Disclaimer: I do not own CCS! That's something Clamp owns okay!

Summary: The Card Mistress, Sakura Kinomoto, has her brother, Touya, leaving for America for his studies and had no choice but to leave Sakura somewhere else with both their parents gone and Tomoyo, Sakura's best friend in England. He only had one option… the Li Mansion. But Sakura has a grudge on Lindao Li, her ex-boyfriend who had caused her nothing but pain and her sudden change. The once cheerful Sakura was now an irresponsible, and daring 17 year old! She joins gangs and bullies people to the extent that she now lost her guardians! She puts up a fight at first but was forced to have it her brother's way. Luckily, Lindao was in Taiwan for studies as well, and no one except a certain Syaoran Li is left at home. How can she put up with such an obnoxious and authority grubbing person?


CHOICE OF THE HEART

Chapter 5: Falling Intimately

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Sakura eyed the awfully nice girl and looked at her from head to toe unrespectfully. "I'm Sakura… Sakura Kinomoto," she introduced herself as well. "It was NICE to meet you too," she added sarcastictly as she walks out of the kitchen. The girl who was innocent simply smiled in return.

When Sakura disappeared in the stairs, the girl sat back at her chair and frowned emotionlessly. "We'll see…" a deep voice from within echoed silently, her lips not even moving a muscle.

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The next day was rather bright and sunny despite the heavy rain the night before. Syaoran heavily opened his eyes, pushing the covers away. He sat up straight and looked out the window. Deperately fighting his haziness, he got up and pulled the pine green curtains as he walks out into his veranda. He stretched his arms lazily with a yawn, breathing in the fresh morning air, still damp with few perspirant. When he leaned on the balcony, his attention was caught by a sweet but melancholic music. He turned slowly to where it came from and was startled to see a young girl of his age with long, periwinkle hair holding and playing a bamboo flute. Her eyes were closed but a sense of loneliness and pain was evident not only in the music but also on her face.

Syaoran couldn't look away. His eyes stayed fixed on the sweet looking girl and his ears on her music. 'She looks like an angel playing her instrument with such a painful experience…' he commented in thought, still staring at the girl. 'It feels like I'm being… lulled…' he added, his eyes staring to doze off.

"I'm sorry…" the girl said in her sweet voice. "I didn't know I was being a bother," she apologized as she returns the look at Syaoran. Syaoran instantly snapped back to reality at the sound of her voice. "I'm Maemi Hin… nice to meet you…" she respectfully introduced herself as she bows down low.

Syaoran was startled and bowed down in return. "I'm… Li Syaoran," he introduced himself as well. Maemi smiled. Syaoran stood calmly and smiled at her with one of his charming smiles. "You play well…" it was all he can say.

Maemi smiled warmly back. "My mother taught me how to when I was little," she explained as she looks at the elegant looking flute with dreamy eyes. The bamboo flute was carved to perfection with vines and roses and was painted elegantly with every detail realistic as anyone could ever imagine. "She gave me this as well," Maemi continued. "It was my only remembrance of her…"

Syaoran shrugged at her last statement. "Remembrance?" he asked confusely, curious of what she meant.

"You see… my mom died when I was 9," she explained slowly. Syaoran felt unease, guilty of how casually he had asked her. "But I've already gotten over it for the past eight years…" she added with a smile.

Syaoran sighed. "Still… I'm sorry I asked so casually," he apologized. Maemi simply smiled at him, assuring him it was nothing. "Hey, let's grab some breakfast… I'm sure Wei has whipped up something by now," he invited her. Meami nodded as she walks into the mansion. Syaoran quickly dressed into his casual clothes of green shirt and shorts as he walks down the stairs towards the dining room.

"Good morning young master," Wei greeted as soon as he took sight of Syaoran's face. Syaoran's rather cheerful aura caught his attention. "Please join us for breakfast," he invited him.

"Sure!" Syaoran exclaimed. "What are we having?" he cheerfully asked as he sits down the chair in front of Maemi who was already sitting when he got down.

"Uh… pancakes… sir," Wei replied, totally astonished. Syaoran smiled. "Give me some, please," Syaoran replied. Wei slowly prepared some on one of the chinese plates and gave it to Syaoran, slightly open-mouthed as he watched Syaoran cheerfully dug in.

"Smells good, Wei!" Sakura's voice suddenly shouted from the stairs. Syaoran almost blew out the hot chocolate he was drinking at the sound of her voice. Maemi simply giggled in response. "What are we… having," her energy died out, taking sight of Syaoran and Maemi.

"Don't you know how to… TALK?" Syaoran insulted, his eyes fixed on Sakura's irrited face looking on the opposite direction. "I thought you weren't here," Sakura simply answered as she takes her seat at the long table, far from the two lovebirds. "I need not to be here for you to turn on the REAL you… the IRRITATED and at the same time IRRITATING one," he insisted back. Sakura smirked.

'This is working WAY too much my way,'

>>>>>

"Wanna go to the park?" Syaoran offered Maemi as they throw their empty ice cream cups on a nearby trash can. They raided the mall after lunch and had eaten ice cream when they got tired and was, in the moment, about to leave for the park. "It's relaxing to walk there when the winds grow stronger at sunset," he described charmingly.

Maemi stared at his peacful face for a moment and smiled. "You seem to go there often," she commented. Syaoran was startled. "What made you say that?" he asked instantly. "Well… by the way you described it," she explained. Syaoran became confuse. "It was very… INTIMATE," she flattered him.

Syaoran blushed at the regards and felt a warm sensation flow through him up to his ears. He hadn't felt like this ever since he started training martial arts… and he liked it. "Let's… Let's just go…" he tried to shake the feeling off. Maemi let out a little chuckle.

