A.N. It wasn't until today (April 11) I realized I should stop being lazy and separate the chapters. I had a total of 38 pages of the first 10 chapters. Hopefully, I've finished chapter 11 by now.

CREATED: December 24, 2005 - - Sad Christmas Eve Day. Motivated me to write this story tho! hehe.

PUBLISHED: April 7, 2007

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Chapter 2: Counting to Ten

YELAN'S HOUSE (MANSION)

"You have a lovely home, Mrs. Li. " She said as she had set her umbrella near the coat rack. Sakura had followed her mother's friend to this extravagant luxury home near the park.

"Thank you, my dear. Please, call me Yelan." She smiled. "My late husband and I visit here a couple times a year before he decided to stay in Hong Kong for good, then soon Japan began a distant memory of our past." Yelan said as she hung her coat on the rack.

"Really?" She was amazed at this woman's stories. Sakura was taken aback from the portraits of her family members, they were beautifully painted in a Chinese silk, from what she concluded. Yelan had noticed Sakura staring at the portraits.

"This portrait is a portrait of my late husband, Xiao Li. We both were born in China and came here for family matters. You see, your mother and father were our neighbors back then. She was very sweet. " She led Sakura to the living room. Yelan began to talk about how Sakura's mother used to visit her family almost everyday, coming through that door warmly with new and exciting stories. A thought came across, she had to admit, her parents had gotten married at a very young age. And due to Nadeshiko's conditions, she had ended her life prematurely as well. Sakura couldn't help but smile at the thought that her mom and dad were very happy with each other. She just hopes she'd be able to find her Prince Charming, like her mother found her father. Like that would ever happen. She brushed away her fantasies of that fictional character.

"She got along with all my daughters and my son too, when he was born. " She took a deep breath. "We had no idea she was so ill. The last time we saw her, she was as health as any person can be. " She paused a moment and allowed Sakura to speak for a while.

"Yes, we all didn't know. It seemed like a dream, more of a nightmare, seeing my mother laying in her bed, almost lifeless. I was young, so I didn't really understand the meaning of death until I witnessed my family and I lost her for good." She fought the tears that were threatening to come out. She didn't want to admit it, but she knew she was right. There was no way to fill in the huge gap in her heart after growing up without a mother. She remembered one day, her first day in third grade.

Sakura was such a cheerful child, despite losing her mother just a few years before. Everyone knew everyone, but of course, the town was very small and word gets out quickly in her part of town. Sakura couldn't be more excited to finally go to school after a long, fun-filled summer, that almost exhausted her for days. Once she entered her classroom, her friends, Tomoyo and Eriol were not too far. Once it was recess, some of the kids began to get to know one another. Then, they began to talk about what their mommy's and daddy's did for a living.

"What does your mommy do?" Asked a little boy in red.

"I don't have a mommy. " She answered, thinking that was the right thing to say.

"What do you mean 'you don't have a mommy'? Everyone has a mommy!" The kids thought that she was joking and began laughing as if half-expecting for her to join them.

"But …I … don't … have …a… mommy!" Sakura screamed with all her might. They paused to look at her but began to laugh again. Tears threatened to come out.

"You big bullies! Sakura doesn't have a mommy! So, leave her alone!" Tomoyo bravely defended her, but the kids continued to laugh.

"Yeah, you guys don't even know how it feels like to live without any one of your parents! So, SHUT UP!" Eriol screamed, pouring out words of strong empathy for Sakura.

That was the first and only time both Sakura and Tomoyo has ever seen Eriol so angry. After that, he was always so calm and the rational one out of the three. Despite her friends helping her out, those five words rang in her head everyday, till this very day. "I don't have a mommy… I don't have a mommy… I don't have a mommy… I don't have a mommy… "

" I don't have a mommy…." She said, bare a whisper.

"Oh, I'm sorry, child. I didn't mean to make you cry and remember a horrible time of the past. I'm terribly sorry. Let us change the subject then." She felt sympathy for the girl.

"Oh, no. Please, don't. I really would like to talk about my mother. No one really has, with me anyways." She wanted to know. She really wanted to know her mother from another person's perspective. "The only time I learn more about her is when she talks to me. In my dreams, that is." She unknowingly had formed a sad smile, almost angelic like to Yelan's eyes.

"Ok. We shall then." She smiled, erasing her nonsense thoughts, as one of the maids brought out the tea they will be serving. They had chatted for a while that led to a bit of laughter and more laughs. It was half past seven.

"Oh, child! We seem to have lost track of time. I hope I hadn't kept you away from anything." '..or anyone.' She thought to herself. Sakura was a lovely girl, perfect for her Xiao Lang, her son.

"Oh, no. It's ok. I enjoyed this more than anything. But I suppose I should go. I really appreciated this, Yelan-san. I hope I was not an intrusion." She hugged the elderly woman.

