A/N: For those of you who thought that I updated late, I didn't!!!! I simply was waiting for this day to come…wondering why now are we?? Well if you look at the update date and the publish date what do you see? That's right!!! It's the one year anniversary since I first posted up this fic!!!!! And this is my gift to you guys! I hope you're not too upset with me!!!

Disclaimer: As I have said before and I know it's tiring just reading this dumb disclaimer cuz for kami-sama knows why, someone might actually think I own Clamp's work! Puh lease!!! Well anyways...I don't own CCS or anything related to it! Only Rioka and Ling!

Big Thnkz to:

Sakura-Angel-Blossom- Aww shucks! I'm flattered by your comments! teehee!!! Hope you enjoy this update!!! and thanks for reviewing!

chikichiki- Thanks for reviewing! It's highly appreciated!

Arsinen- Um...refering to your review...I guess you didn't read thie last chapter? Cuz the chapter you reviewed was for 19 and 20 has been updated...but Thanks for reviewing!

reviewer known as starstarstarstarstar- If i could put the characters for the stars I would but won't let me...aww wellz, yes I updated the last chapter...living proof that I haven't died off the site yet...I'm still holding on! LOL! And your question about Rioka not being able tomarry Syao beacuse of their contact will be explained in this chapter!!!Thanks for reviewing!

czakali- LOL! You'll find out this chapter! Thanks for reviewing!

...- Don't worry things for Touya will get better, I promise!!! After all since when was I known for making such horrible endings? Thanks for reviewing!

KeNsHiN InU- Thnkiez for ReViEwiNg!!!

redeye143- Ah! My good ol' reviewer!!! If you haven't heard, Tears of Hope the Sequel has been put to haitus since it lacks interest from ppl. If I ever do continue again, I'll personally let you know. Thanks for reviewing!

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kat-woman-585-As for the Rioka situation for going near Syaoran, it will be explained this chappie! Thanks for reviewing!

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°¤°Wish Upon a Falling Star°¤°

-Chapter 20-

-State of Confusion-

by: maixwolfblossom

Beta-Reader: anjuliet


RECAP:

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.

END


Syaoran made his way to Meiling's room as a question was bothering him.

If Rioka came in contact with him, didn't that mean he was free from the engagement?

Little did he know, it was going to be harder than that to get rid of Rioka.

He knocked on his cousin's bedroom door and came in when she gave him the shout out.

"Meiling…umm…"

While he stuttered, his cousin was busy reading a magazine.

After that, he said nothing else, which obviously annoyed the crimson-eyed woman.

"Xiao Lang, just spit it out already," she asked putting her feet up onto her footrest.

Syaoran looked around nervous and finally had the strength to continue.

"Do you think, since Seshumi-san came in contact with me…that my…my…"

Meiling looked up, understanding what this was all about. She watched as her cousin paced around in front of her and stopped him when she put out her hand.

When he did stop, she looked at him seriously, "You know it's going to be harder to prove that, since no one of authority was there."

Syaoran's hopes were crushed, although he found it strange that Meiling hadn't lost that joyful gleam in her eyes.

Tired of his questioning mind, he dismissed the thought and walked out of Meiling's room.

As for Meiling, she smiled evilly for the things she had been planning since the first day that Seshumi showed up to their footsteps.


Later that night


Music blasted 10 times louder through the speakers, as Sakura walked through the nightclub doors.

Tomoyo decided to give everyone a theme look, which she happily prepared for the occasion. She had personally picked out everyone's outfit for this special night out, even Rioka and Ling.

With pretty white bows dangling from their pigtails to their black buckled shoes, it wasn't too hard to figure out the theme. Yup…that's right the theme was the good ol' back to high school uniform look.

Sakura pulled up her white knee socks and rolled her eyes at Tomoyo's squeals of happiness, of course she was used to modeling for her dear boss and cousin, but it was enough working for her even outside the company doors. As she looked up from fixing her tan ruffled skirt, she saw Syaoran staring at her through the corner of her eye. She turned to face in his direction and smiled innocently sweet, making him give a small smile back at her.

Glaring at Tomoyo, Meiling regretted even inviting her in the first place.

Meiling wore basically the same outfit as the other girls. Tomoyo had tortured Meiling into wearing a white polyester blouse with a red tie and a plain black shirt that were cut up to her knees. Her feet were adorned in white silk knee stockings and shiny black buckle shoes.

Rioka smiled happily but every so often she would frown at the person next to her, who was also known as her ex-best friend.

As for the boys, they were dressed casually.

Kai stood stiffly beside Meiling, aware that a few people were staring at him for he was wearing a pocket protector. His dress pants were loosely fitted around his legs and his tie was unfastened to give a rugged effect.

