L.W: Sorry if I disappoint some of you. The characters are base from a book but it doesn't mean I copied the whole story. The story is all mine. Please don't burn me to hell.

Disclaimers: Nothing that I own… Y_Y





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DECEMBER 23

It is a wonderful morning. The sky is clear, the birds fly happily, and the snow gently covered the whole Tomoeda and glittering under the shine of sun.

At the Kinomoto residence, Sakura gladly opened the window on her room. And then she leaned on to observe what her neighbor doing- one is shoveling the snow that blocked their way and the other one is putting Christmas lights on their roof, and when she turned on her left she saw a little girl inside the house decorating a Christmas tree. She watched the girl for a while unnoticing that she is already called by her brother.

"Well, looked at that…" still no reaction coming from Sakura. Then Touya put his both hand on his waist and ready to shout at the girl in trance.

"SAKURA! WOULD YOU MIND HELPING ME IN CLEANING THE CHORES?" This surprised Sakura so much that she fell from her sit. She rubbed her butt, and gave her brother a deadly glare.

"You don't have to shout like that!" She also shouted at him. Touya didn't mind Sakura but he gave Sakura her apron and broom.

"Start cleaning now. Don't complain about giving you a rest day because in the first place I'm the one who needs it. So start to work!"

"Who says that?" She but in. Before her brother closes the door Sakura remembered something and this made her hurry to catch up with her brother.

"Oniichan!" This stopped her brother from cleaning and he looked at Sakura. She regained her composure and starting to walk towards to her brother.

"Where did you put our Christmas tree?" Touya thinks for moment of where he put the old tree then he looked at Sakura.

"I threw it months ago. Have you forgotten that our Christmas tree cannot stand anymore and the leaves are falling one by one until its all gone?" Sakura looked depressed upon hearing the sad news. She was expecting to decorate the tree like the little girl she witnessed this morning. "How about the lights?"

"It doesn't work anymore." Touya saw the looked on his little sister's face. If only he have the money to buy a Christmas décor, he can't even afford to buy ingredients for the feast. This is most the depressing Christmas they ever have.

Suddenly, they heard someone rings outside. In the instant Sakura went to the door to check who is it.

"Miss Mizuki!" Sakura happily greeted Mr. Clow Reed's employee.

"Merry Christmas, Ms. Kinomoto!" Sakura let her visitor come in and then she called her brother.

When Kaho reached the living room she slowly scrutinized every detail of the Kinomoto's house and then Sakura arrived holding a tray with tea on it.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Kaho just smiled and sat down.

"Your house is small but well maintain, Ms. Kinomoto."

"Please call me Sakura. I'm not used of formal names." Kaho nodded.

"By the way, Mr. Reed ordered me to deliver these to you." Kaho put out a two big box and an evelope on it. She continued, "These are his gifts for you and to your brother, since he haven't given you your monthly allowance. He decided to give these today."

Sakura was so happy. She never thought that her benefactor would give her and her brother three presents. She felt so blessed. However, she forgot to buy a gift for her benefactor.

"I cannot take it." She sadly rejects the present.

Kaho was surprised of Sakura's sudden withdrawal of accepting the present. For a while she was very excited of the gifts but unexpectedly she rejects it.

"Why? Don't you what his gifts?"

"It's not it. I just though that since Mr. Clow Reed done so many things for me, I don't deserved to receive any other present from him. And besides, I don't have a gift for him." She unhappily reason out. Kaho reached out to touch her small chin and raised it to show Sakura's lovely face.

"Mr. Reed doesn't expect anything from you. You know the only thing he wants and he wants you to finish college. I think that's the greatest gift you can ever give him. So don't be so depressed. Take this." Sakura finally accepted the boxes and the envelope.

She first opened the envelope. She wondered why it is too thin. It's too thin to be a letter; the telegram is thicker than this. She slowly takes out the paper inside and when Sakura realized the whole paper was a cheque she felt her body numbed and almost fainted. Her brother saw Sakura is losing balance so he run to give his sister support.

"Sakura, are you alright?" Touya asked worriedly. Even Kaho began to worry when she saw it.

Touya carried Sakura to the nearest couch and fanned for air.

"What happened?" He asked Kaho furiously. He thought that Kaho gave Sakura a bad news that made her faint.

"She just checked the content of the envelope and then she starting to lost her balance. When Touya heard this, he took to envelope and checked the paper. Eyes grew big as if he couldn't believe what he is seeing.

