Copyright © 2003

That's right. Keep laughing. I still don't own anything.

Blah-dee-blah-dee-blah: I fixed up the Prologue up a bit more, since most of you mentioned that you found it a bit confusing. Sorry if I jumped around a lot. I haven't written for a long time and I'm still trying to get into the feel of it. Anyway, tell me if you still find it confusing, okay? =)

::glomps Karisa-chan (Kaiwawate – go read her fics, I swear! ^^) for being a great beta::

Enough of this. On with the story!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Character change

-------------------- Gap in time but same character

Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there

                                     - Drops of Jupiter, Train

The city lights twinkled below him – little pinpricks of light gleaming up from an otherwise black expanse of cityscape. The cerulean-eyed blonde shifted in his seat uneasily, feeling his stomach clench with nerves, for what he'd left behind  - he quelled the guilt in the pit of his stomach. After all, it had been her decision to stay behind, and the others…they would manage without him - and what he'd return to.

There was a 'ding' and the light above him flashed, signaling all passengers to return to their seats and snap on their seatbelts. He gathered his belongings, patting the pocket of his jeans protectively for the identification he possessed that would grant him a new life, and felt a bubble of gratitude well up inside him, knowing Tan Wen would be banished to the couch for a few nights or so. But Meiling would not jump at the chance to inform the Elders. Possessive as she may have been when they were younger, she wasn't one to walk all over her cousin's happiness. His freedom.

The stewardess greeted him with a smile, albeit a tired one. "We hope you enjoyed your flight. Welcome to Tomoeda, Japan."

= = = = = = = = = =

Fall From Grace

New Life, Old Feelings

= = = = = = = = = =

"You have got to be joking."

Tomoyo hushed her with a graceful flick of her wrist, her eyes glued to the television screen with so much fascination that it might have been comical, had it not been for the serious tone blaring at them from the television screen.

"…sources say one Li Syaoran, no. 2 on China's Top Bachelor List and soon-to-be leader of the Li Clan, disappeared around midnight last night, one week subsequent to his coming-of-age party. Detail has not been given on the subject. More after the break."

Tomoyo cast a sly glance over at her friend and raised her eyebrows suggestively. "Is there something you're not telling me?" she asked, wondering if perhaps Syaoran had come all the way back to Japan just for Sakura. What a kawaii ending that would make, she decided. I'll have to dig up my camcorder.

Sakura sighed and shook her head. "I wish. But still," she added thoughtfully, tapping her finger against her chin. "It's all a bit much, don't you think? He was never one to do rash things."

Tomoyo shrugged, not caring if Syaoran was rash or not. He could have been a belly dancer for all she cared. What was important was that he was away from those damn Elders and her dear Sakura-chan could be happy again. Now, if only Syaoran would hurry up and propose already. She voiced her thoughts aloud and was rewarded with a grimace.

"Probably not. I bet this is just one big publicity stunt. You know that his marriage to whoever or whatever or who-the-hell-cares is due anytime soon." The affairs of the Li's were never kept private for long and the media gobbled them up like a starving man on a deserted island. When Meiling had gotten the Elders to finally break off her engagement to Syaoran it had been all over the news – if it hadn't been for the media Sakura would never have known. Syaoran had sure as hell never bothered to contact her and Meiling…well who could blame her for assuming that he had?

They were silent as this time a man came on screen at what looked to be the Li Manor – it had been so long since she'd been there, Sakura really couldn't be sure. Beside him, a tall, pregnant woman in her early twenties looked straight at the camera, and then back at the reporter. Sakura frowned and stared at the screen harder. No more odangos, but the eyes…

"Meiling!" She jumped up, upsetting her coffee. A dark brown stain was bleeding onto Tomoyo's clean white carpet, but neither made a move to clean it up.

"We're here, live, at the Li Manor with former-fiancée and newly-married Meiling Fong. Mrs. Fong, do you think there is cause for alarm right now?"

Meiling cleared her throat and shook her head. "I'm not at liberty to say."

The interview kept like that for a minute or so with the reporter firing more questions at her and Meiling giving vague, useless answers.

Sakura sighed. She'd hoped she'd be able to piece together Syaoran's disappearance, but the interview had revealed nothing to her. As much as she tried to deny it, she cared as much for him as she had when he had left all those years ago; she cursed herself endlessly for not telling him when she'd had the chance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as the camera's red light stopped blinking, Meiling inwardly sighed with relief, wishing she could collapse into bed and just sleep everything away. Yamazaki Takashi had made lying look so effortless and easy, but she'd struggled throughout the whole interview. She kept her composure as the reporter gave her a thumbs up, although she knew he was secretly disappointed that she hadn't given him more juice. Crawling little bloodsuckers of damning gossip, she cursed silently.

"Thanks for your time." He flashed her his pearly whites as he shook her hand and signaled his crew to be ready for departure in less than five minutes. "When you get more details, don't be hesitant to give our station a call." He slipped her a business card and she smiled through gritted teeth.

