A/N: You're all going to really hate me for writing this chapter – I felt like I needed a 'flash-back' but this isn't just any flash-back…it's a HUGE one. It is quite S+S orientated (just how I like it!) but bare with me – I will develop the characters and plot more in the next chapter! Sorry.

S.

Lost Goodbye

"I want you to come with me."

"Huh…?" I blinked and hoped I'd imagined those words…this was bad. This was really bad. "What?"

"Erm…did falling on the floor deafen you or something?" She asked, waving her hand in front of my glazed eyes. "I said, I want you to…"

"I heard you the first time!" I snapped – flustered, I began walking off.

"Syaoran!" She skated in front of me her arms stretched out, blocking my path. She frowned deeply…wow; I'll give anyone the best advice ever: Do NOT mess with the Li Clan women – especially Meilin; stupidity and courage doesn't mix well. "You're not going anywhere until you give me an answer!"

"How about NO!" I tried to get passed her, but the irritating girl refused to budge.

"Syaoran…" Her expression cleared, "Fight me."

"What?"

"You heard me. Fight." She pulled her fists up and her expression darkened. "If you win you can do what you want – If you lose, which you will, you must come to Japan!"

"Meilin – I'm not going to fight you!" This was unbelievable.

"What? So you're backing down?" This was getting tiring. I rolled my eyes, walked up to her and put my face close to hers. I smiled coldly and brought my uninjured hand up to that confused face – and flicked her forehead. She blinked.

She jumped up, screeching.

"Ouch! That hurt!" Tears streamed down her face (A/N anime style!), "That hurt…baka!" I felt rather than saw her arm coming – I grabbed her hand and looked disdainfully at her struggle to regain control. She yelled - I let go of her hand and turned away, disgusted.

"Go to bed, Meilin." I walked away and I felt something light hit the back of my head. I look down and there was a ball of scrunched up paper.

"You don't care," She said in a low voice. "You never cared." She ran out. I paused and blinked…what did she mean by that? Girls, I shook my head.

I looked at the paper…I sensed it had been touched by something or someone magical – which was weird because Meilin didn't have any magical traits at all. I stiffly picked it up and unrolled it. It was a letter written in neat, loopy writing…it looked different and yet so familiar...

Dear Meilin,

Hi, Meilin! How are you? I hope you're doing well - Tomoyo sends her unending love and so does Kero…although he did insist I add that calling him a 'stuffed animal' means that Clow's spirit would come back in vengeance to haunt you (I doubt that's true! I mean, ghosts don't exist…right? He just said I had to add that if I was going to add the 'unending love' part - sorry).

I hope everyone's okay – school is finishing in a few weeks and we'd love you to come and visit us…maybe, Li Syaoran may also decide to come with you. I know I haven't mentioned him in a while – but I really need to talk to him. I have a really bad feeling something…magical is happening. And not 'good' magical. I don't know what to do. I tried using the cards but that made the feeling worse. I've also been having these really weird dreams and…I just really need to talk to your cousin. If he refuses it's okay, don't worry I'm sure it's nothing and I'm being completely paranoid!

I need to go now, Kero is hungry (no big change there), I'm looking forward to seeing you again! I missed you all so much!

Love, Kinomoto Sakura

I stared at it…Sakura…

She was referring to me as if I wasn't important – calling me by my full name then referring to me simply as 'your cousin'…then why did I see faint traces of circular patterns – tears? She was scared…I was scared. I knew that magic was taking place and…I was being a coward, which went against everything I had ever been taught. I needed to go to Japan. I would hate every moment of my treachery, but I had to. Something was going on and I needed to find out what; if not for my Clan, for myself…I needed to know what was going on in my head…in my heart.

I couldn't help but let a smile touch my lips…I read over the letter again and saw she was still trying hard to be cheerful and lively, even though she must have been terrified to get over her pride and phone me last week, after so long.

I shook my head and, looking up, I realised I'd somehow managed to walk back to my bed. Why did I even care if she was still being Sakura? She was always an optimist and 'the eternal optimist is forever disappointed.' Without thinking I got into bed and lay, uncovered, the letter clutched to my chest…did she look any different…? Did she still stuff her face as if her stomach was a bottomless pit…? Did she still find the hardest thing in the world getting out of bed in the morning…? Did she still hate math? Did she ever think of me? Did she remember all those times I'd sat with her to revise and laugh at her perplexed expression…? Did she still smile radiantly even at the worst of times…? Did she realise I thought of her all the time…?

