Syaoran nodded before Eriol bid him farewell. He stayed there for a while, the city noises crowding his thoughts. He reached into his pocket and took out the slip of paper Sakura had snuck in his pocket.

"I don't even know your name. But meet me at the penguin park at the bench at eight o'clock. Sharp. Don't be late. But I'm sure you always are.

S."

Oh lord, she could read him like a book. He was in way too deep...

The air was nipping at his skin and he tightened his arms around his chest to warm himself up. His breath came out in wisps of white. So, yes, he was late. But only thirty minutes. It took a lot of will power to get himself up and out to the cold weather from the comfort of his home.

When he arrived at Penguin Park, he immediately saw... uh... Kinomoto! That was it. Whew, he needed to remember that to be convincing.

She looked different this time. She had a nice and elegant winter coat and a matching scarf and mittens on. She looked downright pissed, though. Her nose and cheeks were reddening from the cold as her hair whipped around her face. When she turned around, her eyes darkened even more.

"I have been sitting here for half an hour waiting for you! Where the hell were you?"

"Well, uh – " Syaoran hid the thermos in his hand while Kinomoto rolled her eyes.

"Look, just give me the money and we'll be on our merry way." Wow, Syaoran thought bitterly. She really doesn't want to be here. How rude was she?

"Did I do something to offend you?" Syaoran said. He could understand her being confused and slightly annoyed, but the look in her eyes was making him uneasy.

"I don't know you, and because you asked me to lie to your best friend, I can tell you're not someone I want to associate with. So, the money." She held out her hand expectantly.

"Yeah, about that. I need another favour."

Kinomoto dead-panned. "What."

Syaoran wasn't sure if it was a question or a cry of outrage. But he was sure it was stern.

"Well I accidentally told Eriol that you were my fiancé and he-"

"You what?"

"Believe me, I can barely comprehend it myself. The very idea of being with someone so judgemental as you-"

"I cannot believe this! And I'm guessing you're expecting me to just go along with it?"

Syaoran nodded.

"For how long? Longer than a month?"

Nod.

"Two months?"

Another nod.

Kinomoto's eyes widened. "No. Absolutely not. I have a life, I might even have a boyfriend and when he sees me with you he'll – " She stopped when Syaoran snorted. Eyes narrowed, she cocked her hip to the side. "What, you think I'm incapable of maintaining a boyfriend?"

Syaoran looked around casually. "No, not that. I think you could get a great boyfriend. If he were deaf."

Kinomoto's face darkened, and she shoved him hard. Syaoran stumbled back and spilled coffee on his coat. "Wha! Whoa, temper, temper!"

"You really expect me to do this for you when you treat me this way? Good luck explaining how much of a failure you are at being gracious. That's G-R-A-C-I-O-U-S. Look it up." Kinomoto turned on her heel and attempted to stomp away, but Syaoran stopped her.

"Okay! All right! I understand. But here, if you do this for me, I will pay you as much as you want." He had planted himself in front of her now, refusing to let her slide by.

"And you have all the money in the world." She asked sarcastically. She was glaring up at his amber eyes, refusing to back down. It didn't matter that he was probably a few inches taller than her. She was definitely bigger than him.

"Enough." He said vaguely.

"I want ten thousand."

Syaoran was shocked. "Only double?"

"I could make it fifteen."

"By all means."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Ten is all I need."

"What do you need it for?"

"None of your damn business."

"So you'll do it?"

Kinomoto hesitated before him. She was mouthing to herself, trying to convince herself something. Syaoran felt like leaning forward and placing his ear right to her mouth, but he decided he didn't want a Mike Tyson enactment.

"Yes." She said firmly. Syaoran sighed in relief. "Under a couple conditions: under no circumstances are we having sex." Syaoran snorted at the absurdity of the very thought. "We are not sleeping in the same bed, you are not meeting my dad or my brother, I never step foot in your home –"

"Wait! What's wrong with my home?"

"Nothing. I just wouldn't like to find panties hanging all around the area."

Syaoran grumbled to himself. "Always the man-whore...why do they all think that?"

"You actually have to listen to me when I speak. And lastly, when I say it's none of your damn business, it's none of your damn business."

"Hm, someone's rather secretive. Let me guess – you're actually a hooker?"

Kinomoto scoffed. "Well, it's been a long day, I really should go."

"All right." Syaoran fell into step with Kinomoto before she stopped and looked at him.

"What are you doing?"

"Hmm? What?"

"You're following me. Why?"

Syaoran looked up to the sky, as if pleading to the Heavens. "You are my fiancé. That means we live together. Generally the moving in part happens before the 'hey let's get married' part."