"Oh, of course," she beamed, wincing at the blatantly false cheer in her voice. "We'll make sure to --" shove you off a high cliff, " --contact you if anything comes up."

I don't know why they made me do it, she thought darkly. She hated the media with a passion, especially after that story they'd run about how Syaoran had never loved her like 'that' even when they'd been engaged – which was true, but the public hadn't needed to know that. Fuutie, Fanren, Sheifa and Feimei are his sisters, for crying out loud. You'd think that would mean something, wouldn't you?

She slowly made her way inside, dreading what was coming next. The Elders had requested a meeting with her after the interview and her insides fluttered anxiously at what was to come. All this stressing couldn't be good for her baby. Weren't pregnant women supposed to relax and have husbands who offered to do everything for them? When she'd mentioned this to Tan Wen he'd merely laughed, patted her on the head and told her she'd been watching too many family sitcoms.

She'd never been in the Elders' study, but Syaoran had practically lived there during his first few years back at home, begging and pleading to let him go back to Japan, or at least contact Sakura and the others, and every single time, he left it looking crushed. So Meiling didn't exactly have a good mental image of it. In fact, you could even go as far as to say that she had a pretty crappy mental image of it.

She knocked and let herself in. Just as she knew they would be, the Elders were all seated in high-backed chairs facing her with grim looks on their faces. Beside them, one of the Li Clan's guards stood, his face expressionless. Meiling bowed to each of the Elders in turn and eyed the guard suspiciously. She'd never liked the look of that one; he looked too cunning and she suspected he did more for the Elders than just guard the manor.

"Dreadful business – this cousin of yours."

Meiling nodded her agreement, not exactly sure that she liked having Syaoran referred to as 'dreadful business.'

"It seems Syaoran has taken his entire savings from his account. Do you believe there would be any reason for your cousin to head to Japan?"

The question caught her off guard. If she'd had a few more seconds to think about it, she would never have said what she had; those were the words she would be cursing herself over for months to come.

"Well, Sakura's there of course, but --"

She was cut off as one of them raised a hand for silence and turned to the guard, who, throughout the entire exchange, hadn't moved an inch. "Just as I thought Prepare your bags immediately."

Her heart sank.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You heard of that Li kid's disappearance?" The man turned a left and swore once he realised his mistake. It would take them ages to get out of this traffic jam.

Syaoran shook his head, leaning back into his chair and allowing himself the pleasure of relaxing – something he had not been able to do in the plane. He had been too jittery with nerves then. "Nope," he answered simply, not sure what else to say. He had, in truth. Who could miss it? It had been all over the news while he'd waited for the ride Luann had hired for him.

'I can only get your cute ass out of the airport,' she'd told him as she'd handed him both his and Minh's identification. He still had hers now, as a matter of fact. 'After that, it's all you.'

The driver took his silence as an invitation to carry on. "Reckon the kid ran away, you know? Rich kids are always so spoilt. Watch him go crawling back once he runs out of cash. They don't realise how hard it is in the real world. Ah, get out of the way you lousy driver!" He beeped the horn furiously.

Syaoran bit his tongue, knowing not to push his luck. As much as the contacts and hair dye had altered his appearance, he still didn't want to take any chances.  Nevertheless, he very much wanted to give the man a piece of his mind. The guy couldn't begin to fathom all the crap he'd had to put up with.

"So where are we headed again?" The driver swerved right and headed out of the jam, winding down the window. "Take that you assholes!" he called out gleefully. Enraged beeps followed his yells.

Syaoran sighed and watched freshly cut lawns zoom past. Hers would look just like all of them – only, the difference was that he had envisioned himself on hers time and again. You don't even have to see her, he told himself silently. You left for a new life. Not to return to your past. All you'd be doing is making complications where they're probably not even wanted. But after all these years, could he really just not see her when he was so close? It had been years. More than eight years, and each passing year had been like a knife slicing away at his heart.

Until he had met Minh, of course. How could Minh Ji Kim, who was as blunt as Kinomoto Sakura was naïve, replace his first love in his heart? They were both so different, yet he was torn. In truth, he had never fully gotten over Sakura when he had been with Minh. And now he could not get over Minh when he was thinking about Sakura.

"24 Sumata Drive," he answered absent-mindedly, scenario after scenario playing in his head, like an animated film that refused to stop. What would he say to Sakura once he saw her? Surely, the gap in time would have caused rifts and barriers where there had once been nothing but awkward blushing and nosebleeds. How he wished for that time again – when all that he had to worry about was Eriol and his evil schemes.

She might not even remember who he was, or – and nausea crept upon him as soon as he thought of it – she could even be married by now.

As the car slowed to a halt in front of a very familiar house – one he had done nothing but dream about again and again – and he took one look at the neatly trimmed garden he remembered so well, he lost his nerve. He was a fool.

"I – I've changed my mind. Could you take me to Juunishi Avenue, Apartment Block 6?" He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, wishing that he wasn't such a coward. But perhaps…maybe he needed some time to think things through before he rushed into another complication – not that he could ever really consider Sakura a complication, but affairs of the heart were never straight to the point. He needed time. Maybe, just maybe being in the vicinity of his old apartment would help him think straight. It didn't matter if somebody else lived there now.

