A/N: Konnichiwa Minna-san! I'm so very sorry for the late update!!!!! I'm having a hard time and you'll find that this chapter is unusually shorter than any in this fic and for that...I have my writer's block to blame ¬.¬ If you have any suggestions on what should happen next...let me know...maybe I can weave those ideas together so this fic will finally be over with and we'll find out what happens much sooner.

Newayz...all thank you's are at the end of the chappie, below the ending author note. Iff I forget anyone, pls forgive me since I'm half asleep doing this. ehehehhe...newayz back to the ficcy!!!!

Last chapter I left you in a lil' cliffy and I know everyone's eager to know the answer to this question...

Who walked in on Syaoran and Sakura???

Was it:

a) Rioka (many of you thought so)

b) Ling (hmmm...that was very interesting)

c) Tomoyo (uh...wow...very expected of our dear friend)

d) Yelan (why on earth would I do that?!?!?)

e) Eriol (A possiblilty)


Wish Upon A Falling Star

by: maixwolfblossom

Beta Reader: anjuliet

--Chappie Nineteen--

­--A Step Closer to the Right Direction --


RECAP:

"Iie, Syaoran-kun," She brought her lips to brush over his gently, " Don't leave me."

Without a second thought about the knocking door, Syaoran swept Sakura in for another kiss until the banging stopped and his door busted right open.

Somehow, the blanket that shielded them from being seen had long slid away from their bodies, exposing them to anyone who walked through the bedroom door.

"AHA! So you have been caught in the act!!!"

End


Sakura yelped in fear as she buried her face onto Syaoran's shoulder.

As for Syaoran, he struggled out of his odd position, his forehead breaking sweat at the voice of recognition.

He calmly sat on his bed and spoke softly, "It's not what it looks like…"

The person in question, gaped at Syaoran, "I think it does, I'm not blind you know--"

He ruffled his hair, nervously, looking intently at the person before him.

"Listen to me, Sakura-chan and I are in lov--"

"Don't try and explain your way out of this, young man! Your obaa-san (grandmother) made that shirt for you!!! How can you be so careless and leave it lying around!" Yelan rushed to the foot of the bed and picked up the abandoned polo shirt that Syaoran had dropped earlier.

(Surprising, huh? Of course...some of you guessed it would be her...teehee and I reward you -throws cookies)

She shook it right in front of Syaoran's nose and glared menacingly.

"Do you know how much love and affection she put on this before she passed away!?!?!" She threw it at him, "Put it on! I'm too ashamed to even call you my son!"

With that said, she brushed out of his room, slamming the door behind her back.

"…dude…that…was…" Syaoran trailed off, still staring at the door.

Sakura sweatdropped, "unexpected? I know…"

Little did they know, Yelan was leaning against the other end, truly smiling for the first time in years, sighing, "Aw…the wonders of puppy love…"


-Back in Tomoeda, Japan-

Tomoeda Hospital


The heart monitor beeped restlessly as the young nurse observed the patient's status with a frown.

With sorrow apparent in her eyes, she bent down and kissed the patient's forehead, fondly.

"Gomen Nasai, I don't think we can do more for you…rest and heal. Get better, Sakura-san needs you."

A sad smile reached her lips, even though he had been comatose for most of her career, she had grown to love Touya and secretly been praying for him to get well. Her heart ached at the slowing heart rate that was reaching a fatal minimum to where he would never get better and all that was keeping him alive was the life support system.

The nurse stroked his brow and brushed the hair off his face and sat next to him, crying silently at the helplessness she felt.

A few minutes later, she washed her red eyes and flushed face and walked out of the room to see the doctor striding to the room.

"Doctor, Kinomoto-san's condition is getting worse…is there more we can do?"

Doctor Yoshimitsu looked at the patient's chart and sighed, shaking his head, "His body is rejecting his new heart, just like we predicted. Only one other patient had the same condition in my last 20 years in this hospital."

He rubbed his temple, in frustration as if trying to forget the memory that was nipping at his conscience.

Tears were forming from the young nurse's eyes at the news that Touya may not survive.

She wiped them away with her thumb and asked shakily, "And who was that, sir?"

"His mother, Kinomoto Nadeshiko…"


-Hong Kong-

Sakura


Sitting in her room, talking to Tomoyo, Sakura felt a strange sadness in the pit of her stomach as tears formed in her eyes.

"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo stopped midway her story as she heard a strange sniffling sound coming from Sakura.

