be. Come in." He insisted. His voice was warm and inviting-then he saw Sakura trail behind Tomoyo. Sakura did no say a word in fact she did not look at him. He looked at her and grinned. That grin meant so much as sinful thoughts crossed his mind. He scanned her from head to toe. Her big emerald eyes shone out at him. She had a distinct look on her face-half laughter, half disdain. He could tell she was faking it.

"Hello Sakura." His words raised her suspicions. You could never tell with him. It was as though he was many people.
She looked up at him. He's chestnut hair was still messy. Ever since she told him that she thought it looked sexy years ago, he rarely combed it. He had a medium build and an emotionless face.
Sakura looked at the apartment before replying "Hi" she did not look at him.
Tomoyo settled her things on the floor.
"I'll get the rest of your stuff. You stay here Sakura." Tomoyo said practically lashing out the door.

The second they were officially alone Sakura turned to look at him.
"So where do I sleep."
He slipped his hands in the pockets of his denim "You sleep on my bed in my room."
Sakura was horrified. She wanted to burst into outrage but instead she calmly said "I'd prefer to sleep on rocks than with you." The words came out wrong.
He beamed "I never mentioned anything about us sleeping together."
Sakura blushed. The humiliation was too much to bear.
"But if you insist then we can make some kind of arrangement." He said jokingly.
"That's not funny. This was a bad idea." She confessed.
He nodded "Okay. Listen Sakura-I'll behave myself, I promise" He forced a laugh.
"You are such a pervert." She said.
"Is that a bad thing?" He asked playfully.
Sakura frowned and swallowed hard. She was falling into his trap.
"I was only kidding." Syaoran said seriously "I'm sleeping in the other room. I gave you my room because it's much bigger. I thought you'd prefer that." He was enjoying this. The look on her face was priceless. The way he saw it, he was being a gentleman and she was being ungrateful.

Sakura chose not to say anything. Instead she walked into the bedroom. He followed her.
"Why did you decide to suddenly leave home? I always thought you couldn't stand on your own two feet."
"You always thought I couldn't do anything on my own."
His vision did not flicker. 'I'm sorry.' He thought but every time he tried to say it, his words got tangled in his throat. He had said it too many times. One more sorry wouldn't make a difference.
"Does your Father know about this little arrangement?" he asked knowing the answer.
"My Father hates you. He has no clue. He thinks I'm living with Tomoyo."
Syaoran shrugged "After that time he walked in on us making out in his car, I'm not surprised."
"Don't remind me." Sakura pointed out in a stern tone "seriously."
"Hey, calm down muffin face." He said lightly using the nickname he gave her when they were intimate.

"Don't call me that! I hate that stupid name!" her voice broke at the end of the sentence.
Syaoran was quiet.
"Don't remind me of us. I'm not happy about the idea of living with you. If I had my way things would have been completely different. I just want us to stay out of each others personal lives. I know you can't help it but try. I don't find you all that amusing."
Syaoran had a plain expression on his face that didn't say much. He slightly nodded.
She turned away. She heard his footstep leave the room.

The doorbell rang. Sakura ran to the door as Syaoran sat quietly in front of the TV.
"You could have gotten it!" She complained.
The look on his face and his actions did not change. Sakura opened the door and took a step out closing the door behind her.
"You did this on purpose." She whispered grabbing Tomoyo's shoulders giving her a furious shake to match each word.
"Sakura, why are you whispering?" Tomoyo asked trying to balance the boxes in her arms.
"You and Eriol- I can't take it!" She folded her arms across her chest.

"Even if that statement is true, will you just be the bigger person and be nice to the guy for a change. It wasn't easy for him to agree to all this."
Sakura held her breath and said calmly "It's a little too late for that. I've kinda already screwed up. I couldn't help it."
Tomoyo heaved a sigh. "Just apologies."
Sakura tilted her head on the side "I can't believe what you are asking me to do."
Tomoyo looked at her wrist watch "I'll leave your things here. I'm late for an appointment. Tell him I said goodbye."
"No…" Sakura said slowly.
"Bye." Tomoyo quickly and cautiously placed Sakura's things down before rushing to the elevator.

Sakura did not want to go back in. For a second she wished that she could stay there forever and not have to face him. She felt like a small child hiding underneath the sheets from monsters. She grabbed the doorknob and twisted it. Slowly she pushed the door.
He stood in front of her wearing a different shirt He had put some effort into looking presentable.
"Tomoyo just left and-" Sakura played with her fingers.
He grabbed a navy-blue coat from the coat hanger before cutting her off "I'm going out. Not sure when I'll be back."
With that statement, he was gone.

Sakura spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking. The place wasn't too bad. It had a comfortable bed, a great amount of space and an exquisite view. That was all she needed. It was quiet and peaceful. She loved it. As the day went by and all her things were in their rightful place, anxiety set in. He was now gone for five hours. Many questions crossed her mind like 'where is he?', 'does he always do this?' 'Maybe I was a little too harsh' and 'Why the hell do I care.' She sat on the bed with one of her favorite novels and a box of pizza. She was a traditional kind of girl. Not often did she order fast food. She was kitchen bound. Unfortunately, Syaoran kept nothing in his refrigerator but junk food and other things that had already surpass their expiratory date. She looked at her watch again then shook her head. A part of her was dying to see him back home and another part of her didn't care.

When morning struck and the sun was high above the clouds, she slowly opened her eyes awakening from a deep slumber. The shutters on her windows were still closed, the bright daylight outside outlining each wooden slat. Inside a soft darkness hovered. It had been so long since she slept so peacefully. She slightly shifted her body when she felt something grabbing her exposed waist line. It was an arm-a man's arm. She was too afraid to look and see who it could possibly be. It shifted to her stomach in a slow and tender way. Sakura panicked. 'Oh gosh, don't let this be what I think it is." She didn't know whether to scream or quickly get out of bed and grab a baseball bat.

She slowly slid from his arm then turned to see who he was. The minute she saw those messy chestnut locks and that muscular jaw line, she held her breath trying not to scream. The sheets only covered a certain portion of his body exposing part of his torso and his boxer shorts. She sat up and managed to shift her feet. 'He started working out' she thought staring at his biceps.

"Sakura?" His voice almost gave her a heart attack. It was deep, lazy and heavy. The minute he spoke, time stood still.
"What are you doing in my bed?"

AN: Please review and give suggestions for chapter 2 if you have any.