"Of course not! You are welcome here anytime!" She walked her out the living room. "Now, stop by anytime. I'd love to have you as company again!"

"Ok. I'll be sure to visit soon! Thank you for having me again! Bye!" Sakura left and Yelan closed the door and sighed. Then her eyes shot open as a sleepy twenty-year-old with unruly chestnut hair walked down the stairs, yawning and scratching his stomach.

"Hey, mother. How long was I out for?" He asked, stretching his abdominal muscle. She sighed again.

'Perfect timing. Xiao Lang.' She thought to herself.

"Not long, sweetheart." She clenched her teeth.

"Who was that?" His piercing amber eyes fixed upon his mother.

"An old friend of mine.." '…'s …daughter, whom I think is just perfect for you yet you wouldn't come down when you were suppose to WHEN she was here! Instead, nearly give your poor mother a heart attack, seeing you with a different hussy every night for dinner, who those girls are only out for your good-looks and money! Geez… what a dense son I raised!' She tried to calm herself down by closing her eyes.

"Mother?"

She counted to ten. 'One… two… three… four.'

"Mother?"

'…… five…… six……seven…'

"Mother! What had gotten into you?"

'eight. nine. ten!' She opened her eyes seeing his angry/confused face and simply replied.

"Yes, son?" She gave him the oddest smile, almost creepy-like too.

"Never mind, mother. I guess, I should be going. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you again." He walked to find his shoes.

"It's ok, Xiao Lang, I understand how busy you've been attending to the family's business and all. You may go." She waved to him and left to go upstairs. She didn't bother telling Xiao Lang about Sakura.

"Bye to you too, mother." He said sarcastically. And opened the door looking back at his mother leaving and was leave himself when he accidentally bumps into a figure right outside the door, forcing both of them fall backwards. He heard an 'ouch!' and someone fall in front of him. He took a moment before opening his eyes. " Watch where you're going!"

"I'm so sorry!" He heard a sweet, almost angelic voice, then he opened his eyes. "I didn't mean to barge in on you like that. I was just about to ring the doorbell, and-and … " His eyes laid on this beauty brunette goddess that sat in front of him, apologizing with such concern in her eyes… "Well, you see, I was just here a few minutes ago, and I seem to have forgotten my umbrella!" … and babbling too. She was laughing nervously. Why? He wondered.

"Your umbrella?" Xiao Lang questioned and picked himself up and offered a hand to the petite beauty. She hadn't noticed, until he got up, that the person she just bumped into was terribly handsome and fit too. She took the offer with hesitation.

"Well, yes. You see. It's sort of sprinkling right now and I just remembered I left my umbrella here. So, I came back for it." Xiao Lang looked around the coat rack and found a umbrella that was green with light pink blossom pedals. He picked it up.

"Is this yours?" He saw her face light up.

"Yes it is! Thank you so much!" She smiled as he handed the umbrella to her. He could help but smile too. It was something about this girl that he couldn't hold back a smile for. So he figured, since it was only her, and she obviously didn't know him at all, he'd smile just for her.

"You're welcome." He rubbed his chest, making sure she saw it. And bingo.

"Oh my goodness! I've hurt you! I am so sorry! My brother always said I had a hard head, I didn't think he meant it literally!" 'Stop babbling!' Sakura internally lectured. "Um. Um. Let me make it up to you! I feel awful! I'm such a klutz!" She frantically tried to think of something to do for the poor man she bumped into. "Do you like sushi?"

"Yes, I do happen to like sushi." He answered standing with a straight back, rather coolly. 'What a dumb question, Sakura! Could you have asked a stupider question!?'

"So… you do?" She asked, getting an odd look from him and a hesitant nod. 'Great. Sakura. Wait a go! Proving yourself wrong… AGAIN! He DID just say it! DUH!' "Um, well, I know a great sushi restaurant nearby here. I think, about four blocks from here. It's really great! I promise! My treat!" 'Stop babbling, Sakura! You look like a babbling baboon right about now! And stop drooling over this guy you barely just met!' She engaged herself to a short mental battle with herself. "What do you say?" She looked for any signs of rejection? Acceptance? Anything to make this awkward silence die down.

"I was heading out anyways to get a bite to eat. Let's go." He grabbed his coat; but before he closed the door, from the inside, you can hear Xiao Lang ask:

"I didn't get your name." He said.

"I'm Sakura Kinomoto."

"Well, Sakura Kinomoto. My name's Syaoran Li." He smiled at her and Sakura giggled a bit.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Syaoran." And with that the door shut closed and from the upper stairs of the Li household, stood Yelan Li with the biggest grinning. Hearing every word spoken between Syaoran and Sakura, she was at last satisfied with this collision of people. Literally! After staying at her spot for a moment, she headed for her bedroom, thoughtfully thinking how beautiful her future grandchildren will turn out to be.

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THANKS FOR READING!