The days, weeks and months following the shoot were placid ones for Sakura and Syaoran. They continued their lives from before the shoot, easily reverting back to schedules that were tired and boring.
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Syaoran continued to develop his photos, having to redo his first set on account of them being too dark. It came as something of a surprise that the dreams did not end when he finished shooting; they had in fact renewed their force. The truth be told, this was the main reason Syaoran wasn't sleeping much anymore. His ability to sleep was crumbling away again, which affected his usually crisp and rugged look, and turned him into an unshaven, haggard college student look-alike. The woman who haunted him was even more vivid than before, and as time went by, he became more and more convinced that she and Sakura were one in the same. Syaoran was almost certain that Sakura was the woman of his destiny. He strived day and night, however, his comfortable living began to suffer, forcing him to take up other work. His heart continually yearned for Sakura, but he did not wish to seek her out, scared of her rejection once more. And her words did shame him into some sort of reflection on his past behavior. In the long months of his seclusion, Syaoran began to change. It took a hard look at the dark confines of his soul before he realized what he needed to be before he could ever love anyone.
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Sakura continued her life as a world-class model, traveling constantly for a few months. She dated frequently, and finding nothing to her liking, began to compare every kiss, every lingering embrace to Syaoran's fiery affection. She was sure that he had forgotten her by now, off pursuing bigger and better things - and women. She still hardened her heart to him, but once in a while she would catch herself longing for his passionate kisses and overwhelming desire.
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Tomoyo had continued intermittent contact with Eriol, and through him, Syaoran. She was one of the first to know that he had come out of his seclusion to announce a vacation of "self-discovery" as he called it. He would finally unveil the top-secret and coveted photographs for his art show, the very one that Sakura had been the star. He was proceeding to Paris this very moment, and unknown to him, right to Sakura. She had been done with working a cover shoot for Seventeen for two weeks, and decided to stay on, craving to experience Paris as a tourist instead of a star. Indeed it was at an entirely interesting spot that he met her, as if it was fate…
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Sakura, with her usual tardiness, was in a rush to get out of her hotel that fated night. For some reason, she took special care with her clothing, her hair, and even spruced herself up with a little make-up (all week she had been trying to stay on the down low, not wanting to draw attention to herself with her signature looks). She was headed to the Louvre, of all places, even with her recent animosity towards anything in a frame. With her fame, she had convinced a security guard to give her free reign of the museum that night, on the condition she autographed the entire collection of photographs he owned of her. Her hand still hurt, remembering how many times she had signed her name. She quickly bundled herself in a jacket, and hailed a taxi, leaving the sleeping Tomoyo none the wiser.
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Syaoran had gotten there late, but was of course allowed instant access. He knew the Louvre like he knew his favorite camera, for he had studied in Paris when he was in school, and made recurrent visits to the art students' mecca. He quickly found his favorite spot and sat down, gazing deep into the depths of the genius, Vincent Van Gogh, with his piece, "Starry Night." Somehow, in some way, his dream had reminded him so much of that portrait, with its sleepy town unaware of the beautiful night expressed right over their heads.
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Meanwhile, Sakura was slowly, but surely making her way through the gigantic museum. She, too, was looking for a certain picture, a certain portrait. Finally, she reached the room, but drew back quickly, as someone was already occupying the space she wished to inhabit. Another glance at that tall and daunting frame, she realized whom it belonged to. Out of everyone in the world who could be in the Louvre tonight, it had to be him, she silently cursed. She remembered Tomoyo mentioning something about his recent arrival in Paris, but it had been driven out of her mind completely by the excitement of a self-guided tour of the Louvre. Her outward gasp disrupted him from his reverie, and he turned around, alarmed.
"He…Hello? Is anyone there?" Sakura, knowing that she had to face the inevitable, gradually stepped out of the shadows and revealed herself.
"S…Sakura? Is that you?" The surprise on his face was clearly present, however she could see relief there as well. In two steps he had closed the gap between them. His eyes frantically wandered over her body, searching to see if she was actually there, actually in front of him.
"It's really me, Syaoran. I guess we had the same idea tonight." Her blush could even be seen in the sparkly afterglow of the dim lighting, and her softness made him bolder.
"Did you come to see 'Starry Night?'" With her nod, he gently took her arm, and when he received her approval, began led her to the portrait.
"It is my favorite as well. I love the colors, how they are so dark and concealing, compared to the brightness in the sky. But I believe the grizzly tree is the most beautiful, so noble and misunderstood."
"How can you like the tree? It is the least beautiful part of the whole painting," Sakura retorted. "Van Gogh was representing himself here, the way he was always observing life, creating masterpieces, and then no one would care to buy them."
They bantered like this for hours, comparing different pieces, testing out their knowledge on each other. It was almost dawn when they left the museum, totally exhausted but content.
Syaoran left her at the hotel doorstep with a promise of seeing her the next day, and a smile on his face.
Sakura tiptoed slowly to her bed, but as she undressed and climbed into bed, all she could think about was Syaoran's changed personality. He seemed to actually care for her feelings, instead of forcing himself upon her. He constantly sought out her opinion, genuinely caring her answer. His brash old ways had faded into an almost sincere honesty. But the real thought in her mind was: had he changed because of her?