A guilty feeling engulfed the emerald-eyed girl, making her eyes freeze in shock, which quickly turned to one of sadness.

Suddenly, she fell to be caught by Tomoyo.

Sakura cried on Tomoyo's shirt and shook her head.

"What's wrong? I know Eriol and I are two very different people…and when we have to go back it's just a long distance relationship, which won't work out very well. I thought you'd understand…Syaoran's staying here too."

"Iie, Tomoyo-chan, I don't know why I'm crying! I feel so guilty, somehow sad and yet I don't know why."

Listening attentively, Tomoyo patted Sakura's head comfortingly.

It was quiet for a while, when finally Sakura cried herself to sleep. Tomoyo carefully tucked Sakura in her bed and made to exit the room when the telephone next to the computer desk rang loudly.

Tiptoeing, Tomoyo answered softly, "Daidouji Tomoyo speaking…"

"Tomoyo-chan?" the voice asked breathlessly.

"Hai, okaa-san?"

Tomoyo quirked her brow as she heard her mother breath in relief and speak hoarsely, "I'm so glad you picked up, because I don't want to break the news to Sakura-chan, yet."

"Nande (What is it)?" Tomoyo said urgently.

"Touya-kun's body is rejecting his new heart and he's in fatal condition. They say he's not going to survive for another ten months, but that's just a prediction."

"I can't believe this…" Tomoyo looked at Sakura's sleeping form and sighed, "So that's why she felt a sense of sadness and grief."

"What are you talking about, dear?" Sonomi said mournfully.

"What I'm saying is, just a few minutes ago, Sakura started crying for no particular reason… she's asleep right now."

"I see…well don't tell her yet. You know how delicate she can get, I'm booking a flight for all of you to come back here--"

Tomoyo panicked thinking of all the loose ends that were still in the open, "But we can't not yet, can we wait for five more months?"

Sonomi stated silent for a few minutes, "This is a matter of life and death…but…Oh alright, we can't say anything about her onii-chan's condition, it will only hurt her more and we can't have her going depressed again. Remember what happened the time Touya went into a coma? She never ate. I'm afraid that if we break the news now, she'll never recover from it."

Tomoyo silently agreed, "Okay…what if she can visit him without knowing about his real condition? I mean, she needs to see him. I can't let her suffer knowing that she wasted all her months in Hong Kong to feel guilty finding out that she hadn't visited her brother since his relapse. It wouldn't be right."

Tomoyo scratched her head and closed her eyes tight, thinking of all the lies that had to be told in order to keep her best friend happy.

"You're right, you try to convince her to visit her brother and then you can stay in Hong Kong for a couple months more to finish school and to say goodbye… so that means we have five months in total to get you and Sakura back in Tomoeda. I will not allow any further than that."

"Hai, okaa-san."

Tomoyo hung up the phone and sat on the chair, exhausted. She took her time and stroked Sakura's hair, thinking of the horrible things that were in store for her best friend.


Syaoran


Syaoran walked past the solarium where the elders were having their daily green tea.

Hearing a lot of yelling and arguments, he decided to take a peek at the commotion.

"This isn't right. He deserves to be happy and live a normal life as much as possible." One grim elder said, pouring a kettle of hot water onto Li Hynh's lap by accident.

"OW!!!!!" Hynh jumped up in pain and ran around the large room, trying to cool off his robes.

Syaoran smirked and walked off not knowing that the person they were talking about was Xiao Lang, himself.


Elders


After a while of running around crazily, Li Hynh, cleared his throat and spoke, "He will marry Seshumi-san because it's his right and she is a Li by birth. She is perfect for Xiao Lang. Together, they will bear regal children and they will rule the Li-miya Company."

The laid back elder in the corner answered sarcastically, "You're such a horse's mouth! Let him fall in love with someone else other than pureblood. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you don't want your grandson to marry for love when you had an arranged marriage. Am I right?"

Hynh growled, feeling the heat travel to his blotchy complexion, "I wouldn't say that if I were you, brother."

Suh laughed bitterly and flicked his wrist.

"It was your choice to marry our cousin, Li Xiu Za, out of our father's respect and yet you wanted all the glory instead of marrying your one and only love, Gyuh Liu Rin. Oh the days she would cry to me and say that she missed you. She still loved you and with all the love she held, she wouldn't be your mistress. So she let you go to fall in love again but this time, she married me."

(A/N: oOoOoOOo…Looks like brother issues. LOL)

All the other elders shifted uncomfortably on their chairs, watching the steam come out of the former Clan leader. All eyes were on him, but none dared to breath.