Syaoran blandly leaned against a bar with his arms behind his neck. His hair was messy as usual; his white blouse was unbuttoned in a few places, showing some of his muscular chest where his sword pendant hung. His beige pants were also fitted baggy around his legs.

And lastly Eriol, he smiled warmly and charmingly at his dear girlfriend. He'd wear anything Tomoyo made, for it was from her hands.

Tomoyo gave another cry of happiness and caught all of their faces on tape.

"OH! Don't you all look kaw—"

Sakura rushed into Tomoyo and put a hand on her cousin's mouth.

"Don't you dare say that demented word again!!!!"

Rioka giggled along with Meiling who was laughing with Rioka out of sarcasm, which no one caught.

Their laughter was soon drowned out by the music playing loudly, and the many conversations around the club engulfed their words.

A few minutes later, a loud shriek could be heard among the crowds.

Sakura scrunched her eyes looking for the source of noise, but long sleek mahogany locks rammed into her knocking her back in surprise.

"Sakura-chan!!!!! Oh my! It's really you! You look so kaw—"

The auburn haired girl pleaded with her eyes to stop Chiharu from saying the word.

Chiharu shook her head and let go of her long time friend.

"I know, I know…one Tomoyo is enough to last a lifetime."

Tomoyo popped up behind her, scaring the living daylights out of Chiharu.

"And what's that supposed to mean, Chi-chan?"

The mahogany haired girl kept her mouth shut as she greeted Meiling.

The boys looked on curiously and amusedly seeing the four girls squabble exciting.

As the girls introduced everyone to each other, Rioka was in her own little world.

Looking on to the dancing couples, she walked out of the private moment and traveled around the dance floor. Little did she know, Ling was a couple of footsteps behind her.


Sakura smiled warmly seeing her best friends from her childhood as Naoko joined them a few minutes later after Chiharu's arrival.

They looked a bit older than what she remembered. They were a bit more mature than when she last spoke to them, which was about two years ago. Since then, contact was very rare to come those days.

Oh the memories of Chiharu beating up Yamazaki…oh those days were golden and sweet!

Wait…Takashi! Where was the life of the old gang?

"Did you know that ever time you see an old friend, chances are you will never see them for another millennium?"

Chiharu's veined popped hearing that voice, but Sakura beat her to Yamazaki.

"Honto ni? (Really?) Oh! In that case, we should spend as much time together and never lose contact…but wait…why have we met now when we aren't supposed to in another millennia?" asked Sakura innocently.

Takashi smiled benignly and lifted his pointing finger, "That is because, dear Kinomoto-chan, our fate was to meet once more before the stars took us away from each other…"

"Uso!!!!!! (LIE!)" Chiharu appeared beside Sakura with a chair heaving on top of her head.

Takashi started to sweat, but the words leaked out of his mouth before he could stop it, "Uso janai, uso janai!!! (It's not a lie, it's not a lie)"

The short tempered woman growled a warning as she gave Takashi a head start and ran after him.

"You won't get away with this, this time bubble butt!!!"

Sakura titled her head watching her friend chase her boyfriend around the dance floor with the chair over her head.

"Hoe?" Syaoran smiled at her cuteness and laughed secretly watching her weird childhood friends.

In some way, he was envious that she had made so many friends, while he had neglected that ability so early in his years. But he knew why she had those good people in her life, for she was a very special person, who can make anyone feel loved as she made him feel.

It was hard to imagine that she was the girl of his dreams, the one he had been yearning for almost a year now. But there was still an obstacle blocking his way from his happiness, his title and the person known as Rioka.

He was lost in deep thought that he didn't notice that emerald eyes were watching him with concern. She knew she couldn't go up to him since it would cause media attention and Rioka to be suspicious. She looked around for a sign of her, but she was nowhere to be found and so was Ling.

Deciding the better of it, Sakura made her way slowly to her amber eyed prince.

When he looked up, she smiled slightly and pulled him to a crowded corner in the dance floor.


Rioka started to feel the beat of the music taking over her body, consuming her passion of music and dance.

A while later, she started to move to the beat of the song playing, her neon green eyes showing the fun she was having.

She came across couples that were dancing and soon she felt a little foolish. It was no fun if you were only dancing by yourself.

She stopped and was about to walk away until a familiar voice made her stop dead in her tracks.

"It looked like you enjoyed dancing there, why'd you stop?"

Neon eyes met honey brown, a faint blush made it's way to her pale cheeks as she looked away.

"You didn't have to answer, but I thought you enjoyed the night life. Dancing all night 'til the sun came up, partying like it was what you lived for…what happened to that?"

Rioka glared into his smoldering eyes and hissed out, "You happened."

