*** I am editing the piece due to various plot holes. Hopefully you will like the newly edited piece as well!***

A big hello to all the CCS lovers out there! I am here to present to you my first fanfic about Sakura and Syaoron, which was inspired by Dreams of Amber. I was just really disappointed that the author never updated so this is my tribute to her unfinished story.

Evergreen Love

All Cardcaptor Sakura characters, and everything else CCS is solely the property of Clamp- I OWN NOTHING. Trust me if I owned CCS, I would probably be making more episodes.

XOXO

Chapter 1: A Wedding Proposal

"He asked me to marry him" declared Sakura Kinomoto; a natural beauty with emerald studded eyes and cascading curls of auburn colored hair layered delicately on her shoulders; her rosy lips curved into a smile as she anticipated her best friend's appalled outburst.

"Shut up! He did not ask you to marry him. "

Tomoyo Daidouji, shook her head in denial. Her pin straight-raven hair rustled precariously with her every shake. With her amethyst eyes putting shame to all the starlit skies, she glared at Sakura.

"You better not be joking with me again. Last time you said you were pregnant with his baby"

Sakura stuck her tongue out, "That was April Fools Day Tomoyo. I didn't expect you to actually believe me."

Tomoyo threw her hand up in the air, "It wasn't hard to believe considering you threw up that day."

Sakura shuddered remembering the memory. "That rancid chicken. I vowed to never eat chicken after that."

Tomoyo impatiently snapped her fingers in front of Sakura's face, "Sakura, this is not remember why you became a vegetarian time. Now tell me the truth, did he really ask you?"

She crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.

Rolling her eyes, Sakura took the snow-white glove off her right hand and flashed her hand in front of Tomoyo's face. Her hand was so close, Tomoyo could smell the sandalwood scented lotion on her skin, but that was not the important thing. Something far more precious lay situated on her ring-finger; a white-gold sapphire encrusted engagement ring which sparkled in spite of the dim lighting.

Tomoyo's eyes widened with shock. She blinked several times to make sure she wasn't imagining the quaint ring on her finger. After poking at, she finally realized it was the real deal.

"OH MY GOSH! Sakura, you're engaged!" Tomoyo squealed with the excitement of a fan-girl who had just met her idol, "EEEEEEEEE!".

Tomoyo grabbed Sakura's engagement hand and jumped up and down with it. Sakura tried to tug her arm away, but to no avail. Tomoyo's excitement knew no bounds: she continued to bounce gleefully with Sakura's hand like it was some sort of prize.

Various middle-aged ladies power-jogging around the large Penguin in Penguin Park slowed down to witness this strange event, and one even whispered, "That poor girl looks like she's gone mad with sorrow".

Sakura covered her face with her free hand and refused to make eye-contact with any of the spectators.

"I knew I should have texted her," Sakura mumbled.

Tomoyo stopped her weird dance and huffed at Sakura, "And miss the excitement of seeing the ring first-hand? Never."

Tomoyo snatched Sakura's hand and inspected the ring closely.

"Damn, Derek may be many things, but one thing is for sure, he ain't cheap."

Sakura abruptly pulled her hand away and frowned at Tomoyo.

Rubbing her rubicund tinged-skin, Sakura heaved a sigh, "Tomoyo, now my hand is all red. Touya is going to think Derek did something to me."

Tomoyo brushed the comment aside and poked Sakura. "So, how exactly did he propose?"

Sakura turned away and began to walk towards the swings. "I'm not telling you."

The bitter cold air rang with Tomoyo's pleas, " Sakura, I'm your best friend. We promised we would tell each other these things….SAKUUUUURRRRAAAA!"

Sitting on the swing, Sakura covered her ears, but the screeching was just too overbearing. Not to mention the little toddlers were staring at them now with their curious snot-covered faces.

"Fine. Fine!"

Tomoyo wiggled her eyebrows up and down in a little caterpillar jig and playfully bumped her swing against Sakura's swing.

Sakura swung her swing to the side and kicked Tomoyo with her grey snow boots.

In preparation for the bumper swing showdown, Sakura tilted the swing to the side, but Tomoyo raised her hand up in defeat.

"No more I promise."

Sakura cocked an eyebrow. Tomoyo never accepted defeat easily.

Tomoyo tugged Sakura's swing impatiently.

Sighing heavily, Sakura twisted the ring on her finger.

"Well, I told you yesterday that he wanted to meet me at the Green's Coffee shop this morning."

Tomoyo interjected, "Yeah, and you told me that you were scared he was going to break up with you."

