I took some time thinking up a name for this fic and was satisfied with the result. It could be seen as where Syaoran's memories reside, or where his memories become lies from the truth. I don't know you decide. Also don't get me wrong, I like Meiling but her character suited my needs. Sakura is a bit ooc for her clingyness. Of course as always this is littered with some angst and lots of fluff. It's starts out as Sakura/Syaoran but you know how it ends. I can't decide if this is Eriol/Syaoran or Syaoran/Eriol, but anyway enjoy.

*Disclaimer* you know and I know CCS is not mine..



Where Memories Lie..
Chapter 1
Accidents, Cousins & Guests



--Syaoran's POV--

"Syaoran, come on hurry up! There is something I want to show you!"

I scrambled exhaustedly over each rock, my hands shooting up to grip the crevices available to them; all in an effort to keep up with Sakura, who was already way ahead of me. This used to be alot easier when I was younger.

"Not very fair Sakura, you are using your cards to help you get up there!" I shouted at the giggling girl floating above me.

I smiled. I couldn't help it; she always had some way of getting me into one big mess of a situation. She reached her hand out to me over the edge of the ledge she was sitting on and pulled me up. I sat beside her taking in a deep breath, relieved that I could finally rest.

"Thanks alot Sakura.." I huffed.

She wound her arms around me, "Look.." she motioned towards the view below us.

The sun was setting over the horizon and the faint sparkle of stars dotted the sky. The mountains almost seemed to glow under the ruby atmosphere as the wind blew through the leaves of the trees all around us. It was really a beautiful spot to be in.

"It's great Sakura, I'm glad you showed me this."

She looked me up and down coyly and teasingly. "I'm surprised you even made it up here!" She laughed,"You're out of shape Syaoran!"

Her laughter rattled my pride.

"Well it's not like our card capturing days you know..I'd like to see you climb all the way up here without your cards!",

"That's no excuse" she giggled.

I guess she was right, but there was no way I was going to let her make a fool of me! I stood up defiantly and walked to the edge of cliff.

"Ne..Syaoran, you really shouldn't be so close to the edge like that; come on stop joking around." she said suddenly nervous.

"What's wrong Sakura? You said I'm out of shape..so I want to prove I'm not..watch!" I started darting from one rock to the other, each one jutting out from the edge of the cliff.

I even went as far as to flip around a few times, and on the last landing I even posed.

Sakura was not pleased, "Quit playing around Syaoran, those rocks don't look too steady."

I laughed triumphantly for a moment before starting towards her again, finally deciding that I had proven my point. However I never made it to her side. I heard a slight cracking and shuffling of small rocks below me, followed by her screaming out my name. It was the last thing I remember before the rock gave out under my feet and everything went black.

~*~

My eyes adjusted to the fan's rythmic circling on the ceiling. Slowly I caught glimpses of the room around me. Everything was white. On the wall, charts of the human anatomy were posted and on my right a large window with curtains. I sat up searching for the source of pain in the back of my head, then I heard a female voice outside the door to my room. "He's right this way miss."

A moment later, a nurse walked in followed by a short-haired brunette.

"Syaoran! you're awake! I'm so happy!" she said flinging herself on me.

"I'll tell the doctor he is finally awake." said the nurse before closing the door behind her.

"I was so worried about you! You have been out for 2 days now! But you are ok, I'm so glad. We can go home now!" she said with tears welling up in her green eyes.

I pulled her away from me softly. "That's nice to know, but..who are you? and who am I?"

--Sakura's POV--

I stepped back in utter shock when I heard him say those words. At first I had wanted to think this was all a game he was playing to get back at me or something.

"Syaoran Li!..stop kidding around it's me!" I said nearly angry at him, which was not common for me.

"I wish I was playing around, but I really have no idea who you are. But..you seem to know me. So..my name is Syaoran then?"

I nearly slumped to the floor when I saw the blank look in his eyes. They were not filled with the usual loving warmth I was accustomed to.

"You..really aren't joking..are you.."

He nodded.

I tried to be strong, really I did, but I couldn't help crying. All his memories of our time together had been wiped away in two days and there was nothing I could do about it. I wiped away at my face and turned my gaze. I could see him blink a few times from the corner of my eye. Then he spoke.

"I..I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you cry."