She knew it was a bit melodramatic to use that line but she couldn't figure out what else to say.

Ling put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her. He took her hand in his and kissed it gently.

"Can you for just one night, forget what I did to you two years ago and loosen up for a while? I'm not going to do anything funny, I swear."

A little bit reluctant, Rioka slowly gave in and sighed.

"Fine. What do you want me to do?" Her heart fluttered of the possibilities that were riding in her mind, pushing them back in the back of her petty head; she matched his gaze.

Ling smiled, which made her stomach tremble slightly with butterflies, making her forget why she was even mad at him from the beginning.

"I don't want you to do anything…but…" He stopped mid-sentence.

Rioka aske almost fearfully and waited with bated breath, "But what?"

Once again he smiled toothily, making her stifle a gasp and a burning sensation starting from the moment he touched her trembling hand.

"Dance…"

She blinked once, then twice and asked, "Come again?"

Instead of answering her question he pulled her into his arms and slowly revolved around the dance floor when a slow song came on.


Sakura and Syaoran


"Sakura, what do you think you're doing?" Syaoran asked a little startled at her actions.

See looked around and pulled Syaoran through the crowd, trying to blend in. When she came to a complete stop in the middle of the dance floor, she put a hand on Syaoran's chest and smiled.

"What do you think? I couldn't just stand around all day avoiding you. Besides didn't Meiling do this outing just for you?" Sakura's eye lit up with joy, thinking of the plan Meiling had up her sleeves.

Syaoran looked genuinely confused, wondering what this 'grand plan' was about. He gazed down at Sakura to see her smiling mischievously at him with a gleam in her eye. Whatever this plan was, it was really making Sakura the happiest person alive.

Pressing his forehead against Sakura's, Syaoran smiled one of his many rare smiles and gave her an Eskimo Kiss.

Sakura giggled and took his hand in hers as she led him to a secret place Meiling had told her about.

"Where are we going?"

She only put a finger on her lips and walked hurriedly to the back of the nightclub.


With Tomoyo and Eriol


"Where'd my kaw—" Tomoyo was only caught by Eriol's knowing gaze, stopping her from saying her favorite word.

She huffily folded her arms and puted at Eriol, "But Eri-boo boo…boo boo boooo…how can I survive day without that wondrous word!"

Tomoyo dramatically draped her arm over her forehead and swooned into Eriol's arms.

Eriol, being the gentlemen, caught her and chuckled lightly, "I'm sure you'll manage, snuggly poo."

As they cuddled, lovingly, Naoko, who was forgotten for some time scoffed, "Get a room!"


With Meiling & Kai


"Chiharu no!!!!" Meiling grabbed her friend's hand to stop her from clabbering Takashi with the iron metal chair.

Kai took hold of the chair Chiharu was holding and tried to pry it from her grasp and succeeded, but as soon it was let go of, the chair felt like it weighed a ton under Kai's hold.

As Meiling tried to convince a heavily breathing Chiharu, Kai strggled to keep the chair suspended on air.

"Man, what the heck?!?! How can she carry this piece of junk? It weighs a ton!" He threw the chair to an empty spot where it dented the floor slightly.

Takashi had beads of sweat running down his face as he answered nervously laughing, "Hah..ha…ha…Chi can carry anything if she's summons the strength."

Both Meiling and Kai widened their eyes at the news and instantly felt sympathy for him, forgetting that Chiharu was listening to this.

"I've always thought of Chi to be a tomboy…her monstrosity of strength just proved my point." Takashi rambled on, not aware that with every word, his life would come to a short end.

Meiling suddenly napped from her train of thoughts as she realized something and looked straight ahead.

She pushed Takashi out of the way as a rampaging Chiharu came after Takashi with a broken beer bottle.

Kai jumped up in alarm and ran after his fiancée, her friend, and the pshyco girlfriend with a murderous glare.


S&S


Sakura opened a pair of doors to reveal the rooftop. But it wasn't just an ordinary rooftop with a plain ugly color, it was secret garden of roses, cherry blossom trees, magnolias, peach blossoms, and lilies that float upon a small pond.

Syaoran held the beauty of the moment frozen in his mind it was one of the most spactacular sights seen especially when there was a garden that didn't match the beauty in front of him.

He stared at Sakura as she gazed at the moonlight.

"It's beautiful."

Sakura faced him and blushed a pretty shade of pink, catching the love in his eyes that was found deep within his soul.

He slowly made his way to her and when he did, he hugged her and stared out to the city lights twinkling on and off throughout the world.


Rioka & Ling


Even though she promised she would think nothing of what happened a few years back, she couldn't help but compare how she felt then and now in the arms of the man who betrayed her.