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Flashback: 7 years ago

"Li-kun! This is impossible!" She pouted at the paper before her and Syaoran resisted the temptation to, a) laugh so hard his sides split, b) pull her into a deep, unthinking, passionate kiss…that mouth was made to kiss…what are you thinking? This is Kinomoto you're thinking about…the girl you're meant to be taking the cards off? Baka.

"Li-Kun," Tomoyo looked at him, smiling, "Are you okay…?"

"I…I…" he blushed deeply – Daijoudi always made him feel like she could read his illicit thoughts.

They were all sitting on the floor in Syaoran's apartment, revising for math exam the next day. It was getting very late and everyone was relaxing a bit too much…Meilin was just getting some juice from the kitchen, Eriol and Tomoyo were giving each other freaky looks; Sakura and Syaoran were leaning against the sofa…closer together than they realised.

"Mou, Li-kun…" Sakura tilted her head cutely and gazed at the equation hard, "why do we have to learn algebra…? It's so useless – when will I ever need to use it in real life…?" (A/N I really enjoy algebra, but why is it useful to people if they aren't going to become mathematicians and architects…:D just a passing, useless thought).

"Well, world renowned architects, physicists and mathematicians like Thales, Pythagoras, Archimedes, Galileo Galilei, Blaise Pascal, Isaac Newton, Leonhard Euler, Sophie Germain, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Evariste Galois, Emmy Noether, Srinivasa Ramanujan, Euclid, Omar Khayyam, Leonard of Pisa (Fibonacci), Rene Descartes, Pierre de Fermat, Maria Agnesi, Benjamin Banneker, Charles Babbage, Mary Somerville, Neils Abel, Ada Lovelace, Soyna Kovalevsky, Albert Einstein, Gorge Polya, Charlotte Scott, Grace Young, Anna Wheeler, Grace Hopper, Julia Robinson, Evelyn Granville, Ptolemy, Niccolo Tartaglia, Francois Viete, Simon Stevin, Johannes Kepler, Bonaventura Cavalieri, John Wallis, James Gregory, Gottfried Leibniz, Jacob & Johann Bernoulli, Zeno of Elea, Apollonius, Brahmagupta, and Copernicus all needed algebra to succeed in their fields," Eriol smiled at everyone's glazed expressions.

"I see…" Sakura felt bad for moaning but she'd been revising for weeks and she still felt like she knew nothing at all…Tomoyo was just naturally smart at everything (and her voice was amazing too…), Eriol…well, he was listing names of people she had never heard of before, Meilin had to work hard but she never complained and Syaoran…he's amazing. Sakura stopped breathing and blinked…Where had that come from?

"No, not like that," Syaoran quickly leaned over and put his hand over hers, correcting the equation, "Like this – see? You have to gather the terms…" They both blushed deeply and Syaoran quickly retracted his hand.

Her hand feels so soft…

His hand is so warm…

"Kinomoto, it's not your fault you're dumb," Meilin trotted in with a tray of orange juice for everyone and scowled at how comfortable Sakura and Syaoran (her Syaoran) looked together – she'd never seen him smile like that with anyone before, not even his fiancée…her!

"I guess you're right…" Sakura looked down, not knowing quite why Meilin hated her so much…

"Meilin!" Sakura's head jerked up – Syaoran…defending me…? "That's enough! Everyone has different kinds of brains and different styles of learning – that's what makes people, people! It would be ignorant, not to mention dumb, to say anyone was of an inferior mental capability than you!" Everyone stared at him and sweat-dropped…Syaoran looked at Sakura, gazing wide-eyed at him and he blushed furiously. He quickly grabbed a glass of orange juice and sloshed half of it down his shirt and choked on the rest.

"Syaoran…?" Meilin sighed and shook her head, "Kinomoto knew I was joking, right, Kinomoto?" Meilin gave Sakura a crabby-eyed glare - Sakura was still staring at Syaoran choking on his juice.

"Huh…hai!" She felt her face redden slightly…what a strange feeling…

"Oho ho ho ho ho," Tomoyo looked at Eriol and he looked back – they grinned.

"Tomoyo-chan, my dear, please allow me the great honour of escorting you home," His smile widened.

"Why, of course. I would be delighted," She smiled back as she took his outstretched arm. "See you tomorrow, everyone – good luck for the exam!"

"Sayonara, and I need all the luck I can get!" Sakura slumped and sighed deeply. Meilin scowled and Tomoyo smiled, gathering her coat and bag.

