Author's Notes: Firstly, I want to apologize for the delay! I'm so, so, so sorry! This fanfic is taking forever, and I haven't had much time lately…Anyway, my biggest apologies to everyone!

Now, as for this chapter, I can gladly announce that something you've been waiting for finally happens…but with a twist. I'm not sure how I will work this out yet, this fic almost has a life of its own…I swear I have absolutely no power over this story! I sit down and type, and when I'm done I find plenty of stuff that wasn't even in my mind! Kinda spooky, huh?
Anyway, I don't expect you to like this chapter very much…but bear with me, people! I'll tame my rebel hands and write something happier soon, ok?

Disclaimer: If CCS were actually mine, there would be plenty of kawaii S+S moments, and also some E+T, and…*blabbers madly*

Dedicatory: This one's for my best friend in the whole world! Moony Lover te kierooo! Feliz Día del Amigo!!

"I'll say goodbye for the two of us: When the truth breaks the silence"

Part Thirteen: "Something is terribly wrong!"

By cherry blossom

Syaoran sighed as he watched the happy couple sleep contently. It's not like he wasn't glad they were happy together, really he wished nothing but the best to his friends…After all, they deserved happiness after all this pain…

The thing was that he couldn't help longing for Sakura even more desperately than before.

The Chinese boy crossed his arms tightly, as if trying to hold himself together. He had been so worried about Tomoyo the past few days his heart-ache had seemed less intense. It was back now, though, and it felt even worse to him.

He quietly stood up and began walking down the beach. Walking always helped him clear his head a bit. Besides he was enjoying the icy water caressing his feet, the wind slapping his face, the pale sunlight hiding away behind clouds. It all seemed to reflect his feelings, his grief, his pain.

Syaoran quickened his pace, as if trying to run away from the pain that was haunting him. He just didn't want to suffer anymore. He was tired, tired of crying, tired of hoping, tired of losing hopes, tired of living in a constant shadowy world. But there was no way out, other than finding Sakura.

He needed her, like he needed air to breath. Syaoran was like a complicated arrangement of puzzle pieces, and Sakura was the piece that held them all together. She had become the whole foundation of his life, and without her he was nothing.

Tears began running down his cheeks, and he stopped running. What point was there? He lied down on the sand, which was still warm after hours of sunlight, and stared into the sky. Huge masses of black and gray clouds were swirling above his head as he cried loudly. Then suddenly, he stopped.

His head was throbbing, his lungs felt like they were on fire, and he was having trouble breathing. His pain was just as intense as ever. His eyes were just as sad, his tears were just as desperate.

But there was something different.

He could sense someone near him, an important, familiar aura. An aura that didn't belong to either Eriol or Tomoyo.

Syaoran gasped, his eyes open wide. It couldn't be…

But as he turned around, his eyes laid upon a small figure, not far from where he was, with auburn hair dancing in the wind, and expectant emerald eyes staring right back at him.

Sakura stared at the man before her. She contemplated his messy brown hair and fiery amber eyes, stained with fresh tears. Syaoran wore and expression of such shock on his face! And there was more…his feature described so many emotions it was hard to make each one out individually.

Silence between them, they stared at each other. Sakura didn't dare move, for the scene seemed to be of extreme fragility, as though a simple word could break it into a million pieces. The card captors were looking at each other so intently, the world appeared to fade away, and time seemed to lose its constancy. Sakura would never be able to tell how long it had been until Syaoran finally woke up from his daze and rushed towards her. She felt herself being hugged and kissed like there was no tomorrow, and everything that happened next was a blur.

Syaoran seemed to be beyond words, for all he did was place his head over her heart and cried desperately. Sakura could feel his tears wetting her shirt, his grip on her getting tighter and tighter…but somehow she felt outside the whole thing… like her soul had been removed from her body, and was watching the scene from someplace far away… She started caressing the crying boy's hair almost mechanically…it seemed the only reasonable thing to do.

