AN: I really appreciate all the reviews, and I apologize for the long update, however, the point is, I was trying to make this the longest update in all my stories. I took my time yesterday night to organize the story of Lavender in to sections. And I wanted this story to have long chapters that have major turning points. This took me of course...forever to write. But I managed. And I'm well on my way in to the third chapter. I hope you enjoy this. Please give me any advice. I'll really enjoy hearing from you guys. It's what keeps me encouraged to update every week.

AN Again: Sorry, but. If you want clarification, in case you think that the story is a bit confusing, cause I am very much aware that I'm 'moving very fast. So. Tomoyo, Chiharu, Eriol, and Sakura all work at Tomoeda Nursery Gardens. Plainly, they work in a big greenhouse, shipping and delivering houses for events and people. Sakura chose the job because. duh. it's close to the old greenhouse Syaoran took her too in the previous chapter. Touya is at his age, a legal gaurdian. In case you guys think their orphans or something. Hiroki, in the series, is quite gay. I didn't want to make him that happy...here...but the way he said everything. You get the impression that he's a very girly guy. So don't be offended. I thought he was pretty weird in the series too. It'll get better. The pairings are...let me clarify now. In case you think I'm pairing Eriol off with Sakura. But it is SS and ET. Okay?! Okay. Thank you to those who actually read this. I hope that answers some questions...now on with the show!

Lavender II
Xiao Lang

Twelve Years Later…

Sakura had grown in to a fine young woman who worked in a flower nursery. She had new friends, new hobbies, and a new strong personality.

Her vibrant green eyes were just as young as ever. Her hair was never tied up like when she was eight.

Her brother worked as a doctor at a highly acknowledged hospital. Her father died five years ago to much of the grief of her brother and Sakura.

Her illness was still evident, she never ran too long, and never did anything too strenuous. Every morning, she had to take pills to suppress sudden outbreaks of the disease.

But she still held on to her childhood dreams.

The vial with the lavender stood on her table, along with an old photo of two little kids in track uniforms. Sakura would look at it everyday before bed.

It was only a week before her twentieth birthday.

Her dreams had never been so realistic.

"Hey! Tomoyo!" Sakura called, pedaling to meet her friend. The countryside weather was amazing. She felt a pang of loneliness ever time the wind blew through her hair, or she passed the meadows of lavender.

"Sakura!" Tomoyo laughed, as she turned around, her light gray eyes lit up in the sunlight. She had instantly become Sakura's best friend. She was twenty-years-old, a year older than Sakura who would be turning twenty next week. The two worked together at Tomoeda Nursery Gardens and had developed a strong friendship.

"Oy! Sakura!" Someone else called. Sakura put her foot down, next to Tomoyo. The two turned their heads.

Eriol Hiirigazawa, a 21 year-old who ran the nursery that Sakura and Tomoyo worked at waved. He had dark blue hair and rarely frowned or got angry at Sakura or Tomoyo. He always rode his motorbike to work. This time he had an extra pink helmet nestled in his arms.

"How 'bout a ride? Sakura?" He asked, stopping next to the two girls, smiling behind his twinkling glasses.

Sakura smiled, "That's okay Eriol, I like riding this bike, it lets me feel like I'm running."

Eriol made a face, "If you feel like you're running on that, than you'll feel like you're flying in this."

He lifted the pink helmet and waved it in her face, "How bout it?"

"It's okay…why don't you ask Tomoyo?" Sakura suggested.

Tomoyo looked away.

Eriol's face fell, "Okay, if you really don't want to…I'll meet you two ladies later than. See ya Sakura."

He pushed off on his bike and revved away. Sakura watched him leave, still half on half off her bike.

"Oh Sakura, when will you stop daydreaming and live?" Tomoyo asked after Eriol disappeared over the hill.

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked, genuinely confused, turning to meet her friend.

"Isn't it obvious?" Tomoyo said with an exasperated sigh.

"No…what's obvious…"

Tomoyo laughed, walking a bit to keep up with Sakura as she pushed her bike along the road, "If you stop dreaming about that old childhood crush of yours, you'll see what's right in front of you."

"?" Sakura asked with a very funny look on her face.

Tomoyo grinned and shook her head, "You're so clueless."

"Alright, we've got an important delivery today." Eriol was saying, rolling out a piece of paper, and pointing at the map, "Right here…we're to decorate an entrance hall for an upcoming concert."

"What kind of concert?!" Chiharu, who never really paid any attention to Eriol's lectures, suddenly jumped to meet him.