"Mr. Reed gave Sakura $200!" he exclaimed. Kaho happily answered. Then he continued, "That's why she got dizzy."

After several minutes, Sakura regain for consciousness.

"Oniichan?" Though her visions are still blur she could she Touya is talking to Kaho.

"Are you coming?" she overheard Touya asking Kaho. "Yes, I will come. Thank you for inviting me. I have to go now. Please tell Sakura, good-bye." Kaho said while leaving.

"Miss Mizuki?" Sakura finally asked. Touya heard Sakura and went back at the living room to check her.

"You're finally awake. Get dress and we're going to shop." He exaggeratedly said.



Eve of December 23…

"Hello? May I speak to Meilin?" Sakura said on the phone.

"May I know who's on the line?" an old man.

At the Li's house, Syaoran passed by and saw the butler talking to someone over the phone. "May I know who's on the line?" Syaoran wondered who is the person.

"This is Sakura Kinomoto, Meilin's roommate." Sakura answered.

"Hold on for a minute, please." He politely acknowledged. The butler put down the phone.

"Who's that?" Syaoran asked.

"Master Syaoran, its Meilin's roommate."

"Tomoyo?" He asked again.

"No, sir. She said her name is Sakura Kinomoto."

"Kinomoto? Its alright." He ordered. Then he reached for the phone.

"Kinomoto?" Syaoran said.

"Li? Is Meilin there?"

"Meilin is not around. Do you want to leave a message?"

"Um—well, I just want to invite you guys here for Christmas celebration. My brother and I are planning to have a small party consisting of friends. Are you coming?" Sakura nervously explained and asked.

Syaoran didn't answer for a while since they are also planning to have a small gathering here. However, then again maybe it is a good idea since it's only him and Meilin are here in Japan with no other relatives, it will be all right.

"OK. We will bring foods also. What time?"

"Really? 7:00 pm! See you!" Sakura excitedly said, and then she hanged up.

Syaoran also put down the handset. Afterwards he went to the kitchen to tell his butler that the plan is cancelled.



Meanwhile at the Kinomoto residence…

"So?" Touya interrogate.

"Meilin and Li will come." She happily announced. Then she begins to dial numbers again.

"Hello? Tomoyo? This is Sakura."

In the same time, at Tomoyo's Mansion

"Sakura? Oh, what a surprise!" Tomoyo said.

"Do you have a minute?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"I want to invite you here at my house. We will have a dinner. Meilin and Li are coming."

"Really!" Tomoyo squeal but she continue with a said tone, "I'm sorry Sakura but I can't. You see we have a family gathering here tomorrow and my mom wants me to be present. But I will try my best to come to see you and of course, my darling Syaoran."

"I'll forward to it. Good-bye Tomoyo." Sakura sadly put down the phone.

At the Kinomoto's

"What's with the face?" Touya asked.

"Tomoyo won't be able to make. They have a party of their own." Then Sakura sigh. Touya pat her shoulder and then said, "I'm sure she will come after their gathering. Don't worry." Sakura smiled.



DECEMBER 24

"Syaoran, hurry!" Meilin yelled. She looked at the clock and its 10 minutes to 7.

"I'm done! What's with the hurry?" Syaoran angrily said. He wore Blue rugged jacket, inside is powdered blue shirt and dark azure jeans.

"If you haven't noticed that, it's 10 to 7!" Contrary of Syaoran's rugged outfit, Meilin wore a fashionable Chinese outfit. It is made of silk and colored with rich red. There is a cherry blossom design on the left breast. And the skirt that matches the blouse is also made of Chinese red silk with two slits on each side and knee length.

"Are all the foods in the car?" Syaoran asked.

"Yes."

"Hmp! As if you cooked so many gourmet."

"Shut up Meilin! You didn't do anything aside from thinking of what dress you are going to wear." He irritated said.



At the Kinomoto residence…

DINGDONG!

"I'll get that." Sakura volunteered while Touya and Yukito are fixing the table.

"Li! Meilin! Come in!" Sakura helping Syaoran carrying the foods he brought.

"Nice dress, Sakura. Where did you buy that?" Meilin commented while they are heading to the kitchen to place the foods that have been brought. "You looked lovely on it." Syaoran praised.

"My benefactor's gift for me." She is blushing while she proudly said it, and then she continued, "By the way, this is my brother- Touya, and his best friend- Yukito."

Yukito made his usual greeting- creating a sweet smile and wave, while Touya just showed up his face to see the guest from the kitchen.