After pausing for ten seconds, she added, "You know I knew there was something fishy about the whole situation. I mean which guy forgets his girlfriend's birthday?"

Sakura kicked the snow with her boots, "I know. I said a lot of nasty things to him that day."

A pregnant pause filled the air with an abnormal silence.

Tomoyo softly whispered, "Sakura?"

Clutching the ring tightly, she whispered, "And he was waiting with a hundred red roses and an orchestra playing a romantic violin piece. He got on one knee with a red rose between his teeth and proposed to me. I accepted and took the rose, which contained the ring."

In a flat voice, she added, "It was wonderful Tomoyo."

Tomoyo got off her swing and knelt to the ground in front of Sakura. Sensitively, brushed the soft curls aside to see Sakura's moistened eyes. Wordlessly, she took Sakura's hands and smiled reassuringly.

Swallowing back the colossal lump in her throat, Sakura refused to meet Tomoyo's glance and instead stared at the blue beauty on her finger contrasting against her pale skin.

"Tomoyo, this ring doesn't look right on my finger", she paused and took a deep breath, "it's too different."

Tomoyo bit her bit and held her retort. Crazy girl! That ring looks gorgeous on you.

Tomoyo waited for Sakura to continue, but silence once again overtook the conversation.

Sakura twirled the ring on her finger and inched it closer and closer to the end of her finger. Just as it was about to reach the edge, Tomoyo stopped her.

"This isn't about the ring, is it?"

"Tomoyo I'm scared."

Tomoyo heaved a sigh of relief.

"Is that all it's about Sakura?"

Shaking her head exasperatingly, she raised her stiff legs to a standing position and brushed the minuscule dirt off of her pants. Placing her hands over her hips she cocked an eyebrow.

"I can't believe I kneeled on the dirt for ten minutes for that."

She airily continued, "everybody gets scared before their wedding Sakura. It's perfectly natural. A virgin will obviously feel rattled before her wedding thinking about her wedding night," she aired superiorly.

Sakura slapped her hand against her forehead and groaned, "Tomoyo I am not worried about that."

Tomoyo, unnerved, continued, "Well is it because you don't know what to do? I know a sex therapist."

Sakura narrowed her eyes, "everything is not about sex Tomoyo!" Can't you take me seriously for once?! I really am scared about this marriage because I don't know if Derek is the right one for me. "

Sakura looked disgusted with herself and buried her face in her hands, "There I said it."

Tomoyo mouthed a huge O in comprehension and tentatively knelt down to Sakura's level once more.

"But I don't understand. You guys have always been perfect together. You guys were even awarded couple of the year during prom and during our senior college bash! You and Derek are the epitome of the ideal couple! He loves you and you love him. It's pretty simple, unless…"

Tomoyo paused and stared Sakura squarely in the eyes, "You don't love him."

Sakura groaned, "It's not that I don't love him Tomoyo…It's just that….I know he will keep me happy and I know he loves me so much…but…. I don't know if he is my…my….soulmate."

Tomoyo snorted, "You believe in that soulmate crap? Look Sakura, Derek is perfect for you. He will treat you like a queen. "

Sakura twiddled her fingers, "Tomoyo I don't feel any sparks when I kiss him."

"Sometimes it just takes time."

"And I've been having dreams of kissing a masked man under the full moon, surrounded by a lake full of swans and weeping willow trees. And I always get mystified by his eyes Tomoyo."

In a sickly sweet voice, she lightly breathed, "The most peculiar shade of amber. A color…which just…entranced…me."

Tomoyo rolled her eyes. "Oh brother, don't tell me you're worried because Derek's eyes are not amber but dark brown."

Sakura shook her head, "No Tomoyo. I feel as If I am cheating on him."

Tomoyo, feeling extremely annoyed with Sakura at this juncture, got up and began to shake Sakura's swing.

"Sakura! That man is not real okay? Imaginary men do not qualify in the cheating category."

She stopped shaking the swing and shut her eyes to think clearly. Sakura's swing still moved from Tomoyo's momentum.

"Look Sakura, I don't think you should lose sleep over this matter. That guy in your dream is not real. Derek is. That guy in your dream may have beautiful eyes, but Derek has a beautiful soul. In the end, Derek is the better end of the deal, Dontcha think?"

Tomoyo offered Sakura a hand, "There's no point in dwelling in daydreams Sakura."

Sakura nodded and suddenly smiled cheerfully. Taking Tomoyo's hand she got up from the swing and looked down at the ring.