"Uhh…" Eriol looked at his computer scanning the details, "It doesn't say, some guy touring Japan, Xiao Lang."

Chiharu's eyes suddenly grew wide, "THE Xiao Lang?!?!" She shrieked.

Eriol promptly fell off his chair at the sudden burst of noise.

At that time, Tomoyo and Sakura finally made it to work. Sakura was busy locking her old bike up, Tomoyo stepped inside the nursery, tying her hair bandana.

Chiharu pounced Tomoyo, dragging her over, jumping up and down, "Guess what!!"

"What?" Tomoyo asked, securing the knot to the bandana.

"I guess you guys heard about this guy? Xiao Lang?" Eriol said, getting to his feet.

Sakura secured the lock, and reached for her bandana. Hearing the unfamiliar name, she shook her head absentmindedly.

"HE'S COMING HERE!! TOMOYO!!!" Chiharu burst, shaking Tomoyo back and forth.

Tomoyo seemed to have snapped just like Chiharu had, "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"

The two girls proceeded to jump around the room. Eriol had a funny expression on his face. Sakura tied her hair back and stepped inside the greenhouse, "Who?"

"Aw C'mon Sakura, let me show you." Tomoyo dragged Sakura over to her table. Tomoyo took out a magazine and pointed at the front page, "This guy! Don't you think he's cute?! I can't believe he's coming here!!!!"

Sakura stared at the photo. The man in the picture had his head looking down. He had dark brown hair and deep auburn eyes. Sakura narrowed her gaze, a sudden struck of familiarity seemed to jolt from deep inside.

"Isn't he hot?!" Chiharu prompted, nearly drooling over the magazine. Eriol had a skeptical look on his face but he stayed quiet. When girls were like this, it was dangerous to interfere.

"Um…" Sakura was uncertain how she felt. But her eyes stayed frozen at the man's face.

Tomoyo wasn't lost for word however and hurriedly cornered Eriol in his chair, "When's the delivery?!"

"…now?" Eriol stammered.

"Let Sakura go, she doesn't even know who Xiao Lang is. And it's her turn anyways." Chiharu shouted hysterically, shaking Sakura who would not stop staring at he magazine cover. The face. Where had she seen it?

Eriol seemed to look happier, "We need to load the truck, how bout it Sakura?"

"C'mon!" Chiharu squealed.

Sakura touched the magazine cover, "Okay, I'm coming."

"Move that a little more to the right! Yeah, that's good." A short man with black hair pursed his lips, than swept his gaze at the brown-haired boy sitting on the couch, "Xiao Lang, you need to unpack."

The boy said nothing, deep in thought, adding new notes to his song, one hand on his guitar.

"Xiao." His manager called.

Xiao Lang waved his hand, showing that he didn't care.

The moving men dragged a large sofa in to the room.

"No! That goes here, can't you see, you're blocking the way – " His manager cried, and hustled the men to a corner, pointing at the floor. The two movers groaned but heaved the furniture towards him and finally set it down.

"Xiao, are you listening? You need to unpack."

"I'm busy." Was all he said, strumming the guitar strings, and than erased some of the notes on his paper.

"Okay, I'll unpack…" The man said, he swept his hand, ordering the movers to leave.

Hiroki was Xiao Lang's manager. An old friend from Hong Kong.

"So, Xiao, what do you think of this place I got for you? It was rather expensive, but if you're concert is successful than there's nothing money-wise we can worry about." He rambled, rummaging through the singer's suitcase.

Xiao Lang said nothing. Hiroki was used to being ignored by the self-reserved singer.

"What is this?" He asked, puzzled, lifting what looked like a small glass bottle from the suitcase, "I didn't know you were in to…flowers."

"Don't touch that." The boy said sharply, lifting his head.

Hiroki frowned, but dropped the vial on to the table. Xiao Lang said nothing, and continued to try notes on his guitar.

"Wow! Is this you're elementary school picture!!! Ack! You were so bad-looking!" The man cried, suddenly. Grabbing the frame, he made a move to throw it in to the trash, "People can't see this."

Syaoran suddenly jumped up and pointed, "Don't touch that."

"But – this." His manager protested. Syaoran rose to his feet, and laid out a palm.

"Give it." He said with an icy look.

Hiroki frowned, but handed the frame over to the taller and obviously stronger Xiao Lang.

"I don't see why you still carry those things around, do you even remember you're old classmates?"

Syaoran narrowed his eyes, "No, I don't."

