A/N: Hey there! Sorry about the long delay in posting this chapter, folks. It took me a really loooooonnng while to come out with this. So, I hope I'm forgiven? D anyway, to make it up to those who've been patiently waiting for chappie 4, I've increase the length of this chapter which is dedicated to ya'll! Enjoy!

Chapter 4: When Everything Starts to Fall Apart Once More

The streets of Tomoeda were ablaze with iridescent colours of pinks and blues as tiny flowers blossomed in the morning sunshine. Ostentatiously patterned butterflies flitted from flower to flower, sipping the sweet refreshing nectar. Regrettably, this serenity was nor appreciated by everyone in the town. They are, specifically speaking. Our two favourite characters- Kinomoto Sakura and her seven-year-old, Yasuaki-chan.

Rather disconcerted by the courtesy of her impaired alarm clock, Sakura was not in a very pleasant mood, quite a stark contrast to the aforementioned peaceful and clam setting. Well, she was not to be blamed for her irritated snaps and grumbling since

the parent-teacher dialogue session was only five minutes away. She was like a cat on hot bricks, walking so briskly that she had unconsciously left her scurrying son behind.

Gasping convulsively, Yasuaki complained, "Mum, can we rest for a while? I'm pooped."

Sakura halted grudgingly, whirled around and with an annoyed sigh, she replied, "Come on, Yasuaki-chan, we don't have much time left." She held out her hand and added, "Hurry. We don't want to be late."

After much huffing and puffing, Yasuaki decided it was useless arguing with his mother and reluctantly, he took her hand.

Hiiragizawa Eriol pushed the door of the operating theatre open and strode out, his face flushed with success. A middle-aged woman, with her soot black locks skillfully spun into a bun, stood up and looked at him expectantly, as though every ounce of her hope depended on him.

Eriol smiled reassuringly at the flustered mother and said, "Don't worry, ma'am. The transplant was a success."

Upon receiving the news, the woman let out a cry of relief and elation. She thanked her son's life savior until her voice turned hoarse. "I really don't know how to thank you, doctor," said the woman gratefully.

"It's my responsibility as a doctor, ma'am," replied Eriol, removing the bloodied gloves hugging his hands a moment ago.

"You are a remarkable young man, son. You'll go far in life," she commended, patting his shoulder encouragingly.

"Thank you, ma'am."

As the woman's back receded into the corridor, Eriol's smile vanished. He could still remember Sakura's crestfallen face when he saw her gazing longingly at the stars. Something must have happened, he was sure of it. And that something had happened under the same glittering night sky.

Anxiety began to course through Sakura's veins. It was already 9:00 am and they were barely reaching the school's gate. Completely vexed and disturbed, Sakura began to hasten her pace into a sprint, pulling Yausaki along.

"Slow down, mum!" Yasuaki screamed.

"Can't! It's already 9:01 and it'd be rude to—

Crash

Li Syaoran, clad casually in an over-sized black t-shirt and a pair of faded jeans, sat idly on a wooden bench just across Tomoeda Elementary School. He looked as the second hand on the huge chime clock tick away, wishing at the same time he could turn back time when everything was not so complicated. But there was something that held him back from recalling the past events. Because that certain thing haunted him with unpleasant memories and the unbearable burden of guilt.

From a child to a young adult, he was taught to push back any sentiments out of his head. Ironically, as much as he hated it, he found it handy when it came to certain circumstances- that is, until he met this emerald-eyed, honey-haired girl, Sakura. He learned what love is all about but what he did not know was the heavy price that hid behind the sunshine and flowers.

Syaoran propped himself up onto his feet and briefly scanned his surrounding. It's been so long since he had taken in the sweet scent of cherry blossoms. He closed his eyes and savoured the tranquility of the little town.

"Mum! Are you okay?" A voice rang out from nearby. Syaoran's eyes fluttered open and cast around for the person.

There. He saw her, sitting on the pavement clutching her ankle painfully. She had the same honey-coloured hair… could it be?

"Shit," cursed Sakura who had sprained her ankle.

Like a broken angel on the ground

"Mum! Are you okay?" asked Yasuaki, frantically trying to help his mother up.

Like a symphony without a sound

Groaning in pain, Sakura fell back onto the ground. The pain was just too excruciating. There was no way she could stand up and walk without stumbling over. "Oh no, we can't make it to your school on time."

Turn around

Hunkered down next to her was the man who had walked away when all she could do was watch him leave…

Flashback>>>

"You can't possibly walk with that injured ankle of yours, Sakura. Hop on, I'll piggy-back you," Syaoran offered, bending his frame into a stoop.

