As Syaoran walked to Sakura's house, he was thinking of what to say to her. But everything he thought of was lame. He hated to leave her. No, he hated the council even more. They were the ones who were making him leave. He walked up the steps to her house and knocked on the door. Of course Touya answered it. Touya took one look to see who was visiting, and slammed the door in Syaoran's face. Syaoran was not that effected by the act. He simply knocked again, this time Sakura answered it, and when she saw him, her sparkling eyes lit up even more. A dull ache in Syaoran's heart, which he hadn't really noticed before, got duller.
"Hi Li! What are you doing here?" Sakura asked, her bright eyes shining so much you'd think they were stars.
"Hey Kinomoto. Uh, wanna go for a walk?" He asked, trying his hardest to not let the pain show. It obviously worked because she raced happily to ask her dad if she could go.
"You hurt her, and I'll hunt you down Gaki." Touya said, softly but threateningly.
"I'd rather you kill me now, then for me to tell her what I have to tell her." Syaoran responded, a bit of his pain coming through his voice. This got Touya's attention.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked.
"I have to-"
"Ok Syaoran! I'm ready! Come on, let's go!" Sakura said cheerfully, as she dragged her boyfriend off. Touya was in the doorway, still waiting for an answer.
The two Ex-Card Captors (cuz they're retired now.) went to Penguin Park to the bench where they had eaten ice cream not too long ago.
"So, why did you want to go for a walk?" Sakura asked curiously.
"Look, Kinomoto, I have to tell you something…" Syaoran said seriously, avoiding her eyes. This made Sakura worry.
"What's wrong Syaoran?" She asked concerned.
"I…I have to leave." He said quickly, wincing at the sound the words made. She looked strangely at him.
"Right now? But you said that you wanted-"
"No, I mean I have to go back to Hong Kong." He answered, still staring at the ground.
"I know, but that's a little while from now, right?"
"I have to…I'm leaving tomorrow." Syaoran said softly, as if to soften what he had to say. He looked up and turned to her and saw her eyes shining, but not in the happy way as they were before when he had gone and got her, but in the crying way. He felt horrible. He felt worse than horrible. There were no words to describe how miserable he felt.
"Na-nani? But-but you said that you weren't going to leave until…until later. You said that-"
"I know, I know. It's just that the stupid Council wants us to return earlier. Sakura, I can't defy them. They're just way too powerful. I mean, even Eriol who's half the reincarnation of Clow Reed can't defy them. I wanted to go for a walk to tell you that I'm leaving and to say goodbye." He said as he wrapped his arms around her, closing his eyes, wishing that this moment would last forever. She hugged him tightly, never wanting to let him go. But she did and he reluctantly did the same.
"What time is you're flight tomorrow?" Sakura asked, silent tears threatening to streak down her beautiful face. Syaoran wiped them away gently.
"At 11:00 am. We've already pretty much packed up everything…"
"Are you selling the house and the apartment?"
"No, I don't think so. We're coming back, I just don't know when. But I promise you Sakura, I will come back. No one could keep me away from you for long. Not even the Council." He said passionately. And he meant it too. There wasn't anything in the universe that could keep him from his soul mate. She smiled at his vow to her and nodded, knowing it was the truth.
"I'll wait for you." She whispered. He smiled back, for that was what he wanted to hear. He held her once again, and the two young lovers stayed like that, looking at the stars until it was time for Sakura to go home. Syaoran walked his beloved Koibito to her house and they embraced once more as she said goodnight and went into her house. She watched him leave through her window, and once he was out of sight, started crying for the love that she would lose all too soon.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Eriol had picked up a single red rose before he got to Tomoyo's house. As he walked up to her big mansion, he thought of the sleepover and smiled to himself. He would never forget how beautiful she had looked that night. He knocked on the door and waited as one of the bodyguard type people answered it, knowing it was for Tomoyo the minute she saw Eriol. Tomoyo smiled at him lovingly, and it sent Eriol's heart afire. He lifted the rose and gave it to her, his hand lingering on hers longer than expected. He would miss moments like these.
"Thank you Eriol, it's beautiful." Tomoyo said.
"Not as beautiful as you." Eriol replied. Tomoyo smiled and blushed slightly. He looked down at the ground, trying to figure out how to put what he had to say gently.
