The Sakura-gumi has finally reached their final year in high school, ready to face the world. Ready yet not so ready to let go of their crushes and true loves, there whimsical past to face the inevitable future.

"To fall in love is like to fall into a whirlwind of rainbow colors.

To fall and fall endlessly in the cyclone called bliss

Through rough times and trails,

You can't help but fall in love."

oOoOoOo

Eriol Hiiragisawa groaned when he felt his covers being pulled away.

He sat up grumpily, scratching his head and yawning. "What's the fuss, Nakuru?"

"Rise and shine Eriol-sama!" she sang out as she wrenched open the blinds to let the warm sunlight pour in. She grinned when she saw him blinking. "It's a wonderful Friday morning and you're way late, Master."

Eriol felt her hand heaving him up to his feet and it didn't shock him to feel the cold floor. He heard vaguely that she had fixed his bath and breakfast and all he had to do was to get him out of bed. Right now, all he wanted was to crawl back to bed and sleep.

He didn't realize that she had managed to drag him to the bathroom and had pushed him inside.

The water was bubbling warmly and looked very inviting. He sighed and started to undress.

I wonder what my friends are doing right now, he mused as he slid himself into the water. The warmth enveloped his body. His normally pale skin became rosy red as he stayed longer than usual to think about many things.

Surely Sakura-chan is arguing with Kero-chan. Dear little descendant will be in the rooftop, practicing his sword skills. Eriol thought as he slid lower into the enormous bathtub. Now I wonder what Daidouji-san is doing.

A small smile flitted to his lips. He knew what she was doing; she was probably editing her newest video or sewing some adjustments in the collection of handmade costumes she made for Sakura. It was kind of Tomoyo to devote so much time and energy on her best friend. (If she wasn't then Sakura wouldn't have looked half as cool as when she was still running around to capture all of the runaway Cards.)

Eriol himself, in all his prophetic powers, didn't know why Tomoyo developed an attachment as strong as chains to Sakura.

All he knew was that she was with Sakura ever since the first day he had prophesied his reincarnation. She seemed to be the one in charge of motivating Sakura to do things she might've been not able to, to think of solutions for the tightest situations, and to cheer them up if they're sad.

A smile slipped into his lips as he remembered that he was very fond of her, maybe even more. She sometimes brings a little blush on his cheeks if he senses that she was staring and thinks he's unaware.

Suddenly a vivid image entered his mind. It was she in all her glory. Long dark gray swaying behind her, her sensuous pink lips in a gentle smile, and even in a simple school uniform she brought out the elegance of a true lady.

Tomoyo-san, he sighed as he submerged his head into the water. I hope you notice my flowers.

oOoOoOo

"He's so nice, Sakura-chan! He helped me draw the gazebo and instructed me with the shapes of the flowers. He also told me that there are so many roses with different colors. He borrowed my brush and then painted one rose at the end of the canvass, saying 'this is my mark in your drawing… or shall we say our painting?' You see?" Tomoyo babbled as she carefully placed the drawing into Sakura's hands. Her fingers eloquently pointed out the minute details.

It was a beautiful Friday morning and there was still half an hour before classes started.

"This is rosemary and it means remembrance. Golden roses signify perfection, the violet there is for faithfulness. Hiiragisawa-kun taught me those because he said flowers are filled with symbolism." Tomoyo murmured as she touched the roses in a bush nearby the gazebo longingly. "

Well it's a shame that you have to pass this in for art class." Sakura retorted as she marveled at how the watercolor seemed to give life to the drawing. Tomoyo looked at her thoughtfully before giggling softly. She waved to someone behind Sakura.

"Huh?" was all Sakura could say before a special someone had found her lips.

Tomoyo was smiling broadly as she focused her video camera on the tender scene in front of her. She didn't even know that she was shivering with excitement as she adjusted her view for a better look. It was so great to see such a sudden rush of emotion in Syaoran Li.

"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura yelped as she regained her strength to resist him. Her cheeks grew hotter and she could almost feel heat coming from her. She stared angrily at him and then looked away, embarrassed.

"What? Was it so wrong to kiss my fiancée?" Syaoran said with a teasing tone. His deep brown eyes showed how much he was amused by her reaction along with the look that he was immensely pleased (and that look was solely reserved for Sakura).