Suddenly he pulled back his chair and stalked off the solarium, leaving everyone in an awkward silence.

The elder next to Suh elbowed him on the arm, "You shouldn't have done that, Suh. You don't know what kind of things he can do to you."

"I wouldn't know and to tell you, I don't really care."

He sat back in his chair and stared at the wall, smiling, 'At least I got him thinking over about Xiao Lang's marriage.'


-7:00p.m.-

Sakura


Later that night, Sakura woke to see the first star of the evening shining upon the sky.

She opened her window and smelled the fresh night air that floated to her senses.

Quietly she made a wish, "Starlight, Star bright. First star I see tonight, I wish I may I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight. I wish that everything in my life was at peace. I wish…"

Something in her heart told her to wish for her brother, and she obliged.

"I wish onii-chan would get better…I really want him to say 'kaijuu' to me once again."

Sakura giggled silently until she heard a male whisper into the night sky.

Quietly, she peeked out of her balcony doors to see Syaoran leaning against the railing of his balcony, staring into the night.

"I wish I didn't have to marry Rioka, because the only one I want to spend my life with is next door to me. I know I say this every night on the hour, every single time I see you, the first star. But I love her more than anything and I'd die before I marry Rioka right in front of her."

Sakura beamed from within, hearing the warmth that was evident in his voice and the passion he provoked from within.

"Please let me be happy for once. Heck! I'll even give up the Li-miya Company title and…and…even modeling. Just let me be with the one I love."

Tears rolled down Sakura's cheek as she sat, crouching, in her position.

She didn't know how long she sat in her spot. Her heart was beating out of control and before she could slow her heart rate, she was swept off her feet to be embraced by Syaoran.

"What's wrong?" He wrapped his arms around her and wiped away her tears with his thumb.

When she didn't answer him, Syaoran looked out to the flowing curtains that led to her balcony and asked nervously, "You didn't hear anything in particular just a few minutes ago…did you?"

In the back of her mind, Sakura giggled and managed to shake her head in response.

Syaoran smiled and carried Sakura to her bed, "No worries then?"

Sakura pulled Syaoran down for a kiss for an answer, snaking her arms around his broad shoulders.

Slowly, she trailed her hands down under his shirt and purred seductively, "Oh? Did somebody work out today?"

Syaoran nibbled the curve of her neck, a rumbling chuckle emerging from his throat, "Maybe."

"ICK!!! SICK 'O's!!! DO you know how to lock doors?" Meiling ducked her head as a white tasseled pillow was thrown at her.

Sakura blushed crimson red and fixed her hair up.

Syaoran rolled his eyes, "It's nothing you haven't seen. What about the time when I caught you and Kai making out on the lawn like ape--"

Meiling laughed nervously as she stuffed a stinky yellow sock into Syaoran's mouth, "Eh…good ol' Syaoran didn't' stop wetting his bed until he was the ripe age of 10…yup, our Syaoran here is a late bloomer too. Cute on the inside but he had trouble on the outside. Didn't grew hormonal until his late te--"

Syaoran spat out the smelly socks and rushed to the bathroom, "Was that sock from your feet?!?!?"

Meiling looked up the ceiling and said slowly while shifting her bare feet under Sakura's bed, "And why would my socks be smelly?"

"Because you have a rare fungus diseas--"

Sakura gaped as Meiling kicked Syaoran on the shins and blinked, not knowing what to say.

"-ahem- That's enough walking through memory lane…so." Meiling put an arm on Sakura's shoulders, "before I came across your display of 'affection', I came to take you guys for a night out. I got Tomoyo to round up all the guys and gals. You know, Chiharu, Naoko, Rika, Terada-sensei, Takashi, Kai…the old crowd…heck! I even invited the wedding planner…so want to join us?"

Sakura walked to her planner and checked the date for tomorrow and smiled, "I'm free tonight since I don't have to work at 'Midnight Cherry Dreams' tomorrow. Might as well stay up late tonight. What about you, Syaoran-kun?"

He looked at his planner and frowned, "I have a photo shoot at 10:00 in the morning tomorrow for the cover of 'G.O', something about being the most wanted bachelor of China."

Meiling doubled over in laughter as Sakura drew blanks of what Syaoran was talking about.

Sakura shook her head, "Isn't that the reason why those girls were following you, the first time I came to Hong Kong?"