The driver helped him unload his luggage and grinned. "You traveling light, eh Yuuhi? What you running away from?"

Syaoran shrugged and shouldered his one lone suitcase. He almost laughed at it. Syaoran Li rarely objected, followed rules and regulations and played the part of the good son. Syaoran Li had had everything he could ever want, except the one thing he wanted most. Nakago Yuuhi would be different. He played by his own rules, cherished his freedom and had the most meager of possessions. The prodigal son, except that Nakago Yuuhi would not be returning home. Ever.

Taking the hint, the driver laughed heartily, clapped him on the shoulder and within a few seconds was gone. The last reminder of what he had left behind.

Syaoran took a deep breath.

It was all him now.

--------------------

"Yes, can I help you?" It was an elderly woman with a crown of gray and eyes the colour of cornflower blue that opened the door. Keys jangled from the chain that hung around her plump waist.

"Err, yes. I was just wondering – I mean it's silly, really, to think that it still might be free – but could I just, I don't know…come inside for a second and see apartment 15?" And all at once he was that bumbling, awkward boy again.

She eyed him curiously; looked him up and down from the top of his blond hair to his scuffed sneakers, and then to the lone suitcase he held tightly in his hand. She motioned for him to follow her up the stairs. "I am Aikino Naru. Please come with me."

He was hit by the stench of newly washed windows and familiarity, and at the same time balked at the niggling odor of the past. He had lived here before, when he had been only a boy – a boy who had had no idea of what would come. It was strange, really, to come back to what had once been. He felt odd, displaced.

She fumbled with her chain before picking out a small brass key and unlocked the door to apartment 15. He stepped inside and sucked in his breath, surveying every inch, from the kitchen he had once eaten in to the bedroom he had once slept in. It was…empty, as if nobody had lived there for years.

"It's been empty for a long time," she explained, confirming his suspicions. "Nobody has ever come to live here, yet somebody has kept paying for the rent, all these years. I was given strict instructions to hand the apartment over to the one person with a scar like an S at the back of his neck -- "

Syaoran's hand flew to the small scar of its own accord, remembering the blood and the pain and the Elder's cold, heartless voice that first night home. "If you will not forget her, then so be it. I will make you remember her as the cause of your pain."

Her eyes flickered to the sudden movement of his hand and the way his eyes seemed to glaze over at a memory not forgotten, and she slowly pried his fingertips from what he had been concealing.

"Well then." She smiled through her pity, trying to stop herself from running a trembling hand across the harsh, painful-looking scar. "It looks like the apartment is yours."

He was left speechless as he held the cool metal of the key in his palm. She turned to leave, and then he found his voice and grabbed her arm, wanting to understand.

"W-wait," he stammered. "I – I mean, who was it? Renting out the apartment for me?"

She paused. "I believe it was a woman by the name of Li Ieran. Do you know her?"

He could only gape in disbelief. So his mother had known all this time that one day he would come back and she hadn't tried to stop him. Quite the contrary; she had kept this apartment safe for him. That annoying prickling behind his eyelids started up and he blinked them away as his heart swelled with infinite gratitude. "Hai," he answered. "She's my – a good friend of my mother's."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Time Gap: One Week

Sakura collapsed onto a nearby bench, almost sobbing with relief, and was pulled back up again by a small, insistent hand. "Come on Aunt Sakura. We've still got to ride the Ghost Train."

Sakura shivered, both at the notion that she – dependent, naïve, little Sakura – could be an Aunt and the mention of the Ghost Train. It was the one thing she was definitely not willing to try.

"Not now, Kokoro, honey," Sakura murmured, sinking into the bench once again and trying to stall for time. "Your aunt needs to die of exhaustion now. Wake her up if she falls asleep."

Don't look down, she reminded herself as she shut her eyes and sighed with pleasure as her muscles relaxed and she let her feet have some much-needed rest. If you look down, she'll pull the Look on you and you'll be trapped for sure. Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down - damn.

She'd looked down. Wide, tearful dark eyes and a trembling mouth greeted her and she sighed in defeat. It was her punishment for pulling that same look on Touya when she'd been younger. Only, she was sure she hadn't used it that often.

"Okay, okay,"  she reluctantly gave in, and immediately her niece's face brightened.

"Oh, this will be so much fun, Aunt Sakura," she chirped, tugging her through the maze of people and into the much-dreaded line. "Ghosts and stuff."

"Yeah," Sakura echoed, her face going pale. "Ghosts and stuff. What fun." She tried to look earnest, she really did, but that queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach was there again. It could have just been my sandwiches, she reasoned. Nothing to be worried about, Sakura. Just a bunch of ghosts…who are probably trying to avenge their horrible pasts. Ohhhhh, I'm a dead girl.

Stop that, Rational!Sakura took over. They're not even real.

Sakura blinked in surprise. She hadn't known she had a rational side to begin with. "Touya owes me," she muttered to herself darkly. She didn't mind looking after Kokoro at all, but she was tired, and hungry, and dammit, she didn't like ghosts!

