Until I Love

By: Yukimi Takiro

Chapter 1: Tears of Sorrow

Sakura took a last look at the glowing outline of a star on her right palm as she walked to school. Why couldn't Kero and Tomoyo see it? She could understand if Tomoyo couldn't see it but why not Kero? Why only Aki? This was so confusing. Sakura approached school.

"Good morning Sakura!" greeted Chiharu. Sakura paused.

"Good morning," she said dryly. She then slowly made her way to her desk leaving a confused Chiharu by herself. Tomoyo came up next to her.

"Is something wrong with Sakura?" asked Chiharu. Tomoyo nodded sadly.

"She hasn't been herself after that accident," explained Tomoyo.

"There was an accident!?" asked Chiharu, astonished.

"She was found on the floor at her house, near the phone. She was in the hospital for a couple of days," explained Tomoyo again.

"So that's where she was for a couple of days," whispered Chiharu. The bell rang its usual sound and everyone got into their seats as the homeroom teacher came inside. He looked about the class, seeing if all of them were listening and then he began.

"We have a new student who's going to join us today for this Trimester," he announced. He turned around to write the name of the transfer student on the board, everyone was buzzing with excitement over who is this new student and if he or she was cute. Their teacher called for the student to come in and everyone watched the door slide open.

"Another boy!"

"He's so cute!"

"Look at him!" This boy was very handsome. He was well-built with chestnut brown colored hair and amber colored eyes. His eyes were sharp, alert but kind and soft in a way.

"Li, Syaoran." Tomoyo leaned over toward Sakura who sat next to her.

"It's Li," she said. Sakura just lowered her gaze to her desk top. She knew. It seemed he hadn't changed all that much over the years except he looked even better.

"Where shall I seat you, yes. Behind Miss. Kinomoto," said the teacher. Sakura turned her eyes toward the empty desk behind her and she sighed. Syaoran walked down the rows of desk and passed Sakura to sit in his desk. How was Sakura supposed to act around him? He was acting so cold.

HOE! Thought Sakura.

"I'm late, I shouldn't have made Tomoyo wait," murmured Sakura. She turned the corner and stopped dead. Syaoran and Tomoyo talked together under the cherry blossom tree. Sakura didn't know what to do. She hasn't met Syaoran for years, what would she say, what would he say? This all became a bit overwhelming. Sakura turned back around the corner and leaned against the wall. She sighed and decided to go.

She made her way towards Tomoyo and Syaoran and stopped in front of them.

"Sakura," said Tomoyo. Syaoran said nothing. Sakura smiled.

"It has been a while, how are you?" asked Sakura. Syaoran stood, took his uniform jacket and during that time careful never to show his amber eyes to Sakura; he replied.

"Fine." And he passed by Sakura without another word. Sakura turned around and was about to speck but she didn't. She barely saw his back before he vanished around the corner.

"Umm, Sakura," started Tomoyo. Sakura didn't listen.

Why? Syaoran, what's happened to you? Is it me? Thought Sakura.

For a whole week it seemed like Syaoran was avoiding her. She would always see him talking with everyone else and always around Tomoyo. Sakura felt like she had done something wrong. What happened? She even tried specking with him but he always seemed to avoid specking to her.

Sakura ran down a dark path towards Syaoran, holding her hand out towards his small form. He didn't show his eyes as he stood before her, getting smaller and smaller. He turned around.

"Wait! Syaoran!" screamed Sakura. He vanished and she fell down upon soft grass.

"Sakura." She sat up and stared up at Aki with melancholy emerald green eyes. He held a hand out and Sakura blinked. "You're suffering within. The pain eats away at your heart. I once felt that way. Don't let it, your feelings will only deepen the pain."

"What am I supposed to do?" she asked.

"It's your decision. To take my hand or to live with it," he replied.

"I........I don't know." Aki's eyes became serous.

"For this world's future, you must leave him, you must let go."

"I.....must let go?"

"Miss. Kinomoto!"

Sakura awoke in last period. Her teacher and classmates all stared at her. She realized what she had done and apologized.

"Try to get to bed early tonight." The bell rang. "Class dismissed!"

From the corner of Syaoran's eye he watched as Sakura packed her things and left the classroom.

Sakura Kinomoto walked through Penguin park. She was only half way through the park when a voice called out to her. She stopped and turned around. Syaoran walked up to her, showing no emotion whatsoever.