I turned suddenly towards him and scooped up his hands, clinging to them desperately. "It's not you..it's us. Don't you remember me? Sakura Kinomoto? Your Sakura?"

He shook his head.

"Please try!" I pleaded.

He looked deeply into my eyes for a moment. I could tell he was trying his best, but it only lead to a deep sigh as he let my hands lose their grip.

"I'm sorry I don't.."

My heart shattered to peices and I buried my head in my hands, the hot streams pouring from my eyes.

Just then the doctor came in and the nurse comforted me while he asked me questions.

"We will have to keep him here tonight to make sure there is nothing else wrong with him. He should be ready to go home tommorrow morning. It is best that you let the rest of his family know of his current condition." he said.

I nodded as I bid him goodnight and exited from the hospital on my way home. I really didn't know what to do. What would his family think if I told them that the reason for his memory loss was because of me? I wasn't sure of how forgiving they would be after I caused him so much harm. I wasn't even sure if I could forgive myself. I thought to myself in this manner untill I got home. Touya greeted me as I came through the door as usual, but he noticed I was in no mood for his antics. He nearly hid himself when he told me there was a phone call for me. Naturally, talking on the phone was not on my current agenda, but he told me it was long distance.

"It can't be.." I whispered to myself. I picked up the phone nervously waiting for the inevitable.

"Kinomoto! What have you done to Syaoran?"

I nearly fell over as Meiling's rowdy voice seeped through the ear peice. "H-hi to you too Meiling-chan.." I stuttered.

"Don't change the subject now missy! I know something has happened to Syaoran!" she accused.

"R-really? what makes you think that?"

"First off, you stutter when you lie, second off Syaoran's mother told me she felt something off a few days back and that I should call to make sure he is ok. Knowing that I left him in such clumsy hands, I can only agree with Yelan's hunch! So fess up cause either way I'm coming over tommorrow to see him!"

I nearly fell over. There was no way I could lie to her now or at least keep his conditon secret for long.

"Ok Meiling, but you have to promise to keep this between us for now. The rest of his family doesn't need to know, cause if he gets better soon I don't want to worry them for nothing. Anyway it's not so bad really.." I stammered trying to assure myself of my own words.

"Whatever Sakura, just tell me!" she spat.

"Ok..Syaoran lost his memory."

"WHAT!? and you call that 'not so bad'??!"

"It could have been much worse Meiling..don't worry I will try to find a way to fix this."

"Fix this? Are you crazy!? This means he doesn't even remember his dear cousin anymore!?!? This is unforgivable! I was wrong to believe the mistress of the Sakura cards would take care of him!"

"Meiling please calm down.."

"No! I am settling all of this tomorrow!" and with that she hung up.

I threw myself on my bed. Was there anyone who could understand what I was feeling right now? My head was so cluttered with anxious thoughts about tommorrow that I nearly fell asleep drowned by them. I hardly noticed how much time had passed before my cell phone rang.

"Moshi moshi.." I said.

"Sakura-chan..Meiling tells me that Li-kun lost his memory?"

I sweat dropped, it was Tomoyo.

"That Meiling can't keep her mouth shut sometimes.." I mumbled.

"Sakura-chan I'm hurt, you weren't going to tell me?" she sniffled.

"Of course I was, tomorrow. I just wanted you to hear it from me, not from her."

"She was quite upset. She also mentioned she would be coming here early. I hope she cools down a bit during her trip."

"Me too Tomoyo.."

"And how are you? Are you ok? This must be so hard for you."

Tomoyo always understood me best, and I knew I could count on her comfort.

"I don't know, but I'm glad I have you around Tomoyo, you're the best."

"Is it ok if I come over tomorrow? I'll bring bandages in case Meiling gets rough." She giggled. Ok, so maybe she wasn't too comforting.

"Very funny Tomoyo.."

"I'm sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood. But really I'm coming over ok?"

"Of course, I'll see you then. Good-night."

"Good-night Sakura-chan!"

I hung up the phone and threw the covers over my head. I eventually fell asleep, though dreading the next sunrise.

--Syaoran's POV--

I rubbed my arm where the doctor had taken my blood as he told me that I was all set to go. I signed out of the hospital at the front desk to the best of my limited knowledge.

"Syaoran.."

I turned to see that girl from yesterday standing behind me. Her face was downcast and her voice was soft and gentle. Somewhere inside me it felt oddly familiar.