Oh well, she sighed. At least it's keeping my mind off Syaoran…

The attendant buckled them into their seats and she let out a little yelp as the ride began with a small lurch. "Aunt Sakura, you're hurting me."

Sakura jumped then looked down and let go of her niece's fingers. She'd been so nervous that she'd almost crushed Kokoro's hand. "Gomen ne, Kokoro-chan" she apologized feeling silly for being so scared. She swallowed and stared ahead, willing herself to breathe in and out like a normal person. It's not that hard, she chided herself. Inhale, exhale. You're supposed to be the adult, here.

As soon as the ride stopped Sakura jumped up with relief and grabbed Kokoro's hand. "Well," she laughed cheerfully. "That wasn't so bad."

"Your eyes were closed," Kokoro pointed out.

Sakura sweat dropped and pointed to a small tent not far away from the ride. "Look," she  cried. "Fortune-telling." She could handle fortune telling. It was all a bunch of baloney, anyway. I can see into your future. You will walk out of this tent unsatisfied and with one dollar less. Sakura sniggered and led Kokoro over to the tent, paying up a dollar coin. (AN: I know they use yen, but I'm very bad with money and mathematics…-_-;;)

"I don't want to have my fortune told," Kokoro whispered into her ear as they entered the tent. "She looks scary."

Afraid that the fortune-teller had heard, Sakura hushed her niece hastily and looked up, locking gazes with the woman. She wore odds and ends of mismatched, clashing colours. She was glad Tomoyo-chan wasn't here; she'd have a heart attack. As she stepped closer she realised the woman was blind. So how was she supposed to look into the crystal ball? Sakura wondered as she seated herself into the chair opposite the woman.

There was silence for what seemed to be a long time and then the woman spoke, her voice old and papery like it hadn't been used for a long time. Sakura jumped as the woman clutched her hands tightly. So much for something you could handle.

"Beware, my child," she croaked out. "I sense change and danger."

"I'm cooking tonight," Sakura offered up doubtfully. "Maybe I should play it safe and eat leftovers instead…"

She winced as the hands gripped tighter. "No, no. Great danger."

Sakura wasn't sure if the woman had finished speaking so she slowly got up and left the tent shakily.

(AN: This doesn't exactly have much relevance to the story, but I put it in, anyway, because everything seemed so serious. Raise your hands if you thought that was a major cliché. ::nobody raises their hand because all the readers have left after that horrible attempt at foreshadowing::)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Motoshiba Kenpei had spent an entire week in Japan, interrogating, questioning and interrogating some more. He slept five hours a night, left early in the morning and arrived back at his hotel close to, or well past, midnight.

He had learnt from an early age that if you wanted to make yourself a success, if you wanted to get far, you had to really put everything into it. Everything. He had been an orphan at the age of four, had never had a proper family, or a proper home. That is, until he had met the Elders who had trained him, clothed him, fed him and made him a guard for the Li Manor. He owed them everything, which was why he didn't think twice when he was sent on his mission.

Find Li Syaoran and bring him back to China.

He could not understand why Syaoran had left in the first place. The ungrateful bastard had had everything anybody could ever want. Given half the chance Motoshiba Kenpei would have gladly taken his place.

It had been a whole week and he had not found anything. He had camped out near the Kinomoto household more that twice in that week; surely Syaoran would head there. It was a sure bet, but he hadn't seen the man anywhere near there. So either they were good at hiding things or Syaoran had really not headed to Sakura Kinomoto after all.

He had been just about to give up and head back to China when he'd received a call from one of the Elders, who'd informed him that they'd found Li Ieran paying for rent for an apartment in the Tomoeda area. Three guesses whom for. Kenpei only needed one.

"You've run out of your luck, Li," he muttered, his eyes dark with anger. Ungrateful, ungrateful, ungrateful – that's what the bastard was. He didn't realise how lucky he was. Well, no more.

He shoved his keys in his pocket, slammed the car door behind him, and waited.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Touya set the cake pan down onto the kitchen bench as the buzzer sounded and girlish giggling followed soon after.

"'Nii-chan, it's us. Buzz us up."

Sure enough, a moment later wild auburn hair that refused to stay still popped around the corner of his doorway, followed by a smaller head of curly ebony. Sakura grinned at the sight of her older brother looking so paternal as Kokoro rushed up to him and hugged him. "You should have come with us, 'tou-san. There were clowns and then they did magic, and they asked Sakura to come up and then she did magic…" Kokoro trailed off and bounced away into her room.

"It wasn't magic," Sakura smiled. "I pulled a coin out of the guy's ear. It was already there of course. It wasn't magic. Not real magic." Her eyes betrayed the cheer in her voice and Touya wanted to hold her and pound the gaki's head in all at once. It was strange how the one thing that could make Sakura happy again was making her so unhappy. He had been glad, in a small way, that she had tucked her magic away, tried to be normal, but not if it made her sad. Not if she had to be like…this.