"You'll be fine, Sakura-chan! Li-kun is an excellent tutor." Meilin's eye twitched; she realised she had to be polite and escort Eriol and Tomoyo out – but she would also be leaving Sakura and Syaoran alone. The dilemma made her face twitch, but she had to be polite…damn etiquette!

They were left alone. They both looked up at the same time and blushed when they realised they'd caught each other looking…

"Um…Li-kun?"

"Hai?" He looked at her- why did she always have to look so sweet and gentle and puzzled like that…? It made his heart ache.

"I…Um…I just wanted to say…Arigatou," She blushed and continued to stare hard at the unsolved equation from before.

"For what?"

"For…for defending me like that," he blushed deeply.

"It was nothing – I'd…I would have done that for anyone!" He scowled and tried hard not to look at her.

"I know…because you're that sort of person – you're very kind, Li-kun," her blush deepened, "But thank you anyway – for everything. I would have flunked the exam even more if it wasn't for you." she shrugged and continued thinking about the uselessness of maths.

"Hadn't you better get home, Kinomoto? It's past eleven!" Meilin came crashing in and was satisfied to see they were no longer smiling or looking at one another.

"Nani? Touya is going to kill me!" Sakura got up and stretched – sitting down for too long was not something she enjoyed at all!

"I'll walk you home," Syaoran said, surprising even himself, trying not to watch her beautiful body uncurl like that. He silently cursed her short skirt, her pale, glowing skin and those long smooth legs…

"Oh – that's not necessary, I'll be fine…"

"Are you joking? Look how dark it is? What if someone attacks you?" He said this a little too aggressively – and blushed.

"I'm coming too!" Meilin, placed her fists on her hips, "No way am I leaving you alone with Syaoran – God alone knows what you'll do to him!"

"Hoe…?"

"No you're not! Who's going to look after the house? Wei is on a break, remember?" Syaoran found himself smiling…then gulping – he was walking with her all the way to her house…and they'd be alone. What if he screwed up…? What if he said something stupid…? What if he confessed to feelings he barely knew were there…?

"Fine! Go! But if you're not back in ten minutes I'm coming after you!" her eye twitched as she pushed both the Card Captors out of the apartment, slamming the door behind them.

"Hoe…she seems mad…" Sakura blinked and looked at Syaoran's equally puzzled expression – he looked at her…a silent word seemed to pass between the. They looked away, blushing. They started to walk…in silence. The awkwardness grew. Sakura opened her mouth to talk about the usual trivialities…but this was Syaoran and…somehow talking to him about the weather seemed somewhat absurd.

So they continued walking in silence, down that old path – the Cherry Blossom trees shifted slightly in the light spring breeze – the moon beamed down upon them brilliantly.

They still walked in silence, Sakura due to the fact she was in awe of her surroundings – she loved spring so much! Syaoran…he was in awe of her – how could someone so innocent and beautiful simply not notice, or care, that she was so?

"This is so beautiful!" She said and she smiled at him – she ran ahead and spun around and around in the moonlight, the pink petals wafting about her softly, her eyes sparkled and reflected the moonlight…he wanted to remember this moment forever - she laughed as he ran to catch up with her…she dodged him artfully - she ran ahead a bit more and stuck her tongue out playfully.

"You can't catch my Syaoran!" She said in a sing song voice. He paused and thought about how, when they were truly alone she'd call him his first name…his name sounded so good from her lips…

"Oh yeah?" He called back, running after her faster – he attempted to grab her- she dodged and ran and in a sing song voice she continued to chant:

"Syaoran the slow-poke! He can't catch me at all! Syaoran the slow-poke! Nothing but a slow-bloke!" He scowled in mock anger and she laughed so hard she stopped running. This was his chance: he jumped on her and they collapsed into the side of the footpath, laughing hard…suddenly the atmosphere became serious…he lay on top of her, both of them gasping. He suddenly seemed to realise their proximity – her face was so near…those eyes, that perfectly small nose, that clear complexion, those all-too kissable lips…he quickly rolled off her and was thankful for the darkness to cover his Tomato-red face.

"That was fun!" She said, attempting to make light of the situation. Being near to him like that is weird…her whole body seemed to relent to his. She got up and they continued to walk, in silence. She watched him from the corner of her eyes, gazing distractedly at the floor, his amber eyes seemed deep in thought. His messy oak-brown hair was sticking up on end from their … from what happened. She blushed a little and noticed a leaf in his hair – without thinking she reached out to take it out…he quickly jumped away from her and she laughed at his expression.