Hiroki shrugged and made to kneel so he could continue unpacking for the cold singer. Syaoran stopped him, "I'll unpack, later."

"Okay than, I'll head over on to the hall, meet me there when you're done." Hiroki, grumbling, waved his leave.

When he was sure that his manager was gone, Syaoran placed the frame on to the table next to his lavender vial and leaned back in his couch.

A little girl and boy with track uniforms smiled back at him inside the photo.

"Hey! Girl! What are you going with that?!" The stout man cried, pointing at Sakura.

Sakura froze with the pot in her hands and looked at him. She looked down at the flower and back at him. What does it look like I'm doing?

"You don't put that there!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands and gesturing at a corner, "Over here, girl, come on."

Sakura glared at him with deep icy green eyes, I have a name you know.

Eriol frowned as he got to his feet from meeting the picky manager's demands. He had moved the pot in to a gazillion places before the man had been satisfied.

Sakura pursed her lips but laid the pot carefully in to the spot he had ordered. The man folded his arms but decided to be content.

The three met each other at the front table of the concert hall.

"You're dues are here as followed" Hiroki said shortly. Eriol scanned over the check quickly and stuffed it in his jacket pockets.

He was about to turn away when he noticed Sakura staring at another poster in the hallway.

"Looking at Xiao Lang I see." Hiroki said slyly, "Most girls are, these days."

Sakura blushed, but her eyes continued to wander to the poster and his face. It was a different picture. He was looking up this time, and he was wearing a white dress shirt that showed some of his bare chest. But Sakura wasn't looking at his clothes, or his chest. His eyes…reminded her so much of Syaoran.

Eriol stared at the far off Sakura than faced the man at the table, "You're in with Xiao aren't you?"

"I'm his manager." He said proudly before returning to shuffling his papers.

"Well do you think we can get tickets to his concert?" Eriol asked hastily.

Hiroki looked up, "A lot of people want tickets to his concert." He said blandly.

"But – the flowers – c'mon…just spare two."

"If I give you people free tickets, everyone's going to want free tickets, now hurry it up and leave, I have other things to attend to, and I can't leave you two here unassisted." The man now said with annoyance.

Eriol frowned slightly, okay, fine.

"Let's go Sakura. Sakura…let's go." Eriol took Sakura by the arm and led her away from the poster. Sakura had been lost again in her thoughts. Gazing in the amber eyes of Xiao Lang.

Singers…Eriol thought with disgust.

However at the same time Eriol dragged Sakura out of the concert hall, Syaoran walked in.

It her was her eyes that attracted Syaoran at first, he turned around suddenly to watch the back of a boy and girl walking side by side. The girl had light brown hair that glowed in the sunlight. She looked so familiar. But she had walked by so quickly. He couldn't see her face.

Syaoran stared for a while, before losing his thoughts, and forgetting the moment.

He was greeted almost immediately by Hiroki.

"Xiao Lang, you took forever getting here."

"Ta men liang ge she shui?" Who were those two? Syaoran asked in Chinese, ignoring Hiroki completely.

Hiroki meandered along, "Nobody, just some decorators I called for flowers, now hurry up, you have a dance practice session coming up, and you are late." Hiroki grabbed him by the arm, "We still need to do your hair, and find a good attire for you to wear, and your concert is tomorrow…than there's that talk show I planned the day after…"

Syaoran, being dragged off by Hiroki, could not help but feel like he was being haunted by those sudden green eyes that had showed up out of nowhere. Sakura? No…It's nothing…It's impossible.

"Guess who got tickets?" Eriol said.

"Tickets? To what?" Sakura asked, puzzled. Another day had passed since Sakura and Eriol had visited the concert hall. She had nearly forgotten all that had happened. Eriol was more than glad to remind her.

"Xiao Lang concert tickets." Eriol handed a long piece of paper in to Sakura's hands.

Sakura's eyes brightened than fell again, "But…I don't want to go…"

What am I saying? Of course I want to go.

"You don't want to go?" Eriol exclaimed, "After gawking at his picture everywhere, and you don't want to go, you've got to be kidding."

Eriol seemed to be reading Sakura's mind.

"No…really…" Sakura replied, uncomfortably shifting on her bicycle seat.

"Just take it, Sakura, please? For me? It took a lot for me to get this." Eriol tried, giving her the look.

Sakura smiled, "Eriol…."

"It's nothing, see you later Sakura, at the concert." Eriol laughed and biked away, his motorbike loudly revving down the road. Sakura got back properly on her bike and took a look at the ticket.