"I guess different is good sometimes."

Tomoyo smiled, "Different is what makes life real."

In the next moment, Tomoyo erupted into a chorus of giggles.

Sakura smiled at Tomoyo's outburst and curiously asked, "What's so funny?"

With tears streaming down her face, Tomoyo choked out, "Your brother."

Sakura's smile abruptly turned into a frown. "Oh no. He doesn't like Derek"

Tomoyo giggled, "Sakura, your brother wouldn't approve of any guy, but I think he's going to have to make an exception. Don't worry, I'll persuade him."

Sakura groaned. This was going to be a long night.

When snowflakes began to envelop the park in a flurry of white, that signaled their cue to leave. Tomoyo rushed towards the car while Sakura walked slowly behind.

However, before she entered the car, she glanced towards the swings once more.

XOXOXO

The wedding day

Surprisingly the road to the wedding had been relatively smooth: Touya agreed after her father persuaded him (and with a bit of bribery from Tomoyo- Sakura still had no clue about what), and Tomoyo gladly obliged to fill the role of the wedding planner. And thus, wedding preparations had run at full speed the following month, filled with the usual stressful decision-making process involved. But the end result was to be fruitful and Sakura knew it.

But she just felt so nervous. Sitting in the red cushioned chair, surrounded by mirrors with Hollywood style dressing-room bulbs enlightening the room in a gold glow, Sakura felt butterflies were engaging in a bull fight in her abdomen.

Sakura was just absentmindedly picking at the lightly scattered pearls on her bodice, when Tomoyo came in with a video-camera in her hand, recording her.

"Aww, the bride looks mega hot today!".

Indeed she did. Sakura was wearing a creamy white wedding dress; it was strapless mermaid gown with and organza pearl-covered bodice and small intricate drawn pearl cherry blossoms on her skirt which accented her heavenly status. Her long auburn hair was done into an elaborate braid on one side with small pearls attached throughout her braid. A natural beauty needed no beauty product. ;)

"It's all because of you. You designed such a beautiful dress and you did my hair so nicely. Besides you don't look so bad yourself maid-of –honor".

Tomoyo wore a short midnight blue dress with a net sash around her waist. Her hair was put around in waves around her face making her look like a mermaid. Sakura winked at her and giggled.

"I hope you're not trying to woo the best man" joked Sakura.

"Pssht, as if. The chances of that happening are one in a gazillion. Kero has been pursuing me since our grade school years and he hasn't gotten any hotter. And no Sakura, you do not look beautiful because of my dress today. There's just something brides possess on their special day. And you possess that special something right now. Now enough of this small talk, we have a wedding plan to abide by."

Shifting into her serious business mode, Tomoyo twisted her lips, " Okay, you need something old, blue, and new right? ".

She took off her blue diamond bracelet and put it on Sakura's hand "This is something blue".

Tomoyo then began to rummage through her bag for something.

Sakura wet her rosy-colored lips to speak, "So what's that special thing they possess? The only thing I possess right now is a queasy feeling."

Tomoyo flared her nostrils, "Don't you dare throw up on your wedding dress Sakura. I don't have time to make a new one, half an hour before your wedding ceremony. And you silly goose, they possess happiness. You do too. But you're just showing it in a different way."

But even Tomoyo looked a little unsure of her last statement.

"And here is something new!"

She proceeded to take out a petite satin box covered with a little red bow.

Sakura inquisitively peered at the box while Tomoyo opened the lid to reveal a stunning white diamond cherry blossom necklace, which she lovingly fastened around Sakura's neck, "my mother brought this for you. She really wanted to give it to you herself, but she had urgent business to attend to."

" And no buts Sakura, she's your aunt too," Tomoyo patronized when Sakura opened her mouth to retort back, she continued after a brief pause, "But ….i don't have something old"

A new voice interjected,

"But I do"

The voice belonged to a tall man with salt-and-peppered hair, half-moon spectacles complementing his experienced demeanor, and an accented smile full of joy. Today, his grasshopper green eyes shone with tears as he walked towards his only daughter; knowing that she would belong to another in a few moments time. The thought brought a bittersweet stab to his heart; a pain that hurt as much as it healed. With each step, the memories flooded through: going in chronological order- the birth of his daughter, holding her for the first time, hearing her say "dada" for the first time….By the time he reached Sakura, the tears had flown down his face, and glistened on the edge.