"Tomoyo…"
"Hai Eriol-Kun?"
"We're going back to Hong Kong tomorrow…" He blurted out.
"…Oh. So this is good-bye I guess."
"No. This is only 'Til I see you next (nest, rite TC?) time." Eriol corrected her. He looked back up at her and grinned. Her eye were glistening from unshed tears, but they seemed to gleam with hope and a little happiness.
"Ok then. Until I see you next time. May I see you off to the airport and watch you leave?" Tomoyo asked. Eriol nodded.
"I would love it if you did. The flights at 11:00." He replied.
"Tomoyo! Time to come in!" Her mother called. (I forgot her name…but I know it starts with an 'N', rite? .')
"I'll be right there! Good-night Eriol."
"Pleasant dreams, my angel." He said and kissed her gently on her lips. It was a small kiss, but utterly satisfying. She went into her house smiling as he walked back home.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Scott was outside playing basketball outside his house when Meilin went to see him. (Ok, so Scott has one of those outside hoop things, ok? It's no big deal, rite? And if it is…too bad. It's my story, I'll do what I want! So :P on you!! J/K!! ^_~)
"Hey Mei! What's up?" Scott asked as he saw her walk up to him. She looked a little upset, but he knew that she would never admit it.
"Uh, I just came by to tell you I'm leaving for Hong Kong tomorrow. But, you know, it's not like its forever. So it's no big deal. I mean, I'm coming back eventually. So, yah, the flight is at 11:00 if you care. I mean, I thought I would come by to say good-bye and junk…" Meilin said, trying to keep up a barrier or a cool exterior because inside she felt like crying. All of a sudden, she was wrapped in his arms. She was a little startled at first and tried to pull back, but then snuggled even closer.
"Will you miss me?" She asked him softly.
"No. I'll be too busy comforting Sakura and Tomoyo I won't even remember you until you get back." Scott replied. Then he felt her arms wrap around him a little tighter than was comfortable and found it a little hard to breathe.
"Of course I'll miss you! But how can I miss you if I'm dead from suffocation?" He responded quickly and took in a deep breath of air when she loosened her grip. He knew she was smiling and he smiled too.
"Yah, I guess I'll miss you too…a little. But you know, I'll be really busy planning the wedding with Li and the other council members, I might not have time too." Meilin teased.
"Oh shut up. Lets just pretend that I'll miss you lots and you'll miss me lots. OK?" Scott asked his girlfriend.
"Ok, sure. We can pretend that." She agreed. They let go of each other and smiled to one another.
"I should go."
"Do you want me to walk you home?" Scott asked. Meilin shook her head.
"We shouldn't. That'll make it harder." She said seriously, but gently. He nodded.
"So I'll see you at the airport tomorrow then." Scott said, stepping closer to her.
"Ok." She said. He kissed her gently and sweetly, knowing that it would not be forever until they saw each other again. She left after their kiss and he resumed playing basketball, knowing that Tomoyo and Sakura would be on the phone with each other, so he couldn't reach either of them right then.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kero didn't say anything as the tears dried from Sakura's eyes. She was trying to be strong and he didn't want to spoil it by treating her like she was weak. He was about to say something, but a knock on her door froze him and he went into 'Stuffed Toy Mode'.
"Hey, Sakura, are you ok in there?" It was Touya's voice. Sakura got up off her bed and opened the door and put on a small smile.
"Yah, I'm ok. I just had to let some tears out." She answered, being honest. She knew that Syaoran would come back. She shouldn't be crying because he was going to come back for her. But it was just that he had to be away from her…that he would be in another country…it was just kinda hard to deal with at the moment.
"If I beat him up and put him in the hospital, he'll have to stay a while longer. Will that make you feel better?" Touya asked her, cheering her up. She smiled even wider.
"Won't you get in trouble then? Maybe be put in jail and be someone's bi…uh…love slave?" Sakura joked back, feeling better. Touya thought about it for a second and when the picture formed in his mind, he shuddered out of pure fear.
"Ok, I don't love you that much Kaijuu. But I will anonymously beat the hell outta him if you want?" Touya suggested, a little too eagerly. Sakura shook her head.
