Chapter 12. The End of the Carnival
 'This is so weird, it's like my flashback happened again.' Syaoran thought to himself, He as still holding hands with Sakura. Syaoran throwed his thoughts away and let go of Sakura's hand. Sakura quickly put her hand behind her back; she did not want Syaoran to think she was falling for him. She was pretty, and a lot of guys went after her, but all of them broke her heart. She would not let it happen again, she went to Tokyo for a job, not a love life. But how can she stop herself from falling in love when she already fell in love? Sakura clutched her heart, 'You are not in love, you are not in love.' She thought to herself. "OOOH! SYAORAN! HUNNY BUNNY!" Maiiko yelled running towards Syaoran with open arms. Syaoran kept his arms down and grumbled hello to Maiiko. Sakura let out a fake cough.

"Oh. Hi." Maiiko said not even looking at Sakura. "What are you doing here alone hunny?" Maiiko said in a flirtatious tone. Sakura pretend to barf, Syaoran saw her and laughed. Maiiko turned around and gave Sakura the meanest look ever. Sakura, for the nice girl she was simply smiled. "Oh no." Eriol whispered as he and Madison neared Sakura and Syaoran and Maiiko. "What?" Madison asked, "Maiiko." Eriol said as he grabbed Madison's hand and ran towards them. "Oh cookie! Lets go." Maiiko said grabbing Syaoran's hand. Syaoran stayed put and tried to get out of Maiiko's strong grasp. "SYAORAN!" Eriol said going In-between him and Maiiko. Madison looked at Sakura in confusion. Sakura simply shrugged. "Uh… shall we leave you three alone?" Sakura asked, "No" the two boys said, but it was hardly heard over Maiiko's "YES". Sakura grabbed Madison and walked over to a bench.

"What the heck is going on?" Madison asked as they sat down. "I have no clue" Sakura said letting out a sad sigh. "Well, what happened?" Madison asked, she wanted to know who the girl was, why Eriol a.k.a Prince Charming was in-between her and Syaoran, and why Eriol wanted to get there fast. Sakura took in a deep breath and told Madison what happened, she talked about the roller coaster and how Syaoran held her hand, she talked about the ice cream and how Syaoran mysteriously knew her favorite flavor was strawberry… "Madison…" Sakura looked at her best friend with a serious face, "What is it Sakura?" Madison asked with a caring tone, "I—I had a flashback when I was stepping out of the car. Sakura took her locket out from underneath her shirt and stared at it. "It was about the boy?" Madison asked staring at the locket. Sakura nodded and placed the locket back beneath her shirt, "It happened right when Syaoran held my hand to get out of the car…" Sakura murmured as she looked up at the sky.

"What happened in your flashback?" Madison asked. "Well, we were at a carnival, me and the boy. I was 7 years old… We were riding a roller coaster… he seemed scared and he grabbed my hand…" Sakura paused. It was the same exact thing that happened on the roller coaster with Syaoran. "Ma-Madison…" Sakura stuttered. "It was the same exact thing that happened with Syaoran…" Sakura said with an un-readable expression on her face. Madison opened her mouth to say something then closed it. 'What if…' Madison thought staring at Syaoran. "Uh… Maiiko. Maybe you should run along with your friends…" Eriol said, "NO! I want to stay with my sweet hunny bunny!" Maiiko said trying to get closer to Syaoran, "I am not your hunny bunny." Syaoran said in a serious tone. Maiiko blinked. "Hmpf. See what you did Eriol! I'll come back alter when Eriol is gone so that we can be alone cookie" Maiiko said as she walked away. "That girl has totally gone crazy" Eriol said. Syaoran nodded. When Madison and Sakura saw that Maiiko had left they walked over to the two boys, "Who was that?" Madison asked with a slightly mean tone. Eriol grinned, "Syaoran's stalker" "What?" Sakura said, "Stalker?" Sakura laughed.