"I figured you couldn't remember where you lived so I'm here to walk you home, I hope that's ok." she asked politely.

"I suppose it is, since you seem to be the only person that knows me right now." I shrugged.

"Great, follow me then." and she led me out the building.

We walked for a while in silence, while I studied my surroundings, until she finally spoke up.

"So I have been thinking alot about this. I have hope you will remember everything soon. Maybe, if I show you things from our time together, like pictures and such, it might help. Or..even if you never get your memory back, this could be a good time to start fresh new memories, don't you agree?" she smiled as her face lit up at the prospect.

I wish I could have been as cheerful, but I wasn't so sure. "I don't know. I need to get to know myself before I can think about a relationship."

I don't know if I had said it in some cruel way, but her face changed slightly.

Then she smiled again, "You're right. Either way we are here."

I looked up at the house before me. It was a pretty big house, telling me that I was in good hands financially, or perhaps it was my family, if I had any.

We entered the place and I noticed there was noone there to greet me.

"Do I have a family Sakura?"

She turned to me mildly surprised. "I almost forgot that you wouldn't remember that. Yes you do, but they are in China." she said while she put away my bags and made her way into the kitchen.

"I see..so I live alone then."

"Yes."

A colorful, board-type, object hanging on the wall caught my attention.

"This is interesting..what is it supposed to be?"

I picked it up off the wall and it began to glow in my hands. I yelped and dropped it jumping back onto a couch. Sakura came into the room with some glasses. She picked up the board and held it tenderly in her hands.

"This is your Rashin board. You used to find Clow Cards with this when we were younger.."

"Clow cards? What are those? Some kind of game?"

She continued her sad gaze as she brought out a deck of cards from her purse. A few of them floated into the air around her.

"They are Sakura cards now. I made these."

I could barely believe what I was seeing. "Magic? You are some kind of magician?"

"We both are.."

This was weird. A lot of information in such a short amount of time. I sat down trying to put all these peices of the puzzle together in my mind. Nothing made sense. She turned to bring in some juice and served them into the glasses. I got up and walked around my living room. I was drawn to some pictures on a stand, picking one up curiously. It was a picture of myself and Sakura.

She was holding icecream and I had an arm around her. "I guess we really were a couple then.."

"What's that? Oh yeah the pictures. That was the picture Yukito took of us at the amusement park last summer."

"Yukito? Who is that?"

She walked over to the stand examining the pictures, humming to herself, and eventually flipped one out.

"Here he is." she said pointing to a tall boy with glasses, "And that is his boyfriend, my brother Touya, next to him."

A blush creeped onto my cheeks. "I sense that I know Yukito very well."

"You should..we both had a crush on him."

I nearly dropped the picture, but quickly regained control and put it back in it's place. "I see.."

Sakura giggled, and it sounded so familiar.

Another boy with glasses caught my eye. "Who is that?"

"Oh, that's Eriol, and the girl next to me is Tomoyo, my best friend."

I stared at the picture curiously. "Why am I glaring at him?"

Sakura smiled. "You never liked him too much. To this day I don't know why exactly, but Tomoyo used to tell me it was something between guys."

"Something between us?"

"I suppose so. Eriol is a really nice guy. He lives in England right now, but a long time ago he lived in China. He is the reincarnation of Clow Read, your ancestor. It's where you get your magical abilities from."

"Eriol.." a chill ran through my veins and I put the picture back down. One more picture left, this time it was Sakura and I, only a dark haired girl was hanging off of me. "I look annoyed but, she's pretty.."

"I better be!"

--Sakura's POV--

We both whirled around to see Meiling standing in the doorway with a suitcase in hand. Tomoyo appeared behind her.

"Thanks for the ride Tomoyo." she said before stomping into the house.

"It's no problem Meiling, anything for a friend." said Tomoyo, quickly taking a place beside me.

Meiling walked up to a surprised Syaoran.

"Meiling?" he said.

Her eyes grew huge and watery as she cupped his hands in hers. "So you do remember me!"

"No..I was just placing your name."

She turned to me, her eyes burning with fire, and pointed at me menacingly. "Kinomoto! You did this to my Syaoran! Now make him better right now!"

I sweat-dropped backing away nervously. "Mei-Meiling-chan.."