"Don't worry, I was just taking this out," he stopped and stared at her – he wasn't smiling… why was this happening…? What was going on…? He gestured to the house behind her.

"We're here," he said hollowly.

"Oh! I didn't even notice," she laughed, "I swear, Meilin-san is right, I'm getting denser by the day, ne?"

"No – no you're not," he mumbled. She looked at him as he uncomfortably moved his foot along the asphalt, "I…I better be going."

"Oh," She smiled, "I'm sorry for troubling you with the walk and everything – I would invite you in but I imagine you want to go home, to Meilin and everything…"

"N-no…I mean…I just…"

"It doesn't matter," she smiled warmly at him and, without thinking, she leaned forwards to kiss his cheek. Instantly his hand went to the spot her lips had touched. "Thank you so much for helping me with math and walking me home and…and everything! See you tomorrow, good luck for the exam – not that you need it!" She pouted in mock-jealousy and waved as she ran into the quiet, dark house.

He waited until he heard she was safe and then he began walking home, feeling as though he was walking on air, even though he was wholly confused. His hand kept going back to his cheek – it burned…but in a good, fleeting way.

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Present

Sakura's P.O.V

I was so warm and comfortable…mmmm…if anything disturbed me now – no, no, don't think about it…just sink into the warmth…hmmm…

Beep – Beep – BEEEEEEEP

"Mmmm…just…a few more minutes…" I heard my voice say, muffling against the warmth of the covers. It was just so warm…

"Rise and SHINE Sakura!" I heard the curtains being pulled viciously open and the horrible warm sunlight gushed in.

"Kero! What will five more minutes cost you, huh?" I kicked the covers off and glared at him, my fist raised.

"Nothing – but it will cost you being early!" I glanced at the clock…

"HOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" I screamed, jumping up, "I'm going to be late again!" I quickly ran around the room, not very delicately - the floor shook…damn…I was so late!

"Um…you know, Sakura…I did wake you up so you could get me some breakfast too…" I paused, my head half-way through my school shirt.

"Kero, do I look like I'm your personal slave?"

"Er…is that a rhetorical question? 'cause I don't think you'll like the answer…"

"Kero!"

"What? I've gotten used to you waiting on me hand and foot, what can I say…?

"Not that…where are the Clow Cards?" I looked, in despair, at the open Clow Book on the desk…there were only seven cards left…my gut wrenched - I sincerely hoped Kero was playing a tasteless prank on me.

"Oh…they're probably in your bag, right?" He flew up beside me and looked at me hopefully, "Right, Sakura?"

"N-no…I…I looked over them last night…they were all here then…" I felt tears well up in my eyes…I had to tell him about my premonition – magic was at work. Dark magic. "Kero, I…I lied…"

"SAKURA! I'm leaving now!" I heard Onii-chan from downstairs. I grabbed the remaining cards and my school bag.

"I'll tell you after school, k?"

"Ok, Sakura, don't you worry! It's probably in this room somewhere!" He attempted a grin but I could see by his face that he was very worried.

"Yeah…I probably just dropped them under the desk or something."

"Do you want me to come with you…?"

"No! Someone might see you…bye!" I called form the stairs – I grabbed the toast on the table and quickly glanced at the photo…her face still glowed with happiness…her hair was still long and luxuriant and dark…the perfect china doll. "Ohayo, okaa-san," I whispered. I frowned a little and thought about where she was now; heaven, where there were no worries or saddened, lost goodbyes.

"Kaijuu?" Touya stuck his head around the door, and glared at my immobile self. He sighed, "That's it. I'm going!"

"Wait!"

I ran into the hallway and expertly put on my rollerblades – and I went after Touya like a mad woman on Prozac.

"It's Sakura! Not Monster!" I yelled. I was in the last year of school and still he called me monster? I didn't know why I bothered going with him to work (Touya worked so close by school I usually went with him)…habit, also I could say good morning to Yukito-san – one of the only few balanced people I knew (and why he hung around with Touya, one of the most insane people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, was completely baffling).

"With the way you were stamping around this morning? Definitely a monster," When I didn't reply he glanced at me briefly. "What's wrong?"