"Yup, ever since he moved here which was like 11 years ago." Eriol said. "Hey hey hey! Yeah Ok, enough Maiiko for me, let's go on a ride." Syaoran said as he walked ahead of the group. Eriol snickered, "Oh HUNNY BUNNY! WAIT FOR ME!" Eriol said laughing. Madison and Sakura laughed as they walked behind Syaoran. "So, what ride next?" Madison asked when they were all walking side by side. "MY TURN TO CHOSE!" Eriol yelled as he grinned a devious grin. Syaoran eyed him suspiciously, "What?" Syaoran asked flatly. "That riiiiide." Eriol said pointing at the Tunnel Of Love ride. Syaoran's mouth opened wide. Madison giggled. Sakura turned away. "Come on now let's go." Eriol said as he went ahead of them. Madison hooked arms with Sakura and started walking. 'There is no way I'm going on that ride with two sick lovebirds' Sakura thought to herself as she grabbed Syaoran. Syaoran tried to get away, "No way Jose', you are going to suffer with me." Sakura said as Madison dragged them both to the line.

Syaoran let out a loud sad sigh, "Oh shut up Syaoran." Eriol said punching Syaoran playfully on the arm. "It's not like a roller coaster or something." Eriol said. Syaoran rolled his eyes. 'Oh man. The last time I went on this ride was when I was 7 in… America.' Syaoran thought to himself. Two more people then it was there turn. "Well, see you guys after the ride!" Eriol said as he helped Madison on the boat. Sakura and Syaoran stayed silent. "This is the worlds weirdest ride ever." Sakura said. Syaoran turned around to face Sakura. "You got that right." Syaoran said with a smile. "Have you been on here before?" Syaoran asked. "Yeah… once." Sakura replied. "Oh, uh when?" Syaoran asked trying to keep the conversation going. "Oh, when I was 7." Sakura said as she looked up at the sky. "When you were 7? Where?" Syaoran asked as he tried to remember whom he had gone with on the ride. "Oh yeah, um I went on this ride in a carnival in America. I was with my friend…" Sakura paused. 'Is it ok to call this "locket boy" my friend?' She thought, "Um, I don't really remember why we went on it, but I guess it was because we wondered what it was. I mean we were 7." Sakura said. Syaoran nodded, he watched as the boat neared them. 'Please break' Syaoran prayed to himself.

"Um, what about you?" Sakura asked. "Oh me… Uh yeah I went on it once." Syaoran said. "Oh when?" Sakura asked. "Um, when I was 7. In… America." Syaoran said the last part quietly. "America?" Sakura asked in shock. "Yeah, I lived there until I was 7 then I moved here." Syaoran replied. "Um.. do you remember the name of the carnival?" Sakura asked clutching her heart. '1st he relived my flashback, buys me my favorite ice cream… is it possible he went on the ride with me before?' Sakura thought to herself as she waited for Syaoran's answer. "Uh yeah… I think It was called the Valentines Day festival…" Syaoran replied. "THE VALEN---" "OH! SWEEETIE!" Maiiko suddenly appeared… Syaoran looked away. Maiiko looked at Sakura, "Oh Thankyou for holding my spot for me hun. You can go now." Maiiko said to Sakura. Sakura simply smiled and left. "Waii—" Sakura turned around to face Syaoran and smiled at him.

She sat down under a gorgeous Cherry Blossom tree. The calm, yet powerful wind blew some of its pretty pink petals towards Sakura. Sakura sighed and closed her eyes. 'I didn't want to go on that ride anyways.' She thought to herself as she opened her eyes. 'This is so weird… He had gone to the same festival that I went to. And rode on the Tunnel Of Love when he was 7 years old… just like me.' Sakura thought to herself as she glanced at Syaoran and Maiiko. Sakura chuckled, 'Poor guy' she thought. She took out her locket and opened it. 'He seems so familiar' Sakura thought to herself as she touched the picture of the brown-haired amber-eyed boy. All of a sudden Sakura stopped touching the picture and froze. Her emerald eyes staring into space…

