Prologue
Rays of light streamed through Sakura's curtains, onto her face. It was the last day of the summer holidays, and for once she had actually finished her homework before that day. Sakura was going to go to the park and draw.
She got up, washed and dressed and went downstairs. Kero followed her and sat at the table with a smug look on his face. "I heard you talking in your sleep again last night. You really need to get that kid off of your mind!"
"Maybe you're right. I bet he already has a family. Geez – I'm 17 and still brooding over a boy I met when I was ten!" Sakura closed her eyes and tried to erase the image of the one she loved.
Fujitaka walked in and started to prepare breakfast. "Sakura, what do you want for breakfast, eh? I've got sausage, egg, bacon, fried bread… what's up, honey?"
"Nothing. Can I have scrambled egg and bacon, please?" Sakura opened her eyes and looked at Kero, who was sitting dead still on the table. "Kero, they know who you are; there's no point doing that stuffed animal pose anymore."
Kero relaxed as he remembered. "Oh yeah…"
"Oi, monster – you've got a letter." Touya walked into the kitchen and sat down in the seat opposite Sakura. "It looks like it's from…" Touya inspected the post-mark. "…Hong Kong, China – the Chinese Gaki has finally bothered to contact you, eh?"
Sakura's eyes shot open and her head jerked up. She snatched the letter from Touya's hand before he got it fully open and read it, with trembling hands.
From the desk of Syaoran Li
Dearest Sakura,
I'm a fool. I have been so selfish by leaving you, and I hope that you still think of me as much as I think of you. I am flying out to Japan in a few days, on the 31st of March, and I would like to see you. Please meet me in "Penguin Park" on that day at 1pm. I can't wait to see you.
SyaoranSakura read it over and over, getting more excited all the while. It was 10:00am on the 31st of March. She stood up quickly, screamed with excitement and rushed upstairs to get her coat. Grabbing an apple on the way out, she said "I'll be back later!"
Fujitaka, Touya and Kero looked at the door, stunned. Sakura had gone from depression to delight in the time it takes, well, to read a letter.
Chapter One
Sakura was at the bridge well ahead of time, and had taken a book with her to pass the time. She didn't mind being early but she didn't want to be late. Someone walked by and stood on the opposite side of the bridge. Sakura's aura prickled.
Suddenly the stranger asked, "Would you, by any chance, know Kinomoto Sakura?"
"Who wants to know?" Sakura answered, looking at the stranger. When he didn't reply, she said, "That would be me. If you want me to go anywhere, I can't. I'm waiting for someone." She turned back to her book.
The stranger walked over, put his hand on Sakura's shoulder and turned her around.
"What?!" Sakura grabbed his wrist and threw him to the ground. "I'm so sorry! It's a reflex. I get people doing that a lot to me." She helped him up.
"You've gotten stronger, Sakura-chan." The strange looked into her eyes and she into his and Sakura knew who it was.
"Syaoran!" She threw arms around his neck and hugged him. They ended up back on the floor in a heap. "I thought you'd forgotten about me…" Sakura started to cry into his shoulder.
"I know, Sakura but I'm here now." Syaoran hugged her back hard, kissing her hair.
"What did you want to talk to me about, Syaoran?" Sakura asked, still hugging him.
"….I…er, that is to say…umm…Come with me." Syaoran took her hand and led her to a secluded clearing in the woods. "Now we can talk. I…I…" Syaoran stuttered. "I can't believe how stupid I've been…"
Sakura looked at Syaoran's face, and saw regret, but said nothing.
"Meiling broke off the engagement as soon as we returned home from Japan seven years ago. She told me it would be for the best, as she knew how I felt, and still feel about y…" Suddenly somebody came into the clearing. It was a man of about Syaoran's stature and build. The stranger was holding a handgun.
He broke into a run and ran past Syaoran, grabbing Sakura as he ran. "SHAORAN!! HELP!!" Sakura screamed, trying desperately to escape the strange man's grip. He dropped her as she landed a kick on the side of the man's knee. He saw Syaoran draw a sword and started to run away.
"Sakura, where are your cards??" Syaoran yelled.
"At home! I don't need them much anymore!"
"Baka Sakura! Go and get them!" Sakura stood up and ran. She couldn't use her cards because they were in her bedroom at home.
Damn it! Sakura thought I have to get home!! She sprinted as fast as she could in the right direction and ran onto the road.
BANG!!
Sakura lay on the road, hardly moving, and trying hard to breathe. "Sakura!!" Syaoran's voice pierced through her mind. He was kneeling at her side and trying to arouse her. "Yes, emergency services? There's been an accident. Mmm Hmm, Yes…" Syaoran told the emergency services their whereabouts and condition.
Very soon an ambulance and Sakura's family came rushing to the scene. Sakura was unconscious, but breathing. The paramedics put her on a stretcher and took her to hospital in an ambulance.
"…Yes, she'll be fine. I need you to fill in a sheet about her, her blood type and stuff like that. Thanks…"
Sakura was lying in hospital with Touya, Fujitaka, Kero, Yukito, Tomoyo and Syaoran at her side. Her eyes fluttered open. "Sakura! How are you? Do you feel ok? Oh, Sakura, we thought the worst had happened!!" Tomoyo gabbled. Her lavender eyes were blood-shot and there was an empty packet of tissues on her lap.
"Wh...Who are you?" was Sakura's simple reply.
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B-L