I had to wake up too early; my sleep was interrupted frequently with traces of the last dream and thoughts and memories of someone I care for deeply but haven't seen for eight years (my heart tugged painfully) and when I finally did get to sleep, I was rudely awakened by the beeping thing next to my head (and I'm not referring to Kero), then had to run around getting half-ready whilst having a deeply worrying conversation with a magical being who has a stomach that never ends – the Clow Cards were missing, I'd forgot to do my homework, and I missed Otou-san. That's what's wrong Onii-chan! I scowled deeply.

"No clever comeback, huh? Don't worry, I'm sure you'll regain your smart-aleckness after today!" he winked.

"I just don't want to lower myself to your level…" My scowl deepened, "And what do you mean by that? What's happening today?" He smiled widely.

"Otou-san is coming home this evening!"

"Nani? Really?" he nodded and I jumped into the air, "YAKATA!" and I landed hard on the asphalt – did I mention I landed on my butt? Onii-chan laughed loudly and I grinned sheepishly as all the residents on the street poked their heads out of their windows – staring at the mad girl who yelled and then crashed into the ground. I quickly got up and bowed in their direction, "Gomen nasai." I felt myself go really red and I turned to see Touya was in the distance still laughing his head off. I started to follow but…

I paused to lean against the wall and breathed in deeply…I felt tired in that strange drained way…magic. The cards…I sighed – there was no point worrying about it now…but I'd never had them away from me like this before. I started roller-blading a bit faster than I intended and the most embarrassing thing happened…

I crashed again.

And not into the floor – into a person. Hoe!

"Gomen, gomen…" I said repeatedly, "I'm so, so sorry…I…" I glanced up and my mouth hit the floor – he was…so… 'hot' as Tomoyo terms it.

He had corn-flower blonde hair that shone in the morning sun like a halo around his head, and this pouty mouth and fascinating smile, and his eyes…a deep dark blue, nearly is beautiful as Eriol's. His smile widened as I continued staring at him unashamedly.

"No need to apologise – it was my fault really," He got up and I took his hand to lever myself up. I blushed deeply – we were too close.

"I…I…" I decided there was only one thing to do to save what little dignity I had left…run!

I skated as fast as I could, head down – what a weird feeling…I shook my head and I heard laughter behind me – I didn't dare look back. I skated as fast as I could and when I looked back, he was no longer there.

"Ohayo everyone!" Everyone collectively answered with a cheery 'Ohayo!' I walked over to my usual seat, by the window – my eyes flicked to the chair behind me…he used to sit there…I shook my head and frowned. Why was I thinking of him again? Baka, Sakura…he's forgotten you, so do yourself a favour and forget him!

I felt something brush past me and saw my best friend, Tomoyo, slip past Eriol to greet me. I saw his expression – he sure did like Tomoyo, if only she'd let him in.

"Ohayo, Tomoyo-chan!"

"Ohayo, Sakura – hey, what's wrong?"

"Huh? Nothing!" I felt my mouth try to smile – the truth was I was reminded of Syaoran once again and again…by the most random things! I frowned a little and pressed my lips together. The boy from this morning, for example…something about him…

"Sakura!"

"Hoe?" I shook my head, and found myself staring into Tomoyo's deep violet eyes…at the moment they looked concerned, worried. I stuttered and blushed…I was always making everyone worry.

"Sakura-chan…" She looked down and sighed, "I know that you…" But she was interrupted by the Sensai entering, commanding silence.

"Tell me later, okay?" I whispered kindly to her. She glanced coolly at Eriol and then at the floor.

"Hai," She gave me a slightly pained smile, "I want to talk about everything." This was a strange, yet perfectly Tomoyo-ish, thing to say. I gave her back an encouraging smile and…

He walked in.

"Class, welcome you new classmate – he's an exchange student, so be kind and understanding: Shougu Naruto," my jaw hit the floor. The boy from this morning.

"Do you know him, Sakura?" Tomoyo asked, looking at my face.

"I…I…" I could feel my face getting warm. Hoeee….

The class welcomed him and the teacher pointed to me – my eyes widened.

"There's a free seat behind Miss Kinomoto," the boy nodded and smiled in that laid-back way. As he passed me I heard him say in this low, husky voice:

"You ran off before I could catch your name…Sakura."

A/N: Hoe? What's going on? Ha ha! You'll be surprised to know I actually know what's happening, and I'll let you in on it…in the next chapter! Sorry taps nose - it's a secret. Please review…I'm getting quite disconcerted that no one's reading it – I might just leave it incomplete if no one cares about this baby of mine…sighs Hope you enjoyed, anyway!