Disclaimer: NiteAngel . . . do you take the vow and swear that CCS does NOT belong to you?

                           I DO! (So you can't sue me :Þ but then who'd want to sue a sweet lil angel like me ne?) and GASP! NO author's note b4 the chappie too!!! ENJOY!

Pretense

~*-*~*-*~*-*~

'Don't forget your friend; it will hurt him/her

Rather hurt your enemy in that way.' ~C. J. Langenhoven~

End of School year.

"You're what?" Touya cried softly, his face a mask of disbelief.

"Touya – you promised you'd remain calm." Whined Sakura.

"You're WHAT ! ! ? ? !" He shouted, this time loud enough to lift the roof.

Sakura sighed. "I'm leaving. I want to see Australia."

"Did that brat put you up to this? 'Cause if he did - "

"He's not a brat!"

" – I'm gonna make vegetable soup outta him!" he kept going as though Sakura had not interrupted him. [AN: my sis thought of the vegetable part cos I was stuck]

"Uh . . . you mean human soup Touya."

"What?"

"Syaoran is a human, not a vegetable."

"Really? Could've fooled me." Touya replied with dry humour colouring his voice. "And you're NOT leaving to that down under nowhere land and ESPECIALLY not without an escort." Touya said in a voice he thought would end the subject. He was wrong.

"That really is too bad, Touya." Sakura looked up at him and smiled sweetly. "I'm eighteen – an adult. I can leave whenever I want to wherever I choose. Besides, school's over. I've graduated – with honors, I might add. I've been accepted in one of the Universities for an arts degree and I'm gonna pursue writing after that and - "

"You're what?!?"

"Touya, you know . . . this whole constant repetition is quite wearing on the nerves." Sakura shot back with exaggerated exasperation, however she replied him. "I made a few calls, I booked a flight and found out about accommodations and whatever it is that you need to do to apply into Universities and voila! I'm in."

"You did all this without even TELLING ME?" Touya exclaimed.

"Will you QUIT THE SHOUTING?!" then in a much calmer voice, she continued. "Now I know that you're gonna want to blow at what I'm gonna say next but I want you to remain calm."

"Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse." The anxious brother mumbled.

"Touya, pleeeaase! I'm leaving tomorrow."

Touya's mouth opened, then closed.

"I said not to shout but that doesn't mean you're forbidden to talk completely, ya know." Sakura gently teased her thunderstruck brother.

"Fine. You can go." Touya finally replied, greatly surprising Sakura at his quick submission.

'After all, she's not a little girl anymore. Holding her back would only cause her to resent me in the long run.' Touya thought sadly.

~*-*~*-*~*-*~

At the airport.

"Sakura . . . take care and call me every week – at least once, alright?"

"Touya. How many times have we had this conversation already?"

"Not enough." Came the wry reply.

"Call Meilin and tell her that I'm gone."

You haven't told her yet?" Touya looked astonished.

Sakura scowled in irritation. "Quit looking at me like that! If I only told you yesterday, then when would have I told Meilin? You know I tell you everything before anyone else."

Touya's brow rose.

"Well – not everything, but you know. The most important . . . uh . . .  life changing things." Sakura grinned impishly up at him.

Touya smiled. "Sure you do, Sakura. Even though it was a last minute thing." He said as he wrapped her in a hug.

Touya saw his sister off, then slowly made his way home.

~*-*~*-*~*-*~

Two days later.

"She WHAT?!" Meilin clutched the phone so tightly her knuckles were turning white. "She never breathed a word of this."

"I know Meilin. I reacted the same way when she told me yesterday."

"She only told you yesterday? It must've been an impulsive thing."

"Well, she sure plans everything for all her impulsiveness." Touya said with amusement then turned serious. "I think she's been planning this for some time."

He filled her in on everything that had happened and by the end of the conversation, Meilin had accepted the situation. She went to the living room where Syaoran and Jet who had come over for a visit were arguing about something. The stopped when she cleared her throat.

"Uh . . . guys. I have some news. Sakura left to Australia." Meilin cut straight to the point.

Syaoran was surprised but took it calmly. They both turned to see how Jet was reacting to this news. They were stunned to see Jet's gray blue eyes turn almost black with rage and they was turned on – Syaoran.

"You fool." He spat out.

Syaoran's expression was no more calm. His eyes widened. Sure, they had argued but he had never seen his best friend this mad.

"Jet – what? - "

"Don't speak to me right now." Jet got up and stormed out of the house abruptly, leaving Syaoran to stare after him with confusion and hurt.

~*-*~*-*~*-*~

Syaoran slowly made his way back to his home and as was the norm, he switched on his computer, checked his e-mail. He gasped. He had a mail from – sakura_777@hotmail.com [AN: Gomen if this is ne1's e-mail. I just made it up on the spot.]

To:        CardCaptorSyaoran@hotmail.com

Subject: (none)

Hey Syaoran and Jet

I'm sorry for leaving for abruptly. You both have been great friends to me and I've had many happy memories with you both. But I just had to leave for reasons of my own. I don't know if I'll be back but I'll never forget you and I'll miss you all a great deal

Lotsa love

M.S.T

~*-*~*-*~*-*~

For some strange reason, Syaoran felt a pang when he read her letter. Her uncertainty of her return caused pain. 'It's probably because she was such a good friend to me and not seeing her anymore would ofcourse be painful.Yet . . . ' he read the e-mail again, although this time he noticed something that he had missed earlier. Sakura had closed the e-mail with M.S.T., which was the way Meilin had always closed hers. BUT that would mean . . . realization dawned on Syaoran as though a sledgehammer had pounded him with inhuman force.

