Disclaimer: I do not own CCS or any of its characters. Review, please.

Sakura felt a sigh wither away between her lips. She pressed and folded various clothes: shirts, jeans, shorts, bras . . . the melancholy that came with packing her life away was symbolism within itself. The things that meant the most to her, like Madison's tapes and a picture of her late mother, had already been carefully placed in cardboard boxes and sealed up. The finality of it shook her. She was going away to college, in the States.

Sakura strode slowly to her wooden dresser, an old ribbon from seven years ago tied to one of the brass levers. She pulled it open, the old wood creaking softly, and her green eyes touched upon the rumpled bedding she hadn't dared taken out for seven lonely years.

Kero.

A part of her life that had long since been emotionally boxed away. Li had left, taking Meilin with him. Kero had moved on, back to where he belonged, which had so shortly been with her. Madison had grown and shaped along with the rest of them, and the years had passed by too swiftly.

"Sakura," a voice called from behind her.

She glanced over her shoulder, auburn hair brushing her collar. Her father stood in the doorway. He was still tall and excuded a gentle aura, yet time had placed upon him gray streaks, a stoop around his shoulders, and lines around his eyes.

"Yes?"

"Madison called. She'll meet us at the airport in an hour."

The thought of flying away, overseas, sent an ache through her heart. She inclined her head in an affirmative and faced the drawer again. When his voice rang out once more, she was surprised to find her father still there.

"Sakura?"

"Is there anything you need, father?"

He hesitated, and indecision coloured his words. "I know that leaving your world behind is hard." He paused. "Yet it must be done."

"Yes, it must."

She closed her eyes, and heard him exit the doorway.

Her lids slowly lifted again, and she stared ahead of her, through the window an old oak tree scraped against. The sunlight wafted in through curtains so familiar to her, and weariness settled in her eyes.

"Yes, it must."

--------------------

"Flight 101 to Los Angeles, California, boarding in five minutes."

The hollow voice of an airline attendant echoed through Sakura's ears, and she stared ahead of her at Madison and her family. The girl who had been her constant companion, who had video taped her wild escapades and sewn outrageous costumes for her, was standing five feet ahead. Her eyes shone with tears, yet a smile wobbled on her lips.

"Sakura," was all she said.

Suddenly, she just wanted to retreat. Step back. To get in her car and drive back to her house; open her bedroom door and find all her knick-nacks strewn about, her coverlet spread carefully over her bed, and see Keiro's head poking out from the drawer, or playing a video game in the corner. She wanted it so very desperately.

"Madison," Sakura began, "you have been such a great companion." She faultered, as if she couldn't find the words. And she couldn't; not to express it all. "I value your friendship so much . . . it seems that the years have sped by. I want them back, you know?"

Madison's smile became more of a sucking in of the lips, and moisture gathered around her eyes. "Oh, I know." She glanced to the side, and let out a nervous laugh. "I know."

They stood apart, so very different, and yet so much the same in their bond. Sakura feared a last embrace; a hug that ended them all for a long while. Both of them would be too busy with school, and their money would be tight. There would be emails, but she would no longer look Madison's camera in the eye.

Amidst her thoughts, someone suddenly rammed into her, and Sakura reeled back from the blow. She looked down to see the top of Madison's dark head, and felt the crushing embrace of her arms. Sakura bit her lip, and mirrored her best friend's actions, all of her fears and paranoia and nervous emotions crashing to the fro. They were two girls with a long, wide past and a seemingly completely seperate road stretched out before them.

"Flight 101 to Los Angeles, California, boarding now."

Sakura felt her father's hands on her shoulders; not pulling away, yet subtly reminding her that time was running short. Her head jerked in a nod, and when she pulled away from Madison, she felt as decomposed as an eleven year old, instead of the eighteen years she truly was.

"It's time to go, sweetheart," he said softly, as if mindful of broken hearts and shredded feelings. She took a deep breath and felt the cold airport air flow into her lungs; she whiped her eyes and took a step back, leaning down to pick up her carry-on bag.

"Goodbye."

And she walked away.