>>>>>

The sun was already setting when they got there and they were walking side by side, staring at the beautiful sunset and the changing colors of the sky, as if painted by an artist with magical hands able to capture the life of his model. The trees were swaying gently with the cold wind and the birds were chirpping a sad lulluby meant for the romantic scenery.

"You're right… it is beautiful," Maemi broke off the silence. Syaoran, who was beginning to get deep in thought, was startled. "Magical…" she corrected herself with a gentle smile. Syaoran blushed unintentionally as they both stopped for a seat in front of the park's fountain.

"I go here for relaxation and peace of mind," he explained in a soothing voice. Maemi smiled. "I don't look like the kind of guy who searches for PEACE OF MIND huh?" he predicted what she was thinking. "Well…" he trailed off.

"That's what I was thinking about," she cut him off. Syaoran looked at her in surprise. "Then what WERE you thinking?" he asked her playfully. Maemi turned to the fountain and placed her head on Syaoran's shoulder with a sigh. "I was thinking… it suits you…" she answered him, closing her eyes on the comfort of his broad shoulder.

Syaoran blushed furiously, turning his eyes on the sky, now filled with stars.

Suddenly, amidst the romantic encounter, a sad and angelic voice erased the lasting moment they were having. "What's that?" Syaoran asked straightening his body.

Maemi was startled as her head fell from Syaoran's shoulder. "I don't know," she simply answered, hiding the irritance on her voice. Syaoran stood up slowly, as if drawn by the mysterious voice. "Where are you going?" she asked, panic in her voice despite her sweet tone. "I'll look for the one singing…" Syaoran replied, more like in a trance. Maemi stood up and had no other choice but to follow him.

>>>>>

Following the voice, Syaoran and Maemi were lead to the forest right after the park. It was already past seven o'clock and it was already dark. Though, the forest was not at all dangerous, especially for Syaoran, the trees seemed to cover up for the things hiding behind them, a danger not knowing what would come out of them.

"It's getting dark…" Maemi complained, tucking on Syaoran's shirt. Syaoran shrugged. "We've been searching for only 5 minutes, we're almost there," Syaoran insisted back. Maemi moaned in silence.

Suddenly, the singing stopped. Without a warning… it stopped.

Syaoran hurried on his way, practically dragging Maemi who was holding his shirt like a little baby. 'I won't lose her now,' he thought determingly, rushing through the thick bushes and trees.

"WAIT!" Maemi shouted at the pain of being dragged.

Soon, they arrived at a cliff. A wonderful view seen below it. A strong waterfall, its crystalline water flowing hardly on the large and abundant river below. The loud spash of the water seems to deaf the ear and numb one's hearing. 'Where is she!' Syaoran thought racingly as he stares at the extravagant view before him.

"Why are you SO eager to see who was singing anyway?" Maemi asked concernly, gasping for breath.

Syaoran shook his head. "Nothing…" he replied. "It just reminded me of someone… you can say… I KNEW," he continued as he turns to Maemi. "Let's go home?" he asked her, bringing the cheerfulness back to his voice. Maemi nodded with a smile as they went on their way home.

>>>>>

Arriving at the mansion, they first ate their dinner and decided to retire early to bed, tired of all the running they just did. They both bid each other good night and entered their own room.

Slummping restlessly on his bed, Syaoran stared at the ceiling, reminiscing the angelic voice he last heard. 'That voice… I was about to know who she is and yet…' he thought silently with a sigh. The voice reminded Syaoran of a dream he always had since he was little until the day he forgot how to dream. He had it almost everyday and everytime, he would never see the woman's face…

>>>>>

FLASHBACK – DREAM

yami ni matataku hoshi
omae mo kitto hagurete
tooi ashita wo sagasu no
niteru ne watashi-tachi
Stars that twinkle in the dark,
you're surely lost, too.
Are you looking for the far-off tomorrow?
We're a lot alike, aren't we?

dareka wo shinjiru koto wa
kizutsuku koto na no ni
Even though believing
in someone hurts,

I wish for your love
I wish for your love
Why? aoi hoshi nee oshiete
I wish for your love
kirinai itami wo
dousureba furikire'ru no
I wish for your love
I wish for your love
Why? Blue stars, please tell me...
I wish for your love ...
how can I free myself
from the unending pain?

An angelic, soothing voice would always echo in his head. He ran… ran as fast as he could and then, when he finally reached her… she disappears. Together with a strong wind and a sudden rain, a visible tear would fall on her cheeks as she disappears piece by piece like a puzzle.

Still trying hard not to lose her, Syaoran runs after the pieces blown by the wind, but it was too much for his little hands and soon, the pieces were all gone…

END OF FLASHBACK – DREAM

>>>>>

Syaoran sighed at the mysterious memory, which until now has been bothering him. For some reason, he couldn't shake the thought off.

Suddenly, when he was about to close his eyes, trying to doze off to sleep with his tired mind and feet, a voice echoed on his room, singing the same song. Syaoran's eyes burst open, leaping from bed, he hurried outside to take a look at the lonely singer.


DONE! Phew… after the test… I was glad I finished this… sorry took so long…. Hehehe…. Hope you like it guys! I know it was a little drammatic than usual but… a little change wouldn't hurt RIGHT? (hope so…) Anywayzzzz… thanks for those who reviewed! And for everybody else's knwoledge, the song is taken from an ORIGINAL anime… FUSHIGI YUUGI… am sure you all heard about it. It was sung by Yui I think… anyway, it's not mine okay? Thanks again and REVIEWS!