Seeing his daughter in her bridal finery brought his wife, Nadishko's aspirations to mind; she had always wanted to see Sakura as a bride. But unfortunately life plays its games and destroys aspirations. However, dreams only die is there is no hope left for them, and today Sakura's father was here as a father and a mother.

Sitting down beside her, he clasped her hands and brought them to his lips; how difficult it was to comprehend such tiny hands could grow into such graceful ones!

"I remember the time you used to sit on my lap to hear me tell you stories, and how you were would never go to sleep without listening to one. You especially liked Beauty and the beast," he conveyed in a reminiscent voice.

Sakura grinned wistfully at the memory, "I remember I used to hate the beast because he looked scary,", she paused to wipe the tear out of her eye (Tomoyo would kill her if she went to the altar with red eyes), "how ignorant I was."

Sakura's father shook his head at the wonderful memory, "That's because you were so young….You probably won't have time to listen to them now. "

Sakura glared at her father. Or atleast she attempted to, but her good-natured face showed how difficult it was for her to express anger.

"I shall always have time to listen to your stories. Even if you tell me the same ones over and over, I will never grow tired of them."

He took her delicate face in his hands and kissed her forehead.

"I'm glad I still have my loyal trouper. But now it's time for my little baby to grow up now", he choked as he uttered the next words, "Derek will keep you very happy. My angel deserves only the best."

Sakura wiped the tears from her father's face and leaned in to hug him.

"You're my entire world daddy. I'm here because of you. I don't wanna leave you".

Enveloped in the bittersweet hug, they each wept silently for things that had passed and things that were to come. Through their woven memories, they grew and learned, passing through each phase of life with surprises at each corner. Sometimes life has too many surprises in store…

Sensing the auspicious hour ticking closer and closer, her father broke away from the hug and patted Sakura lovingly on her cheek.

"Your mother would be so proud of you. She would have done anything to be with you right now, but…"

He broke off and stared determinedly at the ceiling, " I have something old.."

He took the lid off the box and took out a pretty white veil scattered with tiny gemstones that made the veil look divine "this veil was your mother's on her wedding day, and I know she would want you to have it on yours…unfortunately she couldn't be here to give it to you in person"

Fujitaka Kinomoto bowed his head and Sakura got up to give a hug to her dad.

"Daddy, she's here with us always."

Touya Kinomoto then came in and filled the room with his obnoxious presence,

"So the monster is finally getting married. I'm surprised he hasn't run away from the altar yet."

Sakura rolled her eyes, "You'd love that Touya."

Touya grinned wickedly. "You know me so well".

Preparing herself for an impending showdown, Sakura braced herself and cleared her throat to begin the scream fest. However, Touya surprised her by suddenly grabbing her in a tight hug; a hug which reminded Sakura of the time Touya had comforted her after her mother's death; a hug of sadness.

Touya softly murmured, "I am going to miss my little monster"

Sakura, with a tight feeling beginning to form in her chest, lightly responded, "And I'm going to miss my maddening brother".

The smooth melody of a saxophone cut the interaction short. Touya and Sakura broke apart to look for the source of the noise and saw Tomoyo checking her iPhone.

"Sorry guys, but the we need to get to the wedding altar in five minutes. That was my five-minute-before-the-altar-alarm."

Tomoyo urgently shoved the phone inside her silver clutch and began to boss the guests of honor, "Touya, you go and tell the pianist to begin playing the wedding march. And Mr. Kinomoto, you just stand there while i place this veil on Sakura's head."

Mr. Kinomoto nodded his head and obediently went to wait outside the room. Meanwhile, Tomoyo was pinning the shimmery veil on Sakura. While she was fastening the diamond clips to hold the veil in place, she whispersed in Sakura's war, "Wait until you see the honeymoon destination, you're gonna have zoo much fun. If you know what i mean".

Tomoyo playfully winked and Sakura proceeded to hide her face in her hands.

"Oh Sakura your blush looks so kawaii!"

Touya, who apparently had never left the room, interposed, "Honeymoon! There is no need of a honeymoon! She is only 22!"

Fujitaka, hearing the commotion, rushed into the room and tried to calm Touya down, but Touya still seethed with anger and furiously stared at the wedding altar as if contemplating on how to strangle Derek.

When Sakura looked over at Tomoyo, she saw that Tomoyo was videotaping the whole drama.

Sakura shook her head. Oh Tomoyo, what am i going to do with you?

XOXO

Finally the time came for Sakura to go down to walk the aisle. With unsteady steps, she slowly wobbled towards her father and intertwined her hand around his outstretched elbow.