He turned, took four plates from the cupboard and cut the cake into equal pieces. Yukito would be home any time soon; Touya was sure, even when he didn't have his magic anymore. He gave a plate to Sakura, took one for himself and left the other two on the table when Kokoro and Yukito wanted some.

"Made it myself," he grinned. "With the help of my new friend, Betty Crocker." He gave himself a pat on the back when Sakura wasn't looking, for making his little-not-so-little-anymore sister laugh.

"So, seriously. How are you coping with all of this ga – Li stuff?" She smiled at his small effort; special points for trying. Touya had seen the reports a week before just as his little sister had. He'd wondered then, if he had left for her, but when there hadn't been any ecstatic jumping up and down on her part and no proposals on the gaki's, well…he wasn't sure what to think anymore. Touya wished Daidouji-san were here right now, but she wouldn't be back from a business trip for another day or so; Daidouji-san had always known what to say and when to say it.

Touya was at a loss, but he needn't have worried.

"I want to hate him, 'nii-chan," she said, playing with her untouched cake. "But I can't, and at the same time I know I shouldn't love him because he belongs to somebody else now, I'm sure. And it's been so many years, so I really should be over him, but I never could get over him simply because of the fact that he's Li-kun and I love him."

Touya had never known that love could be so complicated. With Yuki it had been so certain and simple, and now Yue didn't even emerge that often anymore. There wasn't any need to – not when the plushie and the Cards were sealed away.

Loud banging interrupted the comfortable silence that hung in the air between them and Touya tsk-ed in annoyance. "My new neighbour," he explained. "Apparently the apartment's been empty ever since the gaki left --" Sakura started with a jolt. She'd almost forgotten Syaoran had lived in this very same apartment building. It was better to forget some things. She didn't need him to be a total distraction in her life "-- and the guy's been here for a week, already. I don't know what he does in there. Chucks things around, I guess. He doesn't come out much and I don't think he even knows I exist, but he's pretty good-looking for somebody who isn't Yuki. Do you want me to ask him for you? You might have a fun time with him, for all his strange ways," Touya offered.

Sakura smiled and shook her head. "No. It's okay. I should probably get going. Thanks for the cake." She slung her bag over one shoulder and gave her brother a hug. "Call me anytime you need me to baby-sit Kokoro, okay?"

He watched as his sister left the building and turned to go back inside his apartment when there was a loud bang and the object of their conversation only a few minutes ago stood in the doorway of apartment 15, holding a suitcase in one hand and looking as if he was about to take a runner. Their eyes met for a second -- and although they were now blue instead of their usual amber, Touya was struck by sudden familiarity and realisation --before Syaoran took off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sleep in, take a shower, and then head out for some much-needed kitchen appliances and groceries – a man couldn't live on sandwiches with cheese and lettuce alone – and maybe take a detour and spend the rest of the afternoon at King Penguin Park, just reminiscing. And if he was feeling really wild, perhaps contact Sakura, though he knew that as soon as he came close he'd make up more excuses as to why he shouldn't.

But that had been his plan for the day.

What he hadn't planned on was the small white envelope that Aikino-san must have slid under his door while he had been out. He had returned home later than he'd planned and now, as he hummed happily to himself and fumbled with the key to his apartment while juggling his shopping bags, he was surprised to find the note there. Nobody ever sent him letters, or even sent him messages.

He kept to himself most of the time, usually gone before all the other occupants of the building were up, and didn't even know any of them by name. Except for two. Two people he had known once before.

His heart had leapt into his throat that first morning when he'd glimpsed the familiar silvery head bent towards the other familiar dark head as they held the hand of a girl Syaoran had never seen in his life. He'd barely had time to duck behind his door as they'd passed, wondering what the hell they were doing here in his old apartment building.

Then it struck him how absurd that sounded. First of all, it wasn't even his and second, once he thought about it he knew what they were doing in the old apartment building, anyway. Living there. There weren't any rules that said they couldn't, and they wouldn't have known that he had lived there in the first place. They must, by now, if Sakura still kept in touch with her brother.

So he'd willed his palpitating heart to slow down, had taken a deep breath, looked around the corner, and – once he was sure they were gone – had dashed out into the street.

Syaoran dropped his bags onto the table and picked up the message. It was written in Aikino-san's handwriting, a message from somebody who had called her earlier that day. Syaoran hadn't gotten around to getting a phone installed yet; there was plenty of time. Or so he'd thought.

His blood froze as he scanned the message.

Nakago,

     Message from Li Ieran – Elders have found out about the apartment. They 're coming for you soon.

- Aikino Naru

That was all it said; no detail, no information about how they had found out,  who exactly was coming for him, and how long 'soon' was. Nothing but the warning that set his heart racing. All he knew was that he couldn't let them take him back. Not now, not ever, and especially not after he'd finally found himself a life – a real life. They would think him a traitor now, and the Elders didn't take kindly to traitors.

Two simple sentences, and again, he would have to leave things behind.

"Shit," he swore, throwing everything he could fit into his suitcase, the shopping bags now forgotten. "Shit, shit, shit."

