Story Title: Portrait of a Cherry Blossom

Author: Dark Diamonds

Other: Ok, before someone kills me, I didn't mention that I would visit an overnight camp with computers BUT ONLY FOR RESEARCH!! So yes, I managed to sneak into my Inbox and that was about all…I still have about 50 e-mails I need to reply to…

For another, I had to change my pen name because FF.Net made some new rule. Someone else had "CCSakura" first so now this is my new pen name, in honor of my website.

And at that camp, I wrote over 30 pages of this story and it's EPILOGUE!! (It's going to be called Portrait of a Little Wolf!) Got that right, there's an epilogue story to this. And it's a wonderful plot thanks to Marsha, my friend at the CTY camp!! Thanks again! (Yes, Marsha, duckies need feathers in order to quack…)

Chapter Nine: Sorrow

There was a knock on the front door and Syaoran paused as he walked down the hallway. Why not? It couldn't hurt to do it, right? Sighing, he opened the door. Peering at the gentleman in front of him, he tried to maintain his composure. "May I help you?"

He nodded. "Yes. I am Eriol Hiiragizawa, the doctor to the Kinomoto's." Syaoran blinked. "Are you looking for Sakura?" He nodded. "Yes. There is news about her father…that I would like to give her." Syaoran nodded and escorted him into the leisure room.

Syaoran knocked on the door to the quarters and slowly, the door was opened. Sakura stood there, her full height, and her beauty once again stunned Syaoran. There was something so innocent and childish about her. Something that made him want to protect her, no matter from who or what.

"Your…family doctor is here. It's news of your father." He couldn't look her in the eye. Sakura looked at the ground. "I see…thank you." He knew what sort of look would be on her face. One filled with worry and loss. "He's waiting for you in the leisure room."

Sakura brushed past him and Syaoran heard her footsteps fade away. Sighing, he leaned against the wall. He could wait.

-- The Leisure Room --

"Mr. Hiiragizawa?" Sakura paused at the entrance. He smiled warmly, his eyes flashing. "Please come in. There is need to talk to you about your father." Sakura quietly shut the door and seated herself on the opposite chair.

Eriol coughed. "Your father has been ill, as you know." Sakura nodded. I know this is going to be bad news…isn't this how it's always brought up? "Lately, he seems to be suffering more and more. He describes as a pain in his chest. And he is throwing up blood. Very often."

Sakura stared in shock at him. "Sakura, your father is going to die very soon." Sakura stood up abruptly. "He's not! My father's going to be fine! How dare you stand there and lie in front of my face!" She spun around and raced out of the room.

Eriol stared sadly after her. I only wish that I were lying about that…

Sakura raced towards the intersection and paused. Where will I go? I've got no place to console myself…No place to be able to think… And with that sadness, she realized that she didn't have anything that she could call her own.

"Sakura?" Syaoran stepped out. "Is it bad news?" She nodded, the first tear trickling down. "Eriol says…that he'll die soon…" Another wave of tears came out. "And…" She stopped. "Syaoran, what will I do without him?" She collapsed onto him.

"He's been my only goal in life; to take care of my father…. And now he's going to die! My last family…" Her wretched sobs broke into Syaoran's core. "And after that…I don't know what I'll do!"

He wrapped his arms around her, taking in the faint scent of cherry blossoms. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine. I promise." Sakura blinked. There's that feeling again…like I'd love to stay in his arms…Forever. She closed her eyes and sighed, mentally keeping the picture of her and Syaoran in her mind.

-- The Next Day --

"Syaoran?" He paused. "May…may I talk to you? For a moment?" He nodded and slowly walked over. Sakura gulped. "I…I'd like to thank you…for helping me yesterday. It made me feel much better. So…I'd like to know…if I could have one day off. So I could see my father. Before he…" she broke off.

He nodded. "Of course." Sakura smiled. "Thank you." With that, she scurried off. Syaoran watched her, a sorrowful smile on his face.

**Syaoran's Journal**

Friday. Weather: Cloudy with a short drizzle.

I'm not going to keep lying to myself. I'm in love. Isn't it strange, though, what Destiny does to people? She's my maid, for heaven's sake! Is it possible…to really be able to love and be accepted for your love? Despite class?

But Sakura needs to know. How much longer can I keep it from her? And Meiling? She grows more suspicious and venomous each day. It's like she already knows. God, this is the most complex love puzzle that I've heard of.

He glanced at his closet. But I'm very proud of my latest project. No matter what happens, Sakura will always stay with me… her face, at least. Her simple, yet cryptic, personality has been captured so well…but no one will ever know. But me…

[A/N]: Okay, that wasn't too terrible, was it? ^^; I know, I know, I left you at a cliffhanger. Personally, I hate them, but I thought it was needed here. And all you big CCS fans know that I did sort of customize the scene when Sakura tells Syaoran about her confession to Yukito. I love that episode! ^^