"No thanks. I can handle it myself," Sakura replied stubbornly, hobbling as fast as she could, her face contorted with pain with each step.

Annoyed and worried, Syaoran stopped in his tracks. "Kinomoto," he snapped, a bit too harshly.

Sakura halted and turned to face him, shocked.

"I know you are mad at me. But can you stop torturing yourself? It's killing me," Syaoran said, looking completely helpless. Bending his knees slightly, he added, "Come, hop on."

Sakura hesitated, and with an exasperated sigh, she relented. She let her arms hang loosely around his neck and rested her head on Syaoran's. She loved the way his dark brown hair tickled her cheeks and the faint smell of cologne he always used. It felt so warm and cozy that she decided to sheer away from the images she did not wish to dwell on. Syaoran was still the Syaoran she knew, kind and loving.

"Sprained your ankle?" a male voice asked. Sakura felt a sudden throb in her heart and a seemingly unusual tingle in her skin. Indeed, he wasn't just a mere stranger. He was…

No, it couldn't be. It must be a figment of her imagination. It had to be. If she closed her eyes and counted to ten, he would be gone.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

She opened her eyes. He was still there; still the same old Syaoran in a t-shirt and jeans with the warmest pair of amber eyes. And he was still looking at her- with so much love all conveyed in his soulful eyes. The person before her was so real it made her heart race and ache.

Sakura had to subdue the temptation to rake her fingers in his tousled chocolate-brown hair and had to fight against her every nerve in her body from throwing herself at him, to be in his arms once again. Like the old times. She so badly wanted to tell him how much she'd missed his presence. But she knew she couldn't. It'd just complicate things even more.

Remember all the misery he had brought you? How can you still love him after all the ordeal he had put you through? A voice in her head screamed.

"Mum? Are you alright?" Yasuaki asked anxiously.

Ceaseless deluge of questions and thoughts surged through her head, confusing her. Why is he here? Did he come back just to see me? What…?

Sakura felt herself being jolted out with a firm shake on her shoulders. She looked up and saw her son's panicked face. "Mum."

Sakura smiled and said, "Don't bother. I'm alright." When her eyes locked with Syaoran's, her heart twisted in agony for unjustifiable reasons. At that brief exchange of eye contact, she had somehow taken on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Tears were marring the clarity of her vision and she quickly dropped her gaze, afraid she might give her feelings all away. That was the last thing she wanted to do.

Yasuaki tugged at his mother's sleeve and asked, "Do you think you can get up, mum?"

"Yeah, I suppose," answered Sakura, who was biting her lower lip to endure the pain that was still lingering in her sore ankle. She struggled and got up, balancing herself on one foot.

"Don't be stupid, Sakura. You can't walk with a swollen foot like this," Syaoran started, attempting to help her, only to be rejected unceremoniously.

"I can walk all right. Don't you bother," she snapped, slapping his hand away.

Irritated, Syaoran retorted, "Can you stop putting up a brave front all the time? Do you really think you're a super woman?"

Sakura's shoulders stiffened. Furious, she spat, "Yeah, I thought I was. I thought I could move on unscathed. I thought I could face all this shit you caused me bravely." Her lips trembled and with her tone dropped a notch, she continued, "But I can't. I'm tired. I'm tired from crying myself dry. I'm tired of hoping." She looked away, broken.

Sakura's head hung in defeat, like a soldier who had lost in a battle. Then she looked up, almost defiantly, and said, "I really don't wish to replay everything again. So, just leave me alone, and Yasuaki too. I don't want any more drama in my already dramatic life. I'm sick and tired of it." With that, Sakura took Yasuaki's small hand in hers and hobbled down Tomoeda Street to the school.

Standing there feeling desolate and lost, Syaoran could only blame himself. He was the root of Sakura's misery and probably Yasuaki's too, who so happened to be his son, his only son….

Syaoran collapsed onto the cold hard concrete and gazed sadly as the second hand of the huge chime clock ticked away, reminding him he could never turn back time, at least, not in this lifetime. Sakura… Yasuaki…

A/N: Uh-huh, so the chapter ends here. You smart readers may have guessed that Syaoran's still single. Yup. But in this chapter alone, you won't know if Sakura would go out of her way to ditch Eriol and return to Syaoran's arms. And what about Eriol when he learn his love rival is back in town? Will he choose to fight or back out? These questions will be answered if you stay tuned to S.S. channel! Adios!

See ya

SummerSensations