A/N: My com just got fixed yesterday. Yup, yesterday. It took my bro's friend a couple of days to find the hardware parts to fix the fried ones in the CPU. So, here we are. I needed some time to recollect what was happening in this story so far... So here we are finally after 2 months of "procrastination". Hope you guys enjoy it. I deleted the note I posted too. Many fell for the prank I placed at the end of the last chapter. I didn't expect some of you to get shocked. Still, was it that convincing? I am also really OVER THE MOON with all the reviews. Also, this was topped with my exam results which turned out to be quite good as well.
NOTE: SOME OF YOU MIGHT GET 2 STORY ALERT EMAILS. There was some kind of mix up...Sorry!
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Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura, and I'm sure you don't too!
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A/N: Wow..That's long. Thank you so much for all the reviews. Some were really very enthusiastic. Lol... I decided since I am still not really sure if I can reply to you all, I will round up in one paragraph. I thank you all for your support, its one thing that really keeps me going. Pardon me if I had soooooo many typo errors. I hope I can reach 500 if possible...lol! I gt 12k hits plus so far before went bonkers on the system. It's ok if you guys didn't review, just as long I know someone likes my story!
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Chapter 21: Sorrow
Rei trudged silently through the hallways towards the guest room area. She could still hear the music playing in the ballroom.
The scene replayed in her head, watching her two friends leaving their counterparts hurt and shocked on the dance floor.
Ever since the princes went back to their own rooms, she had been wondering what was happening with Sakura and Tomoyo, after all, it was their last night that day.
Stopping at a pink oak door, she tapped lightly onto it, "Sakura? You there?"
Silence met her words. She had expected Sakura's voice to reply immediately as usual.
She knocked again, however with the same results. Suspicion began to rise within the princess.
Black eyes widened in revelation, could it be?
She pushed opened the door immediately. What met her was certainly what she was expecting.
Cabinets and dressers were empty. The balcony door was open, the curtains fluttering in the wind.
Rei's heart pounded, were they really gone?
Suddenly, she noticed a stack of letters on the bed, each of a different colour.
Rei quickly scanned them, realizing it was a goodbye letter to everyone they knew.
They were in the order of black, green, blue and red, which were addressed to herself, Syaoran, Eriol and Yelan respectively.
Quickly, she tore open hers; her black eyes almost brimmed with tears.
Dear Rei,
Please do not be alarmed when you find out that we have left earlier than scheduled. It was during the dance that we both realized that we shouldn't be here anymore.
We knew it would be you who will first to come to our room.
It seemed just like yesterday when you befriended us. I must admit that I, Sakura, was envious that you were engaged to Syaoran.
I almost hated you at first till I really got to know you better.
We would just like to say that we appreciate your friendship and were really sorry we can't say goodbye personally.
As our goodbye gift, we decided to give you something that Tomoyo drew.
Didn't I mention she was a great sketcher as well?
Please pass on the other three letters to whom they are addressed to. We will miss you.
Goodbye Rei...
Signed Sakura and Tomoyo
Crystal droplets dripped one by one onto the letter. Rei couldn't help but feel lonely was again.
She spotted dried tear droplets on the letter that wasn't hers. She gave a small smile.
They have been crying when they wrote this too...
She felt a piece of paper behind the written letter. She moved it and what she saw made her gasp.
On it was a beautiful coloured drawing that warmed her to her core. In it was a picture of Sakura, Tomoyo and her laughing together on a picnic blanket.
All three had bright smiles on their faces, with flowers in their hair.
They wore simple sundresses that hugged their figure quite well.
However, what made Rei smile was two words that was written in cursive handwriting at the bottom right hand corner, "Friends Forever."
She sniffed her tears away and hugged the picture to her chest.
Her eyes were filled with determination. She was going to break the engagement no matter what...
She picked up the other three letters and hurried of to Syaoran's room, her high heels clicking against the carpet...
At Syaoran's room...
The lights were dimmed and the room was eerily silent. Syaoran sat on the bed, still in his ball suit, grasping onto his chocolate hair.
Frost perched without a sound on his stand, his icy blue eyes cast worriedly at his master. He knew that it was best not to disturb his master and flew off outside the balcony.
He knew that there was only one cure for his master's sickness... And that was Sakura.
Suddenly, a knock interrupted the silence in his room. Cold amber orbs rose to the sound, voice forced, "Whoever it is...I'm not in the mood to see anyone."
Rei's soft voice floated into Syaoran's cold room, "Syaoran! Bad news! Sakura left!"
Amber orbs immediately shot up the door in horror and pain. Sakura...left?
The final glimmer of hope dashed within him. Was this really how his life was going to be? Marry Rei? Rule over the kingdom without his one and only love?
He stood up and shot to the door, opening it to reveal Rei carrying those three letters.
"She left? I thought it was supposed to be tomorrow morning!"
Rei shook her head slowly, "She left after the ball... She wrote you one while Tomoyo wrote one to Eriol. Here..."
She handed the green envelope to Syaoran, "I need to go to Eriol's room now..."
He tore it open without hesitation and immediately caught Sakura's cherry blossom scent.
Rei knew it was time for her to leave as she walked away with two remaining letters.
Syaoran's heart beating wildly under his chest as his fist clenched around the white slip of paper.
(A/N: This was where I stopped 2 months ago. Hope I haven't gone rusty)
Dear Prince Syaoran,
By the time you read this, I, Sakura will be half-way back at my unicorn farm. This is my last message to you ever.