Feeling overwhelmed, Sakuka began to tremble slightly and felt her palms grow sweaty. Thank goodness she was wearing gloves.

Mr. Kinomoto, sensing her nervousness, squeezed Sakura's hand to reassure her that everything was going to be okay. However when she heard the elegant wedding tune, the cue to the beginning of the ceremony, she began to feel nauseous once more. Tomoyo, who was standing right next to them, observed Sakura's green expression and immediately opened her silver clutch to look for something. Once she found the object, Tomoyo opened it and forced it into Sakura's mouth.

"It's mint for your nerves."

Sakura, sensing a threat in Tomoyo's concern, nodded and began to suck on the mint.

Tomoyo led them towards large, renaissance-styles double doors, behind which Sakura's future lay.

After peeking through the stained glass, Tomoyo faced Sakura and Mr. Kinomoto.

"When i signal you, that is your cue to begin walking towards the altar. Understood?"

They both bobbed their head in understanding.

"Remember, the cue is a-"

"Opera-styled here comes the bride," Sakura and Mr. Kinomoto said in unison. They had heard this speech fifty times since they had left the waiting room.

"Fine," Tomoyo stated, with feelings obviously bruised, "I'm gonna leave to check now."

Tomoyo playfully punched Sakura and opened the doors to enter the wedding party.

Feeling as if judgement day were approaching, Sakura felt her heart was going to tear out of her chest. What if i fall? What if Derek doesn't like that way i look?

To relax her mind, Sakura closed her eyes and rolled them around for a few seconds, but her routine was interrupted by a flash of amber.

Feeling flustered, Sakura groaned out loud. "Why do i keep on thinking about him?"

Mr. Kinomoto startled her with his comment, "Sakura, he's just beyond that door. You just have to be a little patient."

As he chuckled, Sakura scowled. No more amber, just dark brown. No amber, no amber, no amber.

Suddenly Tomoyo appeared before them and wordlessly whisked Sakura's away from the entranceway of the altar towards the end of the hallway.

"Sakura-Chan he isn't here yet. His parents are here, but he isn't. They say he went to get something for you right now", Tomoyo explained in a frantic voice.

Sakura's stomach tightened as if it were being twisted into painful knots.

"You don't think he ditched me do you?"

"No Sakura-Chan he loves you too much…I think he might be stuck in traffic," Tomoyo replied in a hesitant tone.

"Isn't it unlucky for the groom to leave the altar before the wedding?". Sakura began to hyperventilate.

The vibrating of a phone led Sakura to literally jump up. Clutching her heart for dear life, she relaxed a tiny bit when she realized the source had been from her cell phone. With a feeling of uttermost despair encircling her mind in each passing second, she frantically reached for her cell phone.

Not possessing he courage to stare at the screen, Sakura silently handed the phone to Tomoyo and glanced away.

Tomoyo nervously glanced at the screen.

"It's Derek," she stated in a relieved voice, "See, I told you everything is alright".

Sighing in relief, Sakura snatched the phone and began to bombard poor Derek, "Derek where are you? I hope you aren't ditching me on our wedding day!…. Wait who is this?"

She stopped, startled by a stranger's gruff voice.

The new voice told her; "Ma'am I am sorry to inform you that Derek cannot attend the wedding."

"Derek, stop joking and trying to scare me on our wedding day! When I see you I am going to…." Sakura lashed out in disbelief.

"Ma'am please listen. My name is Inspector Jim and right now I am located at the main street intersection.," he broke off abruptly.

A Long tension filled pause filled the air.

"Hello? Please…what's happened at the intersection?" Sakura hysterically screamed into the tiny cell phone.

He then began in a much more tense and hurried voice, " Ma'am there has been a serious car accident, involving a drunk driver colliding into Mr. Derek's car and the car blew up…..and I …am sorry to tell you he is in the hospital right now in a critical condition.

Sakura dropped her cell phone.

Derek…car crash? Critical?

The last thing she saw was the dark floor rising to meet her…..

XOXO

For first-time readers: Thank you so much for giving this tale a shot!

For second time: I am so sorry i took so long to update! Ive just had a hectic college semester, which left me no room to write or even read(novels)! gasp. i know. And i am laos sorry that the new update is not the new chapter you all have been waiting for, but an updated first chapter. I really felt the story had too many plot-holes and i feel i need to give it a complete reboot. Don't worry the integrity, romance, and comedy of the piece will not be compromised, but it will have more depth. I promise you will enjoy this one even more. Since i have a month off, expect longer condensed chapters filled with a mixture of new and old material.

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