At her touch, Syaoran hugged her even more tightly and she was beginning to feel suffocated. He didn't appear to be letting go anytime soon, and Sakura didn't know how much longer she could take the current situation. She was feeling light headed and short of breath. Syaoran seemed to be unaware of the strength of his grip and Sakura couldn't find the words to tell him to let go. Her mind was trying to process so many things at a time she couldn't think straight anymore. She felt herself loose balance, and the world became darker as she finally closed her eyes and let herself go.

Syaoran's eyes were getting watery from not blinking. But how could he? How could he even think about closing his eyes for a split second, when his very reason of existence stood before him, a rush of light and beauty and love? What if she was gone when he opened his eyes? No, if this indeed was an illusion he wanted to make it last as long as he could. Oh, the scene was so still! Syaoran felt like part of a picture, unable to move, immortalized forever. Until…

Until, suddenly, he felt water gently caressing his feet. That brought him back to reality, causing him to blink. Yes, it was real. The scene was real. It wasn't his imagination playing mean tricks on him. He had to get to Sakura right away!

But his moves seemed so slow to him! He felt like someone had lowered the speed of time and action, as if moving underwater. Oh, the agony, the bittersweet pain of anticipation! He felt as if his heart was about to burst inside his chest, as he shortened the distance that separated him from her. And then finally…he reached her.

Syaoran was completely overwhelmed by holding his beloved cherry blossom. He couldn't seem to get enough of her. He hugged her tightly, kissed her, and yet it wasn't enough, he needed more. Inside, a tiny voice was telling him something was terribly wrong, but it was drowned by rush of warm feelings that assaulted him now that he held the love of his life in his arms once again.

He felt his tears splash down her chest. He was so miserably, painfully happy! Shame on him, to be crying like a baby, but he couldn't help it! In fact, he was so absorbed in his own emotions he hadn't noticed Sakura wasn't kissing or hugging him back. The voice in head made its warning again, and he felt a sudden chill down his spine. Something is terribly wrong!

Just then, he felt Sakura exhale deeply and pass out in his arms. He froze. Ok, he didn't know what he had expected, but this was definitely not it! Immediately, he felt the desire to bang his head onto something. Of course, there he was again, thinking about himself when she could be hurt or something! Why did he keep doing that? Why did he keep putting himself before her?

It's not time to think about that, Syaoran!, he scolded himself. Get Sakura to where Eriol and Tomoyo are, you can torture yourself afterwards. Without further thought, he rushed to where his friends had fallen asleep a while ago, with his sleeping cherry blossom in his arms.

"Eriol! Eriol wake up!" Syaoran shouted as he approached the sleeping couple. He didn't want to waste a single second. Luckily, Eriol awoke instantly at the calling of his name.

"What's all the yelling for, Syao-" he began moodily, but abruptly stopped when he caught sight of the Chinese boy. He gasped, his eyes wide open, and started shaking Tomoyo. The raven haired girl showed no signs of wanting to get up, but Eriol's insistent tugging was not easy to ignore. She opened her eyes, ready to kick the person that had woken her up, when she too spotted Syaoran. Her reaction was exactly like Eriol's. Just plain, absolute, numb surprise. She, however, recovered quickly from the shock, and happiness shone in her eyes.

"Sakura-chan!" she gasped, and immediately rushed to where Syaoran was standing. On those few steps, however, she noticed two important things. One, Sakura was unconscious. Two, Syaoran was wearing the pained, preoccupied expression she knew so well. A horrible feeling began to take over her.

Something's terribly wrong!

She looked at Syaoran expectantly, and as he turned his head away, the feeling was confirmed. They walked back to where Eriol was, apparently still in shock. The blue eyed boy shook his head, and quickly regained his senses. He exchanged looks with Syaoran, who shook his head. The scene seemed to go on forever, until Tomoyo spoke.

"What's wrong with Sakura-chan?!" she questioned in a thin voice. It occurred to her that they had been in complete silence until then. She crossed her arms in front of her, trying to hold herself. Something about this place was giving her the creeps, and she couldn't shake the feeling off.