"This is my roommate- Meilin, and her cousin- Syaoran." Syaoran nodded and stretch out his right hand to shake hands with Yukito while Meilin only bowed and smiled.

"I'm glad to meet Sakura's friends." Yukito happily proclaimed.

"Why don't you two sit at the living room while we prepare the table." Sakura said.

"We'll help you." Syaoran responded.

"No. It's okay." Sakura resisted.

In the living room, Meilin is busy reading a magazine while Syaoran looked around the house and then suddenly a picture of a beautiful lady caught his attention. He went closer and also saw a picture of a middle age man wearing eyeglasses.

It so happened that Sakura finished fixing the table and going to call her guests when she realized that Syaoran is standing the near the stairs looking at the pictures placed on the top of the table-cabinet.

"Li, dinner is ready." She said while getting closer.

"Who's the girl in the picture?" He asked.

"She's my mother." Sakura proudly said it.

"And I presumed that he's your father." Sakura nodded. She picked the picture of her mother to have a better look and then she face Syaoran.

"My mom was a model before. How about you?" Syaoran was shocked of the sudden question. He bowed his head a little and smiled, remembering the sweet memories with his parents.

"Before my mom and dad married she was a beauty queen. She was the most beautiful woman in Hong Kong. Everybody, I mean mostly all envied my father because he have her." Sakura smiled. She looked at him with tender eyes, and didn't realized she said it out loud, "No wonder you're too handsome to be true."

"What?" Syaoran was surprised.

"What 'what?'" Sakura repeated, as if she wants to melt and disappear for the moment.

"You said something---"

"Hey, slow pokes! Dinner is served!" Meilin interrupt. Syaoran left Sakura behind and went to the dinning room while Sakura release a big sigh for relief but someone knocked on the door.

"Who might that be?" Sakura wondered. It also stopped Syaoran from walking and seemed waiting to find out who is the unexpected guest. When Sakura open the door…

"Tomoyo! Mr. Eriol! I thought you couldn't come." Syaoran frowned of what he saw; Sakura was so excited seeing them; he felt some unknown feeling and this made him hate Tomoyo's Uncle.

Kaho Mizuki also arrived. Though the party is simple everybody was enjoying. They danced, singed, do ridiculous things, and played a game and finally when the clock strikes 12 everyone opened their gifts.







December 25

Dear Daddy,

Merry Christmas! Sorry if I didn't write to you immediately because I was too busy preparing things for the gathering.

How was your Christmas Eve? I hope you had a great time just like me. We have a great party thought it was simple. Syaoran was there- actually I don't call him in his first name but I just feel like calling him in his first name today; also Meilin, Miss Mizuki, Yukito, Tomoyo and Mr. Eriol. I don't need to include my Oniichan because his always there. We have a great time and I want to share to you what we have received:

Oniichan received t-shirt from me and a pair of snicker from Yukito.

Yukito have a new case for his eyeglasses from me and a lunch box from Oniichan.

Meilin received cosmetic kit from Tomoyo; a bag from me and a Ying Yang pendant from Syaoran- isn't he so gallant?

Tomoyo have a new video cam from her uncle, a bag from Meilin, and an album from me- I don't have any idea of Tomoyo's interest do I decided to give her an album.

Syaoran received a polo made by Tomoyo- it's really cute. I think Syaoran loves it. Anyway, a watched from Meilin, and a Syaoran doll from me- I made that especially for him. When Syaoran saw the doll, he looked at me and said thank you. I think I blushed badly because of his sweet smile and it's exclusively for me.

Finally, I received many Christmas present: a fancy watch from Yukito, a new shoulder bag from Oniichan, a fountain pen from Meilin, a dress made by Tomoyo- I like this also, a book from Mr. Eriol, and a diary from Syaoran.

About the diary, daddy the journal that Syaoran given me was very unique, it has sole features. Do you care if I descried it to you? Well, it has my name on it' 'Sakura book' to be particular. The cover is colored pink with a lion-like beast at the center and a symbol of moon and sun at the bottom. Although the design is so queer, I still love it because Syaoran gave it to me. Also, it has a winged pen- a cute one and I'm using it now.

But the greatest gifts that I ever received are the gifts you gave me two days ago. Without you, my Christmas won't be the same. I wore the dress that you gave and Meilin really love, also Syaoran said that it looks good on me. It was a sweet memory to remember.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Sakura





L.W: Sorry if the story is a crap. I did my best to make it good but I guess not. The story is just beginning I hope you will still read the next chapter.