Syaoran Li was an eighteen-year-old like his friends who had exceptionally messy dark brown hair with bangs. He was a superb athlete and martial artist. In his Chinese blood ran the power of Clow Reed who was an ancestor of his family. Aside from his stunning good looks and charm, he was poised to inherit the title of Clan Leader once he was of age.

"Yes! I mean, not here! I mean yes!" Sakura stuttered, as she pushed him away. Her face was so bright red that you could've suggested she was a strawberry. She stared furiously at Syaoran before saying, "Don't do that, especially in school!"

"Why?" he teased.

"Because it's embarrassing!"

"Why? Your scary excuse for an onii-chan isn't anywhere near us." Syaoran retorted as he slung an arm around her small shoulders. His grin was sexy and convincing. Sakura's face shone like a neon light.

"Yes! But we're supposed to keep it secret!" Sakura replied, annoyed. "We're not officially engaged too!"

"Don't bother and stop worrying. It's not a secret anymore. Everyone knows you're a couple." They looked sideways and noticed that Tomoyo was taping them enthusiastically. Her eyes were gleaming and her grin was unmistakable.

"Uh-oh," they chorused.

"I hope you don't mind if I add it to my collection." Tomoyo said smilingly before getting up and starting to run away, laughing as Syaoran and Sakura chase her.

"THAT'S WHY, SYAORAN-KUN!" Sakura hollered. They ran after Tomoyo while yelling at her to surrender the video. The heiress merely laughed at her friends who looked like a couple of tomatoes.

"Touya-niichan would love to see this!" the dark-haired girl teased.

oOoOoOo

"I-I hope I don't look stupid in that video." Sakura murmured as she tied her shoelaces.

Her longish light brown hair was tied into two identical ponytails with some strands straying to frame her smooth face. She looked like a girl with innocent emerald green eyes and sweet smiles that she showered upon everyone. Anyone who looked at Sakura will notice that this was a girl who was blessed in every way.

Yet beneath her roses- and-sunshine sweetness lays a tough and powerful sorceress who controlled the exceptionally special title of Card Mistress. Her powers increased at the natural course of time and with the hard training implemented once in a blue moon by her tolerable and unreasonable Sun Guardian, Keroberos and her cold and distant Moon Guardian, Yue.

"Sakura-chan never looks stupid in video. Her beauty is most noticeable if she is embarrassed!" Tomoyo reassured with a smile. She was tying her waist- length hair into a ponytail with a pink ribbon.

The brown-haired girl blushed at this remark; she had never really gotten used to Tomoyo;s video taping her every move since they were twelve and to her best friend's weird sense of 'cuteness'.

"Why? What did Tomoyo-chan tape, hmm?" Mihara Chiharu asked curiously.

Sakura however grinned guiltily and suggested that they go to the gym as quickly as they could. Tomoyo and Chiharu followed her in a more leisurely pace since Sakura was walking faster.

When they arrived at the gym, most of their friends and classmates were on their places already.

"We are to practice a dance, aren't we?" Tomoyo whispered as she took her place next to Sakura near the back. Sakura nodded and they waited patiently for their dance instructor.

Miss Hanazawa Sayako was a beautiful woman at with long, shining black hair and warm blue eyes. Her dancing was unsurpassable and her cheer and enthusiasm infectious when it comes to dancing. Yet, as usual, she arrived a little late. "We're going to practice the waltz! So places, everybody!" Hanazawa-sensei said, cheerfully clapping her hands.

Syaoran and Sakura headed to each other like magnets. Tomoyo waved goodbye to Chiharu who was running towards a storytelling Yamazaki Takashi and his crowd. She shrugged her shoulders. It was her wish to dance with Eriol but he was excused from the graduation cotillion because of a prior engagement. She was paired off instead with another classmate.

Eriol was carrying his violin and was heading to the music room near the gym. The sun was shining high on the bright blue afternoon sky as he trudged on the grounds, wondering why he was being a hero. His efforts were for the music competition and he didn't want to disappoint his teachers.

He heard faint music coming from the gym and curious, he decided to take a little peek. A noiseless push later and he were able to see through. A beautiful sight met his eyes.