M.S.T. was Sakura! Meilin's middle name didn't start with an 'S'. Her middle name was Lai. How many times had he heard Touya yell, Sakura Shae Kinomoto! She had put a part of herself when she e-mailed him. Sakura had been the one e-mailing him all those times. Wave after wave of the past e-mail and chat messages flooded his mind. He recalled all those times she let slip some small information about herself that was contradictory to Meilin's or the way Meilin had acted after his return and all those times when she had no idea what he was going on about . . . because Meilin hadn't wanted to keep in touch with him so Sakura did it herself . . . knowing Sakura she probably did it so I won't be hurt -  

~Flashback~

"Meilin?"

"Uh – yeah. Hi." When she'd clearly said that she had lots to talk to him about.

Jet had mentioned that Sakura and Meilin had gotten English lessons, which was why they were so good at it. Sakura must've persuaded Touya to give her lessons.

~*-*~*-*~*-*~

"Oh, Meilin, remember how when I e-mailed you, I told you that my friend Jet would be coming? Well, this is Jet."

Syaoran was once again giving attention to Meilin, noting the confusion on her face at the mention of Jet.

~*-*~*-*~*-*~

You know how I always wanted to get into that School News Magazine Committee? Well . . . I got selected!!!

Um . . . yeah well . . . people change. And I didn't know that you knew that Sakura wanted to be in the SNMC . . . ? because Sakura hadn't known that Meilin had told him about it.

Sakura had known about his playing cricket.

~*-*~*-*~*-*~

Sakura thought of herself as a fool. They were discussing me! that must've been why they both looked so frightened.

Jet had mentioned that Sakura and Meilin had gotten English lessons, which was why they were so good at it. Sakura must've persuaded Touya to give her lessons.

~*-*~*-*~*-*~

In Science class – Sakura hated doing dissections and not Meilin.

~*-*~*-*~*-*~

"Sakura! You were so – so . . . AMAZING! I had no clue that – Meilin must be as good as you since she takes lessons as well!" Sakura had seemed disappointed. You baka! Ofcourse she'd be disappointed. Meilin probably didn't even know how to pick up a sword – let alone fight with it and Sakura had no way of telling me because I wasn't s'posed to know.

~*-*~*-*~*-*~

Taking Meilin out must've been the last straw. She has got to be the most unselfish woman to walk on earth. She left so we could have our happiness. But the girl I thought I loved wasn't who he really thought she was. Meilin hadn't wanted to keep in touch with I so Sakura did it herself . . . knowing Sakura; she probably did it so I won't be hurt -   

~*-*~*-*~*-*~

Phone conversation. "Jet – I figured it out." "About time!" the angry reply sounded in his ear.

Syaoran sighed. "What should I do?"

"Go bring her back."

"But I don't know where she is! I asked Touya but he wouldn't tell me! He said that I deserved it. What am I going to do?"

"Nothing. Either Sakura will call and tell you herself where she is or . . ." he let the sentence hang.

"Yeah . . . I . . . thanks Jet. see you later."

Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep.

Beeeeeep!

Syaoran died. (he committed suicide.)

The End.

:'( WAAAAAAAH  :'(

I AM SOWY GUYS *SOB SOB * BUT I HAD TO END IT SOMEHOW. I'M GETTING REAL SICK OF THIS STOWY. I'VE LOST THE INSPIRATION.(NOT ENOUGH REVIEWS WAS THE DECIDING FACTOR.) BUT THANKYOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO DID REVIEW. THANKYOU AND GOODNIGHT/ GOODAFTANOON AND GOODMORNING! SAYONARA. YOUR MOST LOVING WRITER AND FINISHER OF THIS MAGNIFICENT MASTERPEICE!

NiteAngel

:Þ

Now scroll down and see that lil button next to the submit review at the bottom? Click that and REVIEW!

Sheesh. Sorry for making you scroll for so long. But like I said. I like torturing you a little bit. But your finger aint gonna drop off or anything. =)

Keep going

Newayz – If you have to scroll down then that means that I had to press enter for aaaaaages!PLUS I took the time to actually write the chappie for you enjoyment riiite?

TADA!

AN: soooooo . . . yep. That's it folks. Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. I really want to see you faces right now. But I can imagine it. It must be priceless! My sis and me were like CRACKING up laughing for some time. And still are. =) *GRINS* I love you ppl too much to just abandon the stowy like that. Sheesh! What do you take me for? And I know Christmas has already gone. But I've been SO busy like you wouldn't beleeeeeeeev! My mum made me do so many chores and she's getting sick of me sitting in front of the comp. So much… noooooooo! This is your belated Christmas pressie. Hehe . . . my sis says : 'that wasn't a pressie. That was a nightmare.' Even though she's still laughing - But you don't need to listen to her. And you know what I want? You do? THAT IS SOO TOTALLY CORRECT! REVIEWS! they rock! I know the story is going abruptly . . . and it's gonna take a drastic change in the next chappie okai? I'm gonna skip like – five – yes I know – AGAIN! But that's the way it's gonna be.

NOTE: They will be 23 in the next chp. You want it to come out? Weeellll – if I don't get any reviews I don't post. Hehe – nah. J/k. =) but that doesn't mean you shouldn't post mind you!

Azi: yep someday he'll learn and t'day's the day. =) Sakura_Free_Spirit: thanx for you enthusiastic review! It had me smiling. SKC: that was really *hic* motivating. =) Xander: obsessed with the chapter eh? Hehe makes me feel all happy. =) Kan-chan: thankyouuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NiteAngel

:Þ