Syaoran nodded and strode to the television set near the door, "Which reminds me…those girls that took your directions to try and find me have made it to the states. See? They're in Maine. If it weren't for you, they'd still be camping out in front of my mansion."

Meiling sweatdropped, looking at the girls who held banners and posters of her cousin on the television, "Wow Xiao Lang…uh…you've got a…real hero on your hands."

Syaoran smiled and held Sakura close to him, puffing up his chest, "Yup, and she belongs to me."

"She what?!?!?"

A familiar voice made all three of them swivel to the direction of the open door. There stood Rioka, glaring and tapping her foot, waiting for Syaoran to answer.

Syaoran turned his back and ignored Rioka.

"Well…aren't you going to answer your wife-to-be?"

Syaoran rolled his eyes, "Meiling, can you tell Seshumi-san that she is still outside the right of speaking to me for another three days and that whatever I say or do is not her business."

As Meiling opened her mouth, Rioka put out a hand to stop her, "No need, I'm in the same room."

"Hmm…" Meiling's crimson eyes shone manically as she turned to Sakura, elbowing her on the stomach, "So are you coming or not?"

Sakura held her stomach and looked at Meiling with a scowl until she saw the wink she gave her, "Oh--Oh Oh y-yeah…"

She looked at Syaoran for a brief moment and smirked, "I can't wait to dance. Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll find a man I can take home with me…"

Syaoran scowled darkly, "You're not going alone…"

"Uh…what are you guys talking about?" Rioka said stupidly, "A club? Great! I can get a maid to take care of Rei Lang while I'm gone!"

Meiling smirked evilly and said dangerously, putting her fingers together in an evil way, looking straight at Rioka through sly eyes, "Excellent."

The perfect opportunity for Rioka to find someone of her own was all according to plan. One wrong move and it would go into shambles. The target (Rioka) walked off in high spirits and waved at Meiling merrily and the plotter (Meiling) did the same.

"Why does she have to come?" Syaoran spat out.

His cousin's crazy smile didn't leave her face as she patted him on the head, "Consider this your late birthday present, dear Xiao Lang…"

With a last squeal she ran out of Sakura's room and shut the door. As Sakura and Syaoran looked at each other and shared one of their many confused looks.

"She calls Rioka ruining my fun, a birthday present?" Syaoran asked carefully.

Sakura smiled mischievously and put a hand to her mouth in a Tomoyo impression, "OHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!"

"Sakura-chan?"

She only smiled as she skipped out of the room giving an airy wave.

"Sakura…you're scaring me!"

But no one answered his quivering plea as he stared at the now empty space where his beloved had stood moments before.


A/N: And I'm gonna end it here cuz I have no idea what's going to happen after this…sorry for the long update!!!! GOMEN, GOMEN!!!!! Tenth grade is a lot harder than I imagined! LOL! See ya next update and thank you for motivating me to update! And remember REVIEWWWWW!!!!!! I'll post again asap!

If you have any questions or want to contact me either email or IM me in AIM at maixwolfblossom or oOXiaoYingFaOo or at Yahoo messenger maidreameva13

Til next time,

--Maix-chan

B4 I forget...Thank you to all who waited and bared with me in this critical time where I have no ideal what I'm supposed to write...With every review I'm encouraged to write and once again thanks to everyone who reads and reviews my fic!

tenshi cherry blossom, Seig1308, animelover1129, faraaa, chikichiki, oxox obsession (yup it is getting hot up in there, lol), marlyn, Animelover 2004, A little Birdie, Illusion Dragon, AkaiNeko-Chan (Yes, I've already written a 'clean version' and it's not that bad. No one's read it except a lucky few...), blue-azn-rain, Serenity's Blaim, Starfire Star, sweet-captor, m1s7ress, Hikari Mizu, xxaznbabexx, chIbi-Ruri-cHan, Anime-angel45, kimmie-san, sakurabunny, anjuliet (special thanks of course), DragonChaosX, Kagome-Chan24, ..., IMUniquelyStupid, Preston, sakura jamikidhit (yes, the Li sisters names in this fic are the real names. I research this before I write it), Cherry and the Wolf, sherina, lilCherryBlossom, Sakura-Angel-Blossom, Bonnie, RubyMstar, Adrienne, Mae19, nitengale, heavensangel, o0sakurachan0o, Mitsuki-chan619, angelic-kuti, darcyou, azami, lil-asian-cherry, aneta cherry blossom, Naturesunicorn, ladysora, eliana, LASPERSONASLOL, jack's savvy lass.