"I…I don't know," replied Syaoran quietly. He laid Sakura on the floor and took as step back as Eriol examined her. He didn't want to touch her again, he was afraid to hurt her as he had just done.

Eriol looked at her intently, as if trying to make sure it really was Sakura. He checked her pulse, and listened to her heartbeat. Everything seemed fine, she appeared to be simply asleep. But then, when he brushed a strand of hair out of her face, he suddenly felt it. He shrugged involuntarily, and he felt cold all over, as dark thoughts took over him.

Something is terribly wrong!

"What do you mean you don't know what's wrong her?" demanded Syaoran. He would take Eriol's smug attitude constantly, only because he seemed to know about everything.

"I don't think I could be clearer, Syaoran," replied Eriol coldly. He was tired of Syaoran constantly assuming he was to know everything and have all the solutions in his shirt pocket.

"Please, guys, don't start fighting," pleaded Tomoyo tiredly. "Eriol, what did you see when you examined her?"

"Nothing really…she looked fine to me, except…" he narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Except what?" questioned Syaoran.

"Well, I got this really horrible sensation when I touched her. A dark feeling I haven't been able to shake off…" he replied honestly.

"That's what happened to me too!" exclaimed Syaoran.

"I felt the same way even though I didn't touch her," added Tomoyo. "But I think this is very clear…" she let her voice trail off, and looked at both sorcerers.

Something is terribly wrong!

"I know…" replied Syaoran thoughtfully. "But what is it?"

"I think we'd better ask Sakura herself," declared Eriol. "Looks like she's waking up right now"

And sure enough, the Card Mistress was shifting in her sleep, was awake in no time. She yawned and stretched, as if totally unaware of her friends' presence, her eyes still closed. She rose, breathing deeply, and opened her eyes. Just then her gaze met Syaoran's once again. She smiled.

"Good morning, Syaoran" she said simply. She then directed her look at the couple standing beside him. "And to you too, Tomoyo, Eriol," she continued warmly. There was a moment of awkward silence, and then Tomoyo jumped towards her friend.

"Sakura-chan!" she cried and hugged her friend, tears in her eyes. "I've missed you so much!" She kissed Sakura on the cheek, and held both her hands. "I'm so happy to see you!"

"Thanks Tomoyo, I'm glad to see you too," replied Sakura, still smiling. Eriol, who had been quiet during the whole conversation, quickly smiled himself. He gave Sakura a hug, and kissed her hand.

"Thank god," he said simply, and, putting an arm around Tomoyo, he led her a bit farther away, at a respectful distance.

 Syaoran was left now, standing before her. He wore a puzzled, preoccupied expression. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. He wanted nothing more than to rush towards Sakura again, but he was afraid of what had happened earlier. Now that he had had some time to adjust to Sakura being around again, he could think more clearly. In fact, it seemed thinking was the only thing he could do, for he felt unable to move, to even speak.

Sakura waited patiently, standing still and calm, while Syaoran looked at her thoroughly. She looked exactly like the girl he loved. The same auburn hair, evergreen eyes, small figure…everything seemed the same as ever.

Yet something was different.

Syaoran couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was something odd about her…something precise, yet vague…

Something is terribly wrong!

His mind was screaming, and his senses were warning him too. Almost every part of him was giving him the exact same message.

But when she smiled at him, all those things were forgotten. He felt his heart swell, and he could think no more. Rushing towards her, he pulled her in a hug, and pressed his lips to her temple. Unlike the fiery passion he had experienced before, he now felt only that calm, blissful sensation of love throughout his entire body. His movements were gentle, sweet and loving, and the warmth of her body against his had an immediate peaceful effect.

"Sakura…" he whispered, his voice full of emotion. "I was so afraid…" he let his voice trail off as she gently caressed his back. Finally he pulled back a bit to take another look at her, and spoke a bit more firmly. "I'm so relieved you are ok…"

Sakura's expression of warm content then changed, and a puzzled look took over her eyes. She stared into Syaoran's amber eyes, and her sweet, melodic voice spoke once again.

"Why wouldn't I?"