"Your Syaoran?" he asked.

She turned back to him with her soft, hopeful expression again. "Yes! I am your sweet and favorite cousin Meiling,-" She flung her arms around him and nuzzled his perplexed face. "-and..I have come to take you back home. From now on I will take care of you. I wont let anything bad happen to you."

My heart skipped a beat at her words. "Wait a minute!? What are you saying Meiling!? You can't take him back, his place is here..with me."

She glared at me again. "You are in no position to talk right now. The deal's off Kinomoto! I'm taking him back as my fiance!"

I nearly fainted.

--Syaoran's POV--

I slid Meiling off of me.

"Wait a minute I'm confused..now all of a sudden I have a fiance? I thought I was with her?" I pointed at the whited-out Sakura who had frozen in place.

"He's right, he has enough sense to know I'm his girlfriend." she said being held by her friend Tomoyo.

"Really?" Meiling walked up to Sakura placing her hand in her face. "Then why am I the one with the ring!?" she smirked.

The two other girls gasped.

"Meiling! how could you!? That was from a long time ago!" Sakura turned to me desperately, "It's true Syaoran you both were engaged in the past, but it was broken when you found out you loved me. Meiling had always been ok with this arrangement..untill now."

She looked really hurt, and her friend quickly stood up to defend her.

"She's telling the truth Li-kun!" said Tomoyo.

"I don't know Meiling..they both say I was with her.." I gulped.

Meiling scoffed, "And you are going to believe Tomoyo's word? She is her best friend, of course she would say that. Anything to keep us apart."

I couldn't help but sigh, this was so confusing. "I suppose that could be.."

Sakura began to cry again and I had the feeling there was something really wrong with this picture.

Tomoyo stood up. "There is only one way to settle this!"

The two other girls looked at her anxiously. "Let's get Eriol to tell the truth!"

The girls gasped.

"But Tomoyo..Eriol is in England." said Sakura.

Tomoyo smiled confidently, "But he'll be here tommorrow, just in time for Syaoran's upcoming birthday!"

"That's right! He will! He can clear up everything." exclaimed Sakura happily.

"You mean the guy I'm not supposed to like?" I asked.

Tomoyo giggled, "That's the one! He probably knows more about you than anyone."

It was really odd, these girls seemed to think he was a nice guy, and now all of a sudden he knows me so well. I wonder why I could have ever hated such a normal sounding person. If anything I should have been close to him, kind of like the way I felt close to that Yukito person when Sakura said his name. Suddenly Tomoyo's cell phone rang.

"Hello?..yes..right away." She hung up and turned to us. "That's my ride outside. I have to get going."

"Yes, good I say you both call it a night," Meiling wrapped her arms around me again, "I have to get re-aquainted with Syaoran" she smirked.

Sakura whimpered, "But..but.."

Tomoyo took her hand. "Don't worry Sakura-chan all of this will be resolved tommorrow. I know! We can even go to the airport to pick Eriol up! What do you say?"

"Sounds like a plan" She sighed sounding barely relieved.

"I want to go too!"

The girls turned to me in surprise.

"Now there's something you don't see everyday." teased Tomoyo.

"Then let's all go together..." growled Meiling.

"Agreed." and with that last thought they were all shoved out the door.

Meiling turned to me. "So how about a nice cup of tea, we have alot of catching up to do!" It was going to be a long night.

--Eriol's POV--

"I'm sorry. I don't know if it's wrong of me to think this way, but I can't help but feel we have been given a second chance Eriol-san.." said Tomoyo's longing voice over the phone.

I closed my eyes at her words.

"Do you think I'm being selfish?" she asked sadly.

Honestly I couldn't answer her. She had known for a long time the feelings I hid for my dear little wolf, and in turn she had confessed to me her undying love for Sakura, through her many letters. We relied on each other emotionally from time to time when we had no other to tell our secrets to. We carried the burden, of having given up someone special to us, together, many times. It was safe to say we confided in each other and now she was bringing me news of something I had already felt a few days ago. She waited patiently for my answer to her moral questions.

"I don't know Tomoyo-san." I replied as she naturally sighed on the other end.

"Do you know what is to happen Eriol-san?" she begged.