"What is it?" she asked kindly. He covered his eyes from her to shield his emotions.

"Kinomoto......." That was a bad sign. He was using her last name now, somehow she felt something was about to happen. " I am not that little boy you used to know. I want you to know that I have no feelings whatsoever for you."

"What?" The wind blew his bangs out of his face and she could see how serous he was. She held her hands up to her heart and it hurt. It pained her to feel this. It felt like knives have stabbed her in the heart and shattered it to pieces. "What are you talking about, Syaoran?"

"It's Li, Kinomoto. We aren't those same little kids anymore," he replied. Feelings......gone? Sakura covered her eyes to hide the tears that were forming at the brim of her eyes and she tried specking in a normal voice. With a smile she talked.

"I understand. I do." Sakura showed her eyes and smiled. She held back the tears and continued to smile. " You're right. We are not those little kids anymore."

He uncovered a book and handed it over. Sakura took it, still a smile on her face.

"You left it in class." That was it. He walked away and as soon she could not see his back she let herself fall to the ground crying. It began to rain but even then she let herself cry.

"Sakura." Sakura stared up at Aki. He was like a ghost as he stood before her. "Your star."

Sakura held up her right hand with the star on it and she could see the half way black star. She shuck her head and cried some more.

"No matter how much I try.....my heart hurts," she cried. With his left hand he placed it upon her head. She stared up in confusion. As he held out his right she felt her hand move toward his.

"No matter what happens, I'll always protect you Sakura, you should know that." As Sakura grabbed his hand there was a flash of light and it was gone. Aki held her hand as she fell unconscious.

"For this world's future, you must leave him, you must let go

or you too shall suffer the pain of the Black Star."

Within the darkness a man and Aki spoke. Before them floated a small crystal ball showing Sakura as she went around the house.

"Are you sure it's alright to do that?" the man asked. Aki cast his eyes down, away from the crystal ball.

"It would hurt her and her star would only become darker," replied Aki.

"Wouldn't the boy notice?"

"I wouldn't worry. She's better off this way. The boy would only hurt her more. It was her choice after all." The man only laughed and placed a hand upon Aki's shoulder.

"You love her don't you? That's why you agreed," he laughed. Aki broke away from the man's grasp and crossed his arms. The man became serious. "I knew you loved her. She is a beautiful cherry blossom, that she is. That day you found her, her tears pain you so, does it not Aki?"

Aki gazed back over his shoulder sideways.

"Believe whatever you like," said Aki. And he silently turned his head straight ahead, walked away and vanished. The man smiled.

"You know she'll never be able to love you back. Her heart already belongs to another. That boy." The man gazed at the crystal ball which changed onto HIM. "You really love her, don't you Aki?"

"I'm leaving now!" called out Sakura. She locked the door and started walking down the steps to the gate. Kero looks at her from within her room.

"What's going on?" he whispered.

Tomoyo's servant opened the door and Sakura walked inside. Tomoyo and Syaoran gasped a little. Sakura smiled. Tomoyo's servant closed the door.

"Sakura.........," started Tomoyo.

"I thought we could go to the mall but it seems Li is here too. Would you like to come?" asked Sakura.

"I........I don't think so," said Syaoran. He stood up and excused himself.

"Li.........." Once out of ear shot Sakura spoke again. " Did I do something?"

"Sakura, about yesterday evening...........Li was talking to me about it. Are you okay with this?" asked Tomoyo.

"About what?" asked Sakura.

"Sakura, what do you mean 'about what' you know, how Syaoran has no feelings for you," said Tomoyo.

"No feelings? But we're just friends........aren't we?" asked Sakura. Tomoyo walked up to Sakura and stared at her.

"Sakura.............is something wrong?"

"No, why do you ask?" asked Sakura.

"You're acting weird," said Tomoyo.

"Why would you say that?"

"Did something THAT bad happen between you two?" Sakura narrowed her eyes.

"For this world's future, you must forget him, you must let go."

"Aki-kun, what do you mean? Who should I forget? Who should I let go?"

To Be Continued........

Next time on Until I Love.........

What do Aki's words mean? Syaoran starts to become suspicious of Sakura's attitude and so does Tomoyo. Everyone around her notices a change in Sakura as she goes through a series of changes. She sees what people cannot. When she meets the ghost within the building of her school and is trapped within the building only her guardian's can help her. Syaoran comes to the rescue as well............

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