A/N: *creeps out* I'm so sorry this chapter's late...my English teacher is a pain in the bum...and I had a creativity block so you might find it sort of choppy. Gomen nasai! *gets down on the ground and does the "I'm not worthy!" dance*

Disclaimer: CCS owned by CLAMP and them. Yup. Chapter titles from "Rain of the Golden Gorilla" by Ozma.

Chapter 3 - "...but I tear my eyes away..."

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[flashback]

"Akina¹...you shall endure pain that knows no end. And when Makoto² sees you...he'll turn his head in disgust. You will live in my illusion..." a silvery voice spoke.

The emerald-eyed girl opened her eyes and found herself once again overlooking the moon-reaching florals. 'I must have imagined that girl...'

"Akina," the amber-eyed boy stepped out onto the balcony.

"Yes, Makoto?" she replied.

He opened the door fully and gesticulated to the ballroom. "Let's go inside. It's getting a bit cold out here."

"Hai."

The two stepped back into the lavish ball room.

[end flashback]

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Sakura squeezed her eyes shut. 'What's happening...' She gathered up her courage and opened her eyes, only to find herself in the same ladies room at Aiya-tei. "It must have just been another...weird vision..." She finished up in the restroom and went back out into the restaurant.

Syaoran looked up from his cell phone (A/N: He was playing a game. ^.^) and said to Sakura, "I hope you don't mind, I already ordered."

"No, not at all."

Their food arrived on two beautifully finished platters. They tried everything that they placed before them for Syaoran's mother had provided him with a surplus of money for their trip.

Delighted with dinner, they perused the streets, admiring the decorations adorning the shops. Syaoran bought for Sakura a pin for her hair. It was decorated with a cherry blossom and accentuated the Sakura's auburn hair. Before heading back to their hotel, they stopped at a park, tucked away from the city with few people bustling around. They climbed up a small hill and laid down on the soft grass next to each other, looking up at the stars as the luminous full moon shone down on them.

"They're real pretty, dontcha think?" Sakura said.

"Yea."

"How many stars do you think are up there?"

"Dunno."

"How far do you think they are?"

"What's with all the questions??" Syaoran snapped at her.

Sakura looked to her right at him. "...Gomen nasai..."

The next day, Sakura suggested they go to a parade.

Syaoran stretched and said, "Ah, no thanks...I'm gonna go out for a while. How 'bout we meet back here at the hotel for lunch?"

"Where are you going?" Sakura asked. 'I thought...this trip was so we could be together...'

"Ah, no where special. I just gotta check up on something. I'll see ya at lunch!" Syaoran stepped outside and started walking.

"O-ok..."

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"Ha!" The voice laughed mockingly. She plopped herself down on a plum colored chair and brushed her long black hair. "He just blew her off...She's gotta get the hint..." She let out a long evil laugh.

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Sakura idly browsed through the shops near their hotel. 'He didn't even tell me where he was going...' she thought as tears welled up in her eyes. 'No...don't cry...he's probably just doing a favor for his mother or something...that's it...' She kept silently assuring herself that Syaoran's sudden "errand" was nothing but family business.

By noon, she was seated at a table near the window of the restaurant in the hotel. She unenthusiastically stirred her tea as she gazed out the window.

Thirty minutes passed. 'Shaoran...where are you?' She was about to ask for the check when something caught her eye. Chestnut hair was in the crowd. 'Shaoran!' Raising her hand to wave, she stopped midway. '...Who's that girl?'

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¹Akina = Spring flower

²Makoto = Sincerity

A/N: *sigh* Finally. Well. Expect chapter 4....er....^.^;;...expect it sometime. Thanks for being patient. --miha