He gathered up his suitcase, took one last fleeting look over his apartment and opened the door calmly. At least, when he looked back on that scenario he would remember that he had opened the door calmly. In his haste he had slammed it open and for one instant his eyes met those of Kinomoto Touya's before he had dashed out of the building.

The next thing he knew there was a gunshot somewhere to his left and his heart leapt into his throat. So, either the Elders wanted him dead or the man that he now recognised as one of the Li Clan's guards was counting on wounding him, just enough to slow him down so that he could catch him.

Either possibility made Syaoran's gut churn.

Run, was the only plausible suggestion his mind made, so he did just that. He ran. He didn't take any chances, never looking back, not knowing  - or even caring – where he was headed until he found himself at the doorstep of Kinomoto Sakura.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sakura sighed as she pulled up into her home, knowing she would be alone again tonight. Otou-san was staying at the University late, working on one of his lectures. "So it looks like leftovers for me again," she mumbled as she let herself in and collapsed onto the couch. There had been a time when she was never lonely, even when her father didn't arrive home until late, but that time was long past gone now.

Tomoyo-chan wouldn't be home until tomorrow. She was seriously debating whether she should just head back to Touya and Yukito's apartment, but just being in the building had made her feel…well, nostalgic.  And besides, she didn't want to intrude on their family together-ness. She knew they'd welcome her but whenever she saw all three of them so happy together she couldn't help the pang of jealousy in her chest, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. She was happy for them, of course, but she was allowed to be human after all.

Knowing full well that if she didn't get up now she'd end up sleeping there the whole night, Sakura forced herself up and rummaged in the kitchen for some leftover noodles.

So this was what her life would be like for years to come: coming home to an empty house and eating leftovers as she watched reruns on the T.V.

Fair enough.

She'd settled herself into a comfortable position on the couch, not caring that half the noodles missed her mouth completely in her exhaustion. Kokoro had been so enthusiastic about the fair and Sakura hadn't had the heart to make her stop so she'd let her niece drag her all over the place the whole day.

And then there was loud, insistent knocking on the door, making her jump in fright. She felt around for something to defend herself with; she wasn't expecting visitors.

The umbrella she held tightly in her right hand clattered to the floor as she opened the door and found the last person she'd expected to see on her porch. His hair was blonde, his eyes an intense cerulean, but she would recognize him anywhere.

"Syaoran!"

"Uhhh, hi." He gave her a lop-sided grin, one she had never thought she would ever see again – at least, not in person – and she resisted the urge to fling her arms around him, afraid that his only reason for being there was to tell her in person that he was getting married, or something. There was a crash and his eyes darted behind him. She craned her neck to see what was going on, her breath coming in little short gasps. Never in her life did she believe that he would come back to her again. She could feel the tears forming, the shock slowly giving way to joyful disbelief.

And then a gunshot rang behind him, ruining the moment.

@-------^-----------

Eeeeeeeeh! Evil cliffhanger! XD. Go on. Kill me. You know you wanna…

Special thanks to Karisa for being a darn spankin' good beta-reader. Everybody give her a cheer. YAY! ::huggles her:: She did it even when she had her own stories to write. ::throws confetti up in the air:: Gomen ne, Karisa-chan, but I added a few things after you beta-ed it. ::looks sheepish:: I'm really sorry, but I thought of it after you'd finished and I didn't want you to have to look over it all over again.

Thank you all for your wonderful, inspiring, supportive, great reviews. I know Xioa_wolf and BlackSpark wanted Syaoran to go to Eriol first, but I promise they'll go see him…sometime. Heheh ^^; This is just my roundabout way of telling you guys that they're going to have to seek out Eriol's help soon, anyway, without giving too much away.

Just a few notes:

I forgot to mention in the last chapter that Kokoro is not biologically Sakura's niece. She was adopted by Touya and now lives with both Touya and Yukito. Touya and Yukito living together. Now there's a yummy thought. ^^

'Cerulean-eyed blond' doesn't exactly scream out Li Syaoran, does it? It's called hair dye and contacts, m'dear.

Ahem. Syaoran's alias name is first name Nakago, second name Yuuhi. I just wanted to make that clear since I found that a little confusing myself. At first I was going to make it the other way around, but before I changed it, it was Yuuki and since there was already a Yukito…well – my mind isn't made for complex things. ^^;

Oh, and a question. Do you think Minh Ji sounds better as a first name of if Ji Kim does? It's that whole confusing last-name-first thing again. It baffles me. x_X?

Have a say – take this poll and tell me what you want to read!

What should happen next?

a) Sakura throws herself into Syaoran's arms and declares her undying love for him forever and ever. As they confess their love for each other he gets shot and he dies slowly in her arms. Or does he? ::shifty eyes:: i.e. Syaoran comes back to life and becomes eviiiiiillll ::cough:: cliché ::cough::

b) Sakura throws herself into Syaoran's arms and declares her undying love for him forever and ever and they live in that one moment for the rest of their lives. (Most of us want that, but sadly, it wouldn't work for the plot, now would it?)

c) Sakura agrees to help him and lets him in, then hides him in her house until they leave.

d) Sakura agrees to help him and whoops their arses with her super cool card skills.

e) Sakura gets scared, slams the door in his face and has him killed on her front doorstep.

f) Syaoran realises that he shouldn't put Sakura in danger and runs away.

g) Other. Please state.