"Touya, no matter how hard you try, what tactics you use, I'm never gonna give you permission to beat up my boyfriend. Yes, that's what I said! My ~Boyfriend~!!" Sakura emphasised the word 'boyfriend' when she saw her brother flinch slightly. He glared at her, and she stuck out her tongue at him. He then looked over at Kero, who was starting to get a little nervous with Touya being there. Touya shook his head and left, closing the door as he went.
"I'll be just downstairs if you wanna talk or whatever."
"Thanks Nii-san." Sakura replied, smiling. She flopped on her bed and Kero flew over to her. He was just about to say something when the phone rang.
"Moshi moshi, this is Sakura."
"Hey Sakura-Chan. I guess Li told you, huh?" Tomoyo asked. Sakura sighed.
"Yah. I had myself a good cry, so I'm good for now. What time should I meet you to go to the Airport tomorrow?" Sakura asked, knowing that Tomoyo would not miss seeing her love leave. And Tomoyo didn't question Sakura's all-knowingness about going to the airport, since she knew that Sakura wouldn't miss going either.
"Um…how about 9:30 ish? That gives us half an hour to get there and, knowing them they'll arrive there early, so we'll get an hour to spend with them before they leave." Tomoyo suggested.
"Sounds good to me. One of us should call Scott and let him in on the plan so he can say goodbye too. If you want, I'll call him so you can decide what to wear tomorrow." Sakura said, grinning as she said it. She knew that her friend was grinning too. Then she heard a gasp on the other side of the phone?
"What? What's wrong?"
"I'm going to make you an outfit to wear tomorrow!!" Tomoyo squealed. Sakura sighed and shook her head once more.
"Great." She said unenthusiastically.
"Oh, cheer up. I promise, no frills, no lace, no puffs." Tomoyo said sincerely.
"Honto!!??" Sakura perked up.
"Hai. I will make you the most beautiful outfit known to man…or at least Syaoran-Kun. I'll make a nice outfit for me too. And I'll even make an outfit for Scott. He has to look at least semi-decent, ne? Let's see…what colours should I pick…hmmmm…Well, I'll decide that a little later. So you're sure your ok Sakura?" Tomoyo said. Sakura nodded, knowing that her best friend couldn't see her.
"Hai, I'm fine. He's coming back, so I'll just have to wait for him. What about you? Are you ok?" Sakura asked.
"Yah…I'm fine. I mean, you're right. They're not going away forever. We'll just have to be patient until they come back. So I'm good." Tomoyo replied.
"Ok. So, I'll let you go and make the outfits and I'll check on Scott. Sound good?" Sakura asked.
"Hai. Night Sakura. See you tomorrow morning." Tomoyo responded.
"Night Tomoyo." Sakura said, then proceeded to hang up the phone. She picked it up and called Scott's house. He picked it up on the first ring.
"Hey Sakura."
"I hate that Caller ID…" She mumbled. He laughed a little.
"So what time are we going?"
"Tomoyo and I decided 9:30. Half an hour to get there and then an hour to spend with them until they…uh…ya know…"
"Until they have to catch their flight."
"Yah. That."
"Ok. Sounds good. So what's up?"
"Tomoyo is gonna make us outfits to wear." Sakura answered and promptly heard a groan from the other side of the line. She giggled. "Its ok. She promised me no frills, lace or puffs."
"Good for you." Scott grumbled.
"Hey, it'll be ok. She won't go all crazy. She wants this to be special." Sakura reassured him. He sighed.
"Yah, I guess you're right. Anything else you care to warn me of?"
"Nope, that's it. What about you? You have anything to warn me of?"
"Nah. Well, I guess I better go and think of something of mine to give to Meilin before she leaves."
"Aren't you a romantic." Sakura half teased. But she meant it. He grinned.
"That's me. I'm sure she'll love one of my old shoes." He kidded. She giggled again.
"I'm sure she would beat you down with it before she left, that's for sure." Sakura joked back.
"Yah, you're probably right."
"I'll leave you to think of an appropriate gift. But don't be too corny."
"Who me? Never in a million years."
"Night."
"Later."
Scott hung up the phone, as did Sakura. Tomoyo was busy making outfits for a large portion of the night. But she finished early to get a good nights rest. She would be up early.