I would like to say this. I have never regretted in meeting you.
You've showed and given me things that others could have never given me. The time you spent on my farm were the happiest days in my life ever since they passed away.
I admit that I did not expect to find out that you were a prince even though there were many obvious hints in the beginning.
You've managed to open me up after I shut myself away from the world for so many years. It felt great to open my wings and fly again instead of running away from my problems.
But I guess that comes with a price. I have fallen in love... with a prince.
Imagine my surprise when I found out that that prince loved me too after almost dieing from a knife thrown into my chest.
It seemed all too good to be true until I found out his second secret: He was engaged.
It was then that I knew that we were never meant to be together. So, I left his side that very day.
He, however, tried to wriggle a way back into my heart during my last day with him at a ball.
I almost broke down when I saw the hurt he was also suffering behind those golden orbs.
But, he doesn't understand.
All the obstacles, the mistrust and secrets were livid signs that indicated that we were never meant to be together.
Still, I love him, with all my heart which he had stolen. I decided that as a last gift, I will leave him with a song which represents my forgiveness of him taking my heart away without permission.
So, I leave, with my heart in his possession. I will never return again to get it back.
I, Sakura Kinomoto, love Syaoran Li, a prince who is also a thief. Ironic, isn't it?
I wish him a happy life with my friend Rei, a really lucky girl. Their marriage would be sure to merge two strong kingdoms together.
I'm giving up this fight for it is the right thing to do.
Goodbye my love, forever.
Love,
Sakura
Syaoran's eyes hardened like ice. The hurt and pain...how could he have forgotten Sakura was feeling the same?
His heart tightened at the sight of dry teardrops on the paper.
He was selfish, once again thinking of only himself. Still, Sakura Kinomoto loves him just the way he was.
It was time for him to make a choice. Marry Rei or go after Sakura? He was horribly torn.
One, his duty as a prince and another to his own heart. How could he ever choose?
Rei trudged onwards towards Eriol's room a couple of rooms away from his cousin.
However, as soon as she reached the book painted oak door, Eriol emerged from his room in a mess.
"Hiiragizawa! Where are you going?"
"To Tomoyo's room." His blue bangs covered his eyes and Rei was unable to read his emotions.
"You won't find her."
Eriol stopped in his tracks and turned around sharply, "What?" His sapphire orbs grew darker than before.
Rei clutched the blue letter in her arms, "She left with Sakura."
Eriol couldn't believe it, Tomoyo was... gone?
He roared, "GIVE ME THAT LETTER!"
Rei recoiled back in shock; this was the first time she saw Eriol burst out, not even when Luna was annoying him.
"He must really love her..."
Rei handed him Eriol's letter, which he opened furiously.
Dear Prince Eriol,
I hope you like my song. It's a farewell present I gave to you. I'm sorry about the slap. Hope I didn't hurt you... (AN: Who is she kidding?)
I seem so selfish right now. I guess I just want to say that I'm sorry.
The day Sakura went after her kidnapped unicorns the first time, you comforted me even after how I treated you as a slave in the beginning.
I am truly grateful for the help you've provided the past few months...
But, more importantly, I am grateful for you showing me how to love.
I have always wandered what it was like to fall in love since I was young but I have never fallen in love with anyone but you.
I love you.
You've cared for me never like anyone else. You've seen through my exterior and poached my heart away.
I did not regret it, even after I found out that you were a prince. I let it slip by, wishing that still, somehow, someway, we could be together.
However, heaven doesn't seem to be on my side, you were engaged.
But now, I'm happy. I'm happy that I've finally confessed to you. Although it's not personally, I'm sure you've already known that during the song performance.
But now, I'm letting you go. You have a duty to fulfill to your kingdom and you are going to carry it out. And me, a commoner shouldn't stand in your way.
Goodbye my prince, my only love.
Love,
Tomoyo
Eriol stared blankly at the letter.
She loved ...no... Loves him!
But, she's giving up on their love for the kingdom.
His teeth gritted and without a word, he headed for his room in both undecided feelings. Happy at Tomoyo's final confession and dreadfully dejected at Tomoyo's departure.
What on earth was he going to do now?
Rei watched as Eriol closed his door in a slam.
She looked at the final letter, addressed to Yelan, the queen herself. What could this letter possibly hold?
With a sigh, she headed for the ballroom, on her way to passing on the final letter of her two friends.
At Sakura's farm...
Sakura and Tomoyo finally managed to settle in all the unicorns in the barn, it was exactly the same as the old one, the magical orb made sure of that.
Dust neighed at his mistress. Sakura smiled and crouched down to stroke the young foal who immediately reacted to his mistress gentle touch.
"It's finally over." Tomoyo's soft voice came from behind.
Sakura turned and looked at her cousin, giving a smile that both the unicorns and Tomoyo could tell that it was fake, "Yes... Over."
Tomoyo opened her arms, welcoming Sakura in another hug.
Sakura smiled and stood up from her crouched position, she went over to the dragon breeder and accepted the embrace.
"It back to the boring old days."
Tomoyo nodded uncertainly, "But not happy days."
Sakura gave her cousin a sadden look and clasped both of her pale hands, "It's time to put the past behind us."
Tomoyo smiled weakly, once again with eyes brimming with tear "I will and I hope you will too."
Sakura closed her emerald eyes which were still red from crying, "I can only try Tomoyo... I can only try."
Days left: 5 days (Pass midnight)
To be continued...
A/N: Kind of pointless chapter... but rest assured the next one will be much more interesting. ¬¬'''