She was there, dancing gracefully. Her arms were moving eloquently, like a swan's. Her eyes were closed and she didn't seem to need sight to find her way across the floor as she continued to dance her passion. He stood there for moments, gaping at her with awe. Her very presence seemed to induce a dreamy feeling inside of him, like wiping away his worries and cares and drawing him closer to her.

He did not recognize her from afar and he felt he needed to know who she was. Eriol moved noiselessly to hide behind the stands to keep watching her, to see her better. He slowly recognized the girl.

Her dark hair escaped the long pink ribbon. It rippled and swayed round her shoulders like darkness against her snowy white skin. Those slim arms and legs moved gracefully like she was dancing a beautiful epic, a moving art. It was none other than Tomoyo.

Eriol just stared because he knew that was the dance they had been practicing all morning and soon she will progress to the hardest part. But he sensed in himself that familiar feeling like knowing she will finish her dance. He was proved wrong.

Her legs were entangled as she tried a quick step to keep up with the music and were in danger of falling. Eriol ran fast and was able to catch her just in time, to have her momentarily in his arms.

She was panting heavily and had her eyes closed but he knew that he was aware of his presence. He stared as she slowly opened her eyes; the vivid azure blue holding his gaze for a moment.

"H-Hiiragisawa-kun!" she yelped and she struggled to get out of his grasp and landed ungracefully to the floor. She sat up and rubbed her knuckles gingerly.

The teacher merely grinned at the sight of the flirting teens; it was no secret that Eriol and Tomoyo were meant for each other. She decided to let fate run its course without her interference. It was time for a break anyway.

"You okay? Nothing broken?" he asked as he offered a hand to help her up. Tomoyo took his hand and let him heave her to her feet. She wobbled unsteadily before regaining her footing.

"Gomen," she said quietly. Her partner gave her an apologetic smile and a tiny shrug. It wasn't his fault either. She smiled reassuringly. "I've got two left feet. Maybe I should stick to singing instead?"

"Maybe you should," said Eriol with a smile. "But I won't mind dancing with you first before you retire."

"How long have you been watching me?" she asked politely but her eyes were earnest.

"Sorry, I-I didn't want to disturb you," he said, blushing faintly.

Tomoyo shook her head and then they walked together to where their things were. She took her towel up and wiped the perspiration from her face and drank some cool water.

"Do I dance that badly?"

"No. Y-You are wonderful," Eriol replied gently. He smiled as he watched her comb her hair almost self-consciously. " Daidouji-san?"

He felt like he wanted to do something that may bring them closer together, something nice. He wondered what she might like. He had an idea. Casting a gentle spell, the students left the gym to get a bite to eat. Sakura and Syaoran noticed but they played along.

Tomoyo stopped what she was doing and looked up to him shyly. Suddenly she was aware that they were alone in the gym and it was eerily quiet. Her hands fumbled for her tape recorder inside her bag and pressed the record button.

"Yes Hiiragisawa-kun," Tomoyo retorted with her sweet voice.

"Can I call you Tomoyo?" Eriol asked tentatively as he looked down on her with those sapphire-blue eyes. "And will you call me Eriol?"

Tomoyo stood shocked for a moment before smiling cheerfully. "Um, would you excuse me? I will like to go to the bathroom."

And she turned away, positively blushing. She was sure that he was staring at her eagerly, waiting for an answer.

After collecting herself she turned to him and smiled so brilliantly it stirred him. "I would love to."

"Say it, please." His plea sounded so gentle that she smiled even more this time.

She met his eyes. "Eriol-kun," she said softly, almost like a breath of wind but she let the syllables linger at her lips. Her eyes met his with a sudden, new understanding.

"We're not just acquaintances anymore," he said quietly "I think we should try being friends, Tomoyo-san."

Tomoyo's smile grew wider. Maybe he cared after all! She was so happy she could barely speak. Without thinking twice, she ran forward and hugged him. He was taken aback when he was suddenly enveloped by the scent of lilies, jasmines and mild sweat. She ended it as soon as it began and ran away before he could realize what happened.

Eriol stared after her, stunned. Time was his enemy now.

Seven days before graduation. What could he do to bring her closer? He brushed away regret; he believed that there was only one way and it was forward. Choices made lives. It was their future that they were making, after all.

oOoOoOo

Next chapter preview:

"Here we are in the most perfect world."