=-. Chapter One .-=

=-. The Present, at Sakura's house .-=

Tomoyo sat at the foot of Sakura's bed, with the unconscious form of her sweet friend Sakura just at arm's reach. Despite all the sadness and fear she is feeling right now, she still forced a smile. After all, it was Sakura-chan... and everything will surely be alright.

Tomoyo would treat Sakura as no less than a member of her own family, a sister even. Sakura's all she's ever known all these years. That's why it pains her to see her best friend in this state.

Two full days have passed since the Sealed Card incident. Two days in which Sakura just lay in her bed, as if sleeping. The stress of the previous weeks finally taking its toll on the girl's physique. However, it is not only Sakura's body for which Tomoyo fears right now, but for everything else that may have happened to her.

In the two days that have elapsed, Li has managed to relate the events that he had witnessed, though his recollection is still quite hazy. He says that he could not remember anything between Sakura shouting with the Sealed Card spirit to the moment he got his wits about when Sakura finally acquired the Hope Card.

She and Kero had even called up Eriol, but conversations with him brought no light upon the matter.

Aside from these, Tomoyo deeply fears for something which she cannot explain. A queer feeling at the pit of her stomach that's suggesting that something disastrous - heaven forbid - has befallen her beloved friend. Plus the fact that Li Shaoran was acting tremendously strange in the past couple of days. There was something about Li's behaviour and his reactions that seems odd... somewhat... cold. As she looks at Sakura's face, she prays that all her current fears are unfounded, for Sakura's sake.

She cought the slightest hint of movement as Sakura finally opened her eyes.

"W-where...," Sakura said, weakly, as she tried to sit upright.

"Shhh. You're at home. You're safe. You've been asleep for two days."

At least now, Sakura was up and about. Tomoyo managed to smile, this time for real.

Two days? As if removing the haze from her consciousness, Sakura batted her eyelids. And remembered.

"LI-KUN! Tomoyo... I must speak with him!"

"In due time, Sakura! For now, you must rest. Please calm yourself."

"B-but... I must speak with him immediately..."

"It's okay. He will come here soon."

Sakura looked like the weight of the world was bearing down on her. Something was definitely wrong, Tomoyo thought. She hopes it isn't too serious, but judging from Sakura's expression... it's probably as serious as it gets.

There was a long silence between them.

"Sakura... what's wrong?"

Tomoyo was taken aback as Sakura looked up at her. It was the saddest eyes she had ever seen, especially from Sakura. "What do you mean, Tomoyo?"

"Something happened at the Tower, right? Please, tell me what happened."

"I... um, Tomoyo, is it... okay if I tell you later?" This time, it was Sakura that forced a smile.

Tomoyo clasped Sakura's hands with her own. "If that's what you want. But please, the sooner you tell me, the sooner I can help."

"Promise. It's just... too painful right now."

"I understand."

Another lapse of silence befell them. It was definitely serious. Way serious. Why else would Sakura be like this, Tomoyo thought. She got everything back to normal. She got the card. Li was okay. There was really something wrong here.

A sharp knock on the door broke the long pause. Tomoyo got up and opened the door.

It was Meilin and Li.

"Ohayo, Kinomoto-san!" Meilin greeted Sakura with her typical casual manner. Upon seeing that Sakura looked quite down, Meilin crossed her arms. "Now now Sakura, this is suuuuch a fine morning to be brooding like that! Cheer up!"

Sakura looked up finally, and smiled at Meilin, then glanced over Li. Her gaze affixed there for a few moments, before looking away.

Meilin and Tomoyo sensed the tension, and Li was just gawking around and didn't even say a word.

"Er... Kinomoto-san... I'd like to have a word with Daidouji-san first... " and Meilin grabbed Tomoyo and quickly dashed out of Sakura's room.

Li and Sakura were left alone. For his part, Li still couldn't get what Sakura was talking about back at the Tower. He doesn't know what to say. So does Sakura... after all, she's the only one who remembers anything about the love that they had shared, now all gone.

Being the well-mannered man that he is, Li was first to speak.

"It's nice to know you're already up. Do you know you've been out cold for two whole days?"

Sakura wanted to look at Li, but was afraid to see the unfeeling eyes that he had gazed upon her with at the tower. "Y-yes. Tomoyo-chan told me."

"Sakura... you did great back at the Tower. Congratulations. You have all the cards now."

But I don't have you, she thought. I lost you for that stupid card!

"Everything's back to normal now. You did really great. You should be proud."

Another moment of silence.

As Sakura thought about the things she wanted to say to him right now, tears started to well up again in her eyes.

"L-Li-kun... can't you remember... your promise... at the tower..."

Somehow, to Li, Sakura's words made sense... though it cannot register in his mind.

"I'm sorry. I... I'm at a loss. My... memory regarding the Sealed Card incident is quite... vague."

Sorry. For the second time. It stings like crazy.

"What about... what I said... before I went down," she said, turning a bit red with embarassment. "Do you remember?"

"I... remember that. Sakura... I'm really flattered."

Flattered? That's it?

"I don't know what to say, Sakura. Though it doesn't make sense, we're still friends, right?"

No!!! How can it not make sense? Just when everything was perfect?

"I guess. yes, we're friends." What a lie. We should be more than that....

"Listen... I have to go down now... I'll get Meilin and Tomoyo for you... I'll let them fill you in," Shaoran said, moving towards the door. "Take care."

Sakura could not hold back her tears any longer. The realization [and confirmation] that Li has totally forgotten his feelings for her... all too much. It's not fair!!! Dear Lord... WHY???

And she cried.

* * * * *

As the door closed behind him, Li couldn't help but hear the sound of Sakura's crying.

It didn't make sense to him, but still, at the depths of his soul... it bothers him.

* * * * *

¤ Continued in Chapter 2 *soon!* ¤