Kero-chan's Corner

Kero: ::sniffs:: SpringbloomOpal didn't put me in the fic. She sealed me away! ::bursts into tears:: No more pudding for me! ::brightens:: So… I made her agree to give me this little section. ::shifty eyes:: By 'made' I mean I bound her and gagged her and threatened to sic Eriol and his evil-ness on her until she finally agreed. But who cares about that?

This is where I respond to your reviews. Yeah…you all know this is the part that you like. It makes it all worthwhile to know that your reviews are being appreciated. And…since I'm the one who's doing all of this, maybe you could leave me a little…something. Because, someone left me out of the fic – so far. Maybe I'll get her to reconsider - … and I'm not mentioning any names but ::cough:: SpringbloomOpal::cough::

Anywho…^^;

Ehhh…I got bored in the Sakura Book and the Cards aren't much company so I, errr…put this in alphabetical order. See what the so-called author is doing to me?! She's even making me…::sobs:: hug you all. Guardian beasts of the seal do not hug. Unless there's pudding involved…

AnimeObsessionFantasy: Kero: Minh Ji Kim was doing the countdown. SpringbloomOpal had to alter it a bit so people would know. Since the author updated, maybe you could leave me some pudding…::looks hopeful:: Anyway, thank you greatly for your review. It is much appreciated.

Springy: ::kicks Kero as best she can with her feet still bound::

Kero: ::sighs:: Okay, okay. As a token of my gratitude I am required to give every one of SpringbloomOpal's reviewers a hug. ::hugs awkwardly while feeling around in the pockets for pudding::

Avelyn Lauren: You're so smart. See, I bet if you were writing the story you wouldn't leave me out. I can tell you're going to be one of Springy's helpful reviewers. You even worked out what is ::Springy kicks him again:: - ahem, what might happen. Thank you very much. ::hug::

BlackSpark: ::looks impressed:: You chose B. Eriol gives me the heebie-jeebies, but you chose B! Hahahaha! Take that gaki! ::throws confetti around:: Anyway, you heard what SpringbloomOpal said. Eriol's going to be in it. Don't you worry. ::rubs hands gleefully:: And now I can dump sugar on Suppi-chan and watch him go crazy! Yay! ::huggles::

Bloodlust Night: No. You're awesome. And since you're so awesome, I just know that you'll give me pudding. But seriously, SpringbloomOpal couldn't have done this without all you wonderful reviewers. She didn't exactly update soon, but…::shrugs:: oh well. ::hugs::

Cardcaptorfreek: ::Kero pouts:: Sakura and Syaoran are not the cutest couple in the world! The cutest couple in the world is me! And Cammy from Streetfighter. Ehhh…^^; Video games rock my paws! But yes, Syaoran is showing regret for leaving Sakura. As he should. ::sniffs:: It's complicated. The kid chose to stay in China because (I don't know if you got this, but SpringbloomOpal kind of implied it) the Elders said that if he didn't they'd take the Cards away from Sakura. He knows how attached she is to Kero so he kind of went through hell for ten years for her, but what he didn't know is that Sakura sealed me and the Cards away a few years after because she didn't want to be reminded of him. ::cackles:: He's gonna be so mad when he finds out! So…what he's really showing regret for is the fact that not only did he leave Sakura but that he's also planning on going back there to seek her help, and he was going to go back with Minh. Good thing Minh died then, right, or things would have been way more complicated. Sorry if you got confused. SpringbloomOpal hasn't written in a long time. ::hugs::

Confused lil' me: Yes. I think SpringbloomOpal will keep writing this one. Otherwise I will be so mad and I'll steal all her Syaoran and Eriol pictures. She has to keep writing so that she can put me back in the fic again! Thank you for your review. ::huggles::

DrEaMgAzEr: SpringbloomOpal says thank you for liking By the Lake as well and for seeing the difference between them. At least…that's what I think she said, but you can never tell when she's got a gag in her mouth. Anyway, thanks for your review. ::hugs::

Evil Emzo-chan: Yes. I agree with you. The brat should go to Australia. Then he can leave Sakura alone. Nobody picked the last three. I was so disappointed. I was hoping the brat would pick F (kill himself) HAHAHAHA! Serves him right for calling me a stuffed animal! Grrrrr… ::turns to Springy and cups his ear:: What's that Springy? You want Evil Emzo_chan to help you and free you from the gag and ropes and Psychomaniac!Kero? Nooooo way. Evil Emzo-chan's my friend. She'll give me pudding. ::turns to E.E:: Won't you? ::hugs::

Fire_blade: That's a great idea. Springy will have to think about it when she's conscious. I think I gave her a heart attack when I threatened to steal all her Eriol and Syaoran pictures. AHAHAHAH! Anyway, thank you greatly for your wonderful review. ::huggles::