"I..don't want to intrude on fate. Tomoyo-san, we have to be strong, we can't influence anything on the lives of those two. We have to let them choose. You must wait to see if Sakura will give him up and find comfort in your arms and I must hope that Syaoran looks beyond the life he thinks he knows. Do you think you can do it Tomoyo-san? If only for a bit longer?" I asked as firmly as possible fearing that my tone would betray me.

"Yes..I can wait, even if it takes forever, I can wait." she sighed.

I smiled, "That's the Tomoyo I know."

I could almost see her smile back through the receiver.

"Please excuse me for keeping you up Eriol-san, I know you have a flight tommorrow morning. Is it okay if our group comes to greet you at the airport?" she asked.

"Absolutely, I am anxious to see all of you." I chirped.

"Very well, goodnight then Eriol-san, have a pleasant flight."

"Goodnight Tomoyo-san, thank you." I said before hanging up.

I pulled the covers over my head and dug my face in my pillow, trying to hide from my memories of the past and my newfound hope. My excited, futile hope that mixed with the slight fear of seeing my descendant again.

I had barely noticed how fast time flew before I found myself walking off the airplane in Japan. I had finally arrived at the airport.

And there he was. 16, taller and yet never losing his boyish looks and his wild familiar hairstyle. He hadn't changed a bit. Surrounding him by the entryway were Sakura, Tomoyo and Meiling. Sakura wore an anxious expression on her face, Tomoyo looked slightly downcast, Meiling threw daggers for looks and Syaoran..Syaoran I could tell was not himself. My heart skipped a beat seeing him smile so warmly, it completely caught me off gaurd and perhaps the others had noticed me staring. Oh the things I get myself into.

--Syaoran's POV--

I couldn't believe it. The boy coming out of that gate was impressively handsome. He had a visual charm about him and a graceful way of carrying himself that I could immediately see radiating off of him. I couldn't believe I had hated someone like him, it was like I had been told a great lie. I was even more surprised when he stared back at me, and it forced a smile out of my confused lips. He approached us and immediately greeted us all individually. He received hugs from both Tomoyo and Sakura, Meiling was not too happy to see him but slightly cordial, and when it finally came to my turn..well I could barely hold back my blush. He had extended his hand to me and seemed almost as if he did not want to let go. His lavendar eyes probed mine intensely, and from my distant view I could almost make out Tomoyo's sheepish grin.

"Good morning, Syaoran." he said, "It's been a long time."

"It's nice to meet you Hiiragizawa-san." I replied and his face grew mildly sad.

"Please call me Eriol."

Meiling's abrupt clearing of her throat snapped me back to reality and I knew she wanted to get to the point of Eriol's visit. Sakura's face also grew anxious but it was Tomoyo who spoke up first.

"So, what do you guys say we get out of here?" she suggested leading the way.

The sun outside was blindingly bright as we stood waiting for a cab. It had been decided, when we picked up Eriol's luggage, that we would all converge at my house. Once inside the crowded car, the lingering tension between us all grew. Tomoyo turned a few times to whisper something to Eriol. I was unaware that I was staring when I caught him meeting my gaze. It threw me into a subconscious blush and I could not understand why it was happening. Sakura leaned her head on my shoulder at one point, and Meiling's eyes instantly burned with fire. The girls commenced a staring match, but I could hardly pay attention. I was too busy trying to sort out the many questions in my head, trying to fill the blank spaces with forgotten memories. It was frustrating. I was expected to act a certain way and yet I found myself doing the exact opposite. I had completely lost myself in my thoughts, because I hadn't realized we had arrived until Sakura's gentle prodding brought the situation into focus. Before I knew it we had all settled into the couches of my living room.

Tea was tensely passed among us. Common chatter took place, with such things as "How was your trip" and the like, but after a few moments of catching up the air became heavy with the impending subject.

Eriol sighed putting down his finished teacup, "So, onto more important matters."

He crossed his legs, folding his hand on his knee while throwing on a more serious expression. Sakura spoke up naturally.

"Eriol, we only want to straighten something out; something that should really be common knowledge among us." she said, her voice hiding a tinge of urgency.

Meiling glared, waiting for her question.

Sakura glanced nervously at each of our faces. "Could you please tell Syaoran who his girlfriend really is. Me or Meiling?". Her eyes wavered for a second but were replaced with a strong affirmation, "I trust you Eriol.." she finished.