"Well, I don't want you in my home."

"Then by all means, come over to my home."

"I said I'm not stepping foot into your home!" Kinomoto threw her hands up in the air.

"Well, that's all very well, but I never agreed to them. Comprende?"

"You are such a... dick."

Syaoran stopped. Huh. That was a new one. Interesting.

"Come on, we can pick up some of your things tomorrow. But right now I'm freezing and my home is two minutes away. Can we go?" He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her the opposite way. She ducked and shoved him again. "Bloody hell! Again with the shoving!"

"You live two minutes away yet you made me wait half an hour?"

Syaoran shuffled for a moment before he ignored her question entirely and continued walking. Kinomoto huffed before she followed.

"Welcome to my home."

It was warm, indeed. It was the top floor of the apartment; thus making it the biggest and most expensive. The hardwood floors gleamed spotlessly and the living room consisted of green leather couches cosily nestled in front of a television. To the right was the kitchen with marble counter tops, a jumbo fridge and barstools. There was no table.

It was impressive. Sakura would give him that. She watched as he made his way to the fridge and took out a drink. He made no offer for her.

Syaoran sipped his beer contented and flopped onto the couch, covering himself with a blanket. It sure was chilly.

"So, Kinomoto." Syaoran started. Yet she interrupted him.

"Sakura."

He looked at her.

"It's Sakura. If you want to make it seem like we're together, it's only appropriate you call me by my first name."

Syaoran nodded. "Fair enough. Sakura. You say you have a brother and parents?"

"No. A brother and a father."

"No mother?"

"She died when I was fourteen."

Syaoran's face turned sour. Oh, wonderful. Already he was hitting a soft spot.

"Uh... oh. Sorry."

Sakura shook her head and offered a meek smile. "It was long ago. Just a silly car crash."

Syaoran nodded. "My father died when I was ten."

Sakura looked away. "Why... are we talking about this?"

"Right! Sorry. Uhm. Favourite colour?"

Sakura laughed at him. "You can't be serious."

"What? It's a legitimate question."

"Oh yes, because I'm quite sure that Eriol will be asking you what my favourite colour is. After you two have fun with your imaginary friends."

Syaoran huffed. He could never win with this woman.

They spent the rest of the night trying to get to know each other. Well, it mostly ended in arguments and mindless bickers. Whenever that happened, Syaoran would have great make up sex, but Sakura was a different story; he'd have to see her in the morning.

At midnight, they decided to stop with the autobiographies and retire for the night.

Syaoran stood up and walked to his room, ushering Sakura to join him. When she entered his master bedroom, her mouth fell open.

"That looks like the most comfortable bed."

Syaoran sighed contentedly, almost as if he was imagining himself in it. "Ahh, yes, it is. Goodnight."

Sakura stood awkwardly for a second as Syaoran took his shirt off. "Uh- where do I sleep?"

"Oh... you meant it when you said you're not sleeping with me?"

Sakura nodded like he was an idiot. He sighed and walked over to his cabinet and took out a plain white t-shirt and threw it at Sakura.

"To sleep in," he explained. He grasped her shoulders, turned her around and walked her to the living room.

"There's your bed."

Sakura scowled. "The couch. You want me to sleep on the couch."

"I offered the bed."

"Yes, but I don't want you in it."

"Ah, well. I'm afraid you won't get your way this time. Goodnight! Sleep tight!" Syaoran sauntered away and turned off all the lights, leaving Sakura in the dark.

She looked around helplessly at the room lit only by the city outside. She didn't know where the bathroom was.

Sakura waited another two minutes before she slipped off her sweater and her shirt, then her jeans. She was about to put on the shirt Syaoran had handed her when –

The lights flicked on.

"Here are some blankets in case you aren't – " Syaoran, carrying a few quilts, stopped and ogled Sakura in her bra and panties.

"Syaoran!" Sakura screamed, placing his shirt to her body to hide herself. Syaoran laughed joyously.

"It's okay! It's okay! I was supposed to see you naked sometime soon anyway so I could tell my friends the graphics!"

"GET OUT!" Sakura shrieked. Syaoran laughed as he easily caught a pillow she threw at him.

He flicked the lights off and Sakura shoved the shirt over her head.

Oh fucking great, she thought as she laid herself on the couch and slid under the blankets. It smells just like him...

As homesickness and embarrassment washed over her, Sakura knew it would be a long night.

Syaoran looked to the ceiling as his brain replayed the almost naked Sakura in front of him. He had enjoyed it too much. One body part more so than the others...

He shook his head. This was only temporary and she was a bitch. No need to get all 'excited' from seeing her exposed and flushed.

His guy-ish attitude had to stop.