Japanimerox: Springy says thank you for waiting and she is glad that you think it is a nice story. It is much appreciated. ::huggles::

Kawaii-CherryWolf: I agree. Syaoran and Minh are blergh! Minh reminds me of Cammy from Streetfighter and, dammit, I'm getting married to her. Ehehehe ^^; Much as I don't like the brat, ::sighs:: yes…it's S+S. But wouldn't you rather read a Cammy/Kero fic? EEHHHH! ::gets stars in eyes:: ::clears throat:: Thank you for reviewing. ::hugs::

Kawaii-kitty: Yes…::nods seriously:: SpringbloomOpal is very jumpy. It took me a long time to gag her and bind her. She even squooshed my tail. ::pouts:: Thank you for telling her, so she can make her story better. Maybe you can tell her to add me into it. Thank you very, very, much you kind reviewer. ::huggles::

Kuroi Akuryou: ::stamps foot:: The gaki should not go to Japan. He should have killed himself. ::nods:: Eheheheh…^^; Did I just say that aloud? Shhh…then SpringbloomOpal would really not consider putting me in the fic. But thanks heaps for your great review. ::hugs::

LicyBabe2002: I was mad too. I says to myself, I says, the gaki is not allowed to make Sakura happy! Ooooh! I was so mad. It was all his fault that Sakura sealed me away. Yeah…maybe if Syaoran marries Sakura and makes everything hunky-dory I can be in the fic again! Keep your fingers crossed. ^^ ::huggles::

Littleblackrose: Sakura's reaction would be to instantly give her wonderful, great friend Kero-chan pudding. At least, that should be her reaction. Don't you think? Thank you very much for your review. It's much appreciated. ::hugs::

Lizzy: Well….I thought the gaki should have killed himself. ::mutters:: Stupid gaki thinks he can make Sakura-chan sad which made here seal me away! ::pouts:: Ahhhh. SpringbloomOpal is very biased. SpringbloomOpal lives in Australia and she would just jump at the chance to glomp the gaki and four-eyed Satan (SpringbloomOpal: you take that back! It's Syaoran and Eriol, not the gaki and four-eyed Satan!!!) Thanks for your suggestion and your wonderful review. ::hugs::

Sakura: Nu uh. ::crosses arms over chest:: Number 5, definitely. ::looks sheepish:: Ehhhh…thanks for your review. ::huggles::

Sakuratenshi89: Okay. Well, Minh Ji Kim is this girl that Syaoran fell in love with back in China (::mutters:: Stupid gaki. He shouldn't be allowed to break Sakura's heart. ::raises fists:: Lemme at 'im! Lemme at 'im!) in her coming-of-age party which was described in one of the first parts. Her parents wouldn't let him marry her so she gave up her title. But with no title Syaoran couldn't marry her, so he finally gets fed up and decided to head back to Japan with her, where he hopes Sakura can help them conceal their magic or something. But then she gets killed, only Syaoran thinks that she just didn't wanna go with him…and so forth. Just think of her as some ex-girlfriend (albeit, a dead one) who's mere mention causes rifts between Sakura and Syaoran throughout the story. I hope I explained that well enough. My mind doesn't function well without some pudding in my stomach, so don't forget to leave me some pudding! ::hugs::

Sapphirecrystal: SpringbloomOpal says thank you.  At least…::scratches head:: that's what I think she said. Maybe I should free her from the binds and gag. What do you think…? ::shakes head:: Nah! It's too much fun this way. ::snickers:: Anywho, thanks for your great review and your input in the poll. ::huggles::

Sara1664: Heheh. Glad to see you're so enthusiastic. Thanks very much for your enthusiastic review. ::huggles::

Tomoe2Kenshin: ::giggles:: You sound so enthusiastic. Thank you so, so much. ::huggles while feeling around in pockets for pudding::

Xiao_wolf: Gomen ne. SpringbloomOpal had to go with the majority, but they'll be going to B soon. Don't you worry. ::cackles:: And I can finally beat Suppi-chan in this new video game. AHAHAHAH! Watch out Suppi-chan! ::sobers:: Well, thanks for your great review. ::hugs::

XoDaniioX: And last, but not least: I'm glad Syaoran didn't end up with Minh Ji Kim either. Nobody's better than Sakura-chan! ::raises fist:: Yeah! Eheheh ^^; Thanks for your review. ::hugs::

 

Kero: Well, I'm all hugged out. See you next time. And don't forget to leave me something. ^_~

SpringbloomOpal: ::whacks Kero over the head with a baseball bat and gags him with pudding:: Stop hassling my reviewers! ::sweeps Kero's unconscious form under a couch:: We-ell. Thank you all very, very much for your wonderful, superfantabulous reviews! ::glomps you all:: I want to make things official, so if you want to know when the next chapter comes out tell me leave your e-mail address and I'll add you to the mailing list. And if I did e-mail you and you don't want to know about its progression, don't hesitate to tell me. ^^ ::bows:: Thank you.