(FLASHBACK)--- "Sakura!" A young boy yelled, "Come on!" He yelled again, "Please come out!" He was desperately looking for Sakura. Sakura was hiding behind a huge cherry blossom tree. She giggled. "Try and find me!" Sakura yelled from behind the tree. The boy smiled, he knew where Sakura was. "Hey look its Sakura!" A tall boy with black hair and matching black eyes poked Sakura's forehead. "HEY! LEAVE ME ALONE KEIICHARO!" Sakura yelled at the boy. "Make me flower girl" Keiicharo said. "Why do you always pick on me?" Sakura asked, she felt tears slowly falling down her cheeks. "Aw.. look poor Sakura is cry—" "LEAVE HER ALONE KEIICHARO." A voice said from behind him. Sakura looked up to find a brown-haired boy. "Oh… uh… S---"

"Huh?" Sakura said to herself. "Two flashbacks in one day. That's a record." Sakura said to herself. Sakura closed the locket and put it in her shirt. And then took it out again. 'He was in my flashback again… he stuck up for me… I was behind a cherry blossom tree…' Sakura looked up at the tree she was leaning against. 'His name.. Started with an S…' She thought to herself as she put the locket away. "S…." Sakura said to herself. "Who is he---" "HEY KEN! Look what I found." A boy about the same age as Sakura pointed at her and grinned. Sakura immediately stood up, "What do you want?" Sakura said coldly. "Ken" came closer, "Hey Ken, this ones kinda feisty!" The boy who was pointing at her said. "Ken" grinned. "Oh, and what is a cute girl like yourself sitting under a cherry blossom tree alone?" Ken said walking closer to Sakura. "What do you want!" Sakura said hugging herself. "Aw, you look cold, let me warm you up." Ken said stepping closer and closer to Sakura. "NO! GO AWAY! HELP!" Sakura yelled stepping backwards. "OH MY GOD! SAKURA!" Madison yelled. She ran towards the tree with Eriol close behind her.

But they weren't the only ones, "Come on baby, I don't bite.. Hard." Ken said with a grin, which made Sakura shiver. "No! Leave me alone!" Sakura said once again as she stepped back against the tree. "Aw… don't run---" "LEAVE HER ALONE KEN!" someone grabbed Ken's shoulder. Sakura opened her eyes. It was… Syaoran. Madison and Eriol went to Sakura's side. "Sakura! Are you ok?" Madison said as she hugged her friend tightly. Eriol stood in-between Sakura and Ken. Eriol's hands turned into fists, Ken turned around to escape but someone blocked his way, "S---" "What did we tell you about hitting on girls?" Eriol said walking to Syaoran's side. "I—Uh. I didn't do anything. Uh. Uh. It was him!" Ken said pointing to his friend. Ken knew how popular Syaoran and Eriol was, he was not risking his social status. "Really now?" Syaoran said walking closer towards Ken with Eriol right behind him. Madison grabbed Sakura and walked her to a bench. Sakura hugged Madison tightly as tears came down her cheeks. Madison rubbed her back in a comforting matter. "It's ok now Sakura… It's ok." Madison said. Syaoran and Eriol were about to punch Ken, then stopped when their fists were 3 inches away from his face and stomach, Ken started to sweat. "Go." Syaoran said lowering his fist. Ken nodded stuttering and left.

Syaoran and Eriol walked over to were Sakura and Madison were sitting, "Maybe we should all go home and get some rest?" Eriol suggested as he helped Madison and Sakura up. "Yes. I think we should" Madison said still holding Sakura. Syaoran slowly walked behind them. They walked in silence to the car only hearing the muffled cries from Sakura. Syaoran opened the door and helped Sakura and Madison inside. Eriol sat down in the passenger seat; Syaoran put the key in the ignition and drove off. They drove in silence; it was the end of the carnival. When they finally got home, Sakura had fallen asleep. Eriol helped Madison out, Syaoran picked Sakura up, bridal style and followed Madison and Eriol. Madison slowly opened the door to their house and turned on all the lights. "Good bye." Eriol said, Syaoran put Sakura on the couch and went outside, "Good bye" he said as he and Eriol left. Madison gave a small wave and closed the door. She lifted Sakura's head and sat down. 'What a day' She thought to herself as she fell asleep.

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AUTHORS NOTE: Wow. Whatta long chappie aha. Hm. I hoped you liked it! Maiiko "suddenly" appeared in this chapter… and maybe the next :o ! who knows what'll happen? I hope you enjoyed!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own CCS
;candee