Oddly, his warmth poured into her heart, where she held for only one person. Something in her mind told her that this feeling was right, but her mind would not agree to what her heart felt.

Rioka felt it everytime she stared into his honey depths and that made her mad at herself for responding with a faint blush or a burning feeling just being near him.

She winced thinking about what would happen if all the events that took place had simply disappeared.

Would she still be moving on and start a new life with him?

Or would she be still willing to find a way back to Xiao Lang?

She shook her head of all the horrible thoughts that plagued her mind and frowned.

Ling caught it, "Is something wrong?"

Rioka quickly shook her head and looked down, ashamed that for a while there, her mind could see the two of them possibly together.


Normal POV


After spending multiple minutes on the rooftop, Syaoran decided to call it a night off since he had work in the morning. With one last peck on the lips, Sakura watched as he walked out of the club and drove him, remembering to blow kiss to him.

As she made her way back inside, her phone ragn a familiar tune.

"Moshi Moshi, Sakura desu (Hello, this is Sakura)." Sakura waited for a response, smiling.

"Sakura? I just wanted to say…" he paused, embarrassed of what he was about to say.

Sakura said quietly, "Wanted to say…?"

"Uh…-ahem-…" Syaoran coughed and said as quickly as possible,"Don't get too close any other man."

The emerald-eyed beauty laughed and reassured him that she would be a good girl. With that said, he sent his love and hung up.

Sakura looked at her phone again and smiled, 'Syaoran is so silly.' She thought.

On her way to the bathroom, she bumped into a very disgruntled Meiling.

"Oh, Meiling-chan, you don't look so good."

Meiling shook her head and slumped onto Sakura. After a few mintues of breathing and grunting and making attempts to talk, she finally spoke.

"I've been running around all night after Chiharu and Takashi. It's a wonder how those two are a couple. They fight every second."

Sakura rolled her eyes, "Well of course, if they don't then they wouldn't be them. Plus if they didn't then something must be terribly wrong because no couple can live without a squabble or two."

Meiling nodded knowingly and fixed her unkempt clothing. After doing so, she suggested if Sakura would like to join her on the balcony to watch the progress of the dance floor.

To their surprise, it seemed that Chiharu and Takashi had made up, seeing as they were dancing happily together.

Both of the girls stood on the balcony for quite some time when Sakura realized something.

"Wait a minute, where's Kai?" Sakura asked.

Meiling sighed, saying that he called it a night and left her because he had a job to do tomorrow.

Sakura laughed, "That sounds just like what Syaoran said to me."

At the same time they both said together, shaking their heads, "Men."

Seeing a strange sight, Sakura pointed something out to Meiling.

"Meiling-chan isn't that—"

The raven head girl looked on with aquinted eyes and then widened them, "It is!"

Both Sakura and Meiling watched as a scene was unfolding right beneath their noses.


Rioka and Ling


After hours of countless dances and small conversations, it felt as if the old times were coming back to the two.

As they spoke, they realized that they still had a few things that were unchanged from the time they knew each other.

Rioka right away caught Ling's eyes and stared at him for some time.

Slowly, she was drawn to his face and before she knew it, she kissed Ling softly on the lips.

Instantly a passion arose in the midst of where resistance should have been, but as soon as she was about to pull back Ling took full advantage of his slightly parted lips and kissed her deeply.

When it was all over, Rioka opened her eyes and the haze in her mind was wiped away as soon as she realized what she did.


-&-


"Meiling-chan, what did you do to make this all come together?"

Sakura's crimson eyed friend gaped at the sight in front of her.

"I did nothing…I was too busy preventing Chiharu-chan from killing Yamazaki-kun and I was spending…" Meiling mumbled the last part.

Sakura whispered questioningly, "You were what what…with who?"

Meiling sighed, "I was spending time with Kai to realize why I was here for."

Sakura giggled lightly and hugged a blushing Meiling.

"Awww… you had some snuggly time with Kai!!!! How kaw—"

Meiling shushed Sakura, trying to listen in to the conversation between Ling and Rioka.


R&L


Quietly Rioka whispered fiercely, "I thought you said you weren't going to try anything?"

Her breathing slowly regained from what the kiss stole.

Ling smiled gently and whispered back almost desperately at her question while lifting her her hand and molding it into his, "I didn't do anything…you did."

Rioka crinkled her eyes in confusion. Her heart beating like a million drums against her chest.

Just when she thought her heart was settled into one person, she had another problem to worry about.


A/N: How was that? Now this is the part where the plot gets juicy! Stay tuned for more chapters!!! I finished this chapter in half a day! Aren't you proud of me??? LOL!

--Later,

maix-chan