Why do I even want to go to this…concert.

Than she saw his name. She had to take a double take as the two words seemed to pop-up out at her from the ticket.

Li Syaoran the "Xiao Lang" will be performing…

The words went on. But. That name is tiny print next to Xiao Lang. There was no mistake that it was in print. Li Syaoran. Xiao Lang.

Li Syaoran. Li Syaoran.

Sakura felt her chest tighten and tears swelling in her eyes. It was him. She hadn't been wrong. Xiao Lang was Syaoran. Sakura dried her eyes with the back of her hand.

She clenched the ticket tightly, and she was going to see him.

After all these years. Her mind suddenly flew to the vial on her night table. But did he remember? Did he remember his promise? Did he remember her?

"You're kidding. That childhood fantasy dream guy, what's his name." Tomoyo said, mocking a dreamy face, "Li – Syaaaaoran - is really Xiao Lang."

Chiharu squealed, "That is so romantic!"

Sakura held up her hands, "Please! Guys! I don't want to make a big – "

"This is just too perfect Sakura!!! Like some fairy tale!" Tomoyo said all dreamy-eyed, clasping her hands together, "The two long awaited loves meet at last."

Sakura rolled her eyes. Chiharu grabbed her wrist, "But – if he really is you're old classmate- than – you can actually meet him! Xiao Lang! Oh You've GOT to get us autographs!!! Please Sakura!!"

"I knew I shouldn't have said anything." Sakura rubbed her forehead, helplessly grinning.

"Please Sakura!!! Won't you do it for you're best friends?!" Chiharu pleaded.

"Do what for best friends?" Eriol said, popping out of nowhere, his hands full of potted plants.

"XIAO LANG IS SAKURA'S LI SYAORAN!!!" Tomoyo cried with an outburst.

Sakura hurriedly clamped a palm over Tomoyo's mouth, but the damage had been done. Everyone, including Eriol knew about Sakura's old romance with her childhood boy, Li Syaoran. She was constantly daydreaming about it. How could they not ask or notice?

"He's what?" Eriol's face went blank.

"He's nothing." Sakura replied hastily. Her once bright green eyes fell and became dull. Tomoyo and Chiharu exchanged looks. Really.

Eriol didn't say anything, but continued to stare at the three girls who had all of a sudden stopped…shrieking.

Sakura nervously retied her hair bandana and bowed meekly, "I'll…get back to work…Eriol."

Eriol narrowed his eyes. Xiao Lang? Is that why Sakura had been day dreaming all this time. Syaoran. Huh. I can see why she couldn't stop staring at his picture.

Syaoran sat in a chair, blank music paper in hand. Frustrated that he could not use his guitar to find the right notes.

His hairdresser sprayed his brown locks with water and combed it for the hundredth time during the uncomfortable half hour.

Syaoran scowled, he had never asked for a concert.

Hiroki wasn't helping, he was once again, pacing the room, being picky, being annoying.

"Xiao Lang, for the last time, stop working on that." He snapped, "You have to ready you're image. It's what you're fans are waiting for. You need to look good – add a little bit more gel on that side – just…stop writing that! Focus!" Hiroki snatched the papers away. Syaoran threw up his hands in frustration.

"Ni zhai gan she me!?" What are you doing?! Syaoran snapped back, "Ge wo." Give them.

Hiroki refused causing Syaoran to rise angrily, despite the distress of his hairdresser who had accidentally combed thin air, "Give them to me, we had a deal Hiroki."

"Part of that deal was for you to be the model singer you're supposed to be."

"The other part was that you'd let me write my own songs." Syaoran gritted, now fully propelled by nothing but his anger.

"You have all the time after the concert." His manager emphasized, "You can have these back, when you're done."

"Hiroki." Syaoran commanded, eyes flashing.

"After the concert. Until than, you should behave like the model singer those fans out there are expecting." Hiroki snapped the pieces of paper in his hands, and without another word, left the room.

Syaoran threw up his hands, and let out a howl of frustration.

Than to the pleas of his hairdresser, he slumped back in to his chair to have another comb dragged through his hair.

Now with nothing to do, and nothing to write, Syaoran could do nothing but stare at his reflection. In wonder.

Did all the fans see were…his looks?

Why were they all crazy about his looks anyways. Syaoran stared in to the mirror. He never thought that he was that good looking. His hair was sagging slightly by the water but lifted at the forehead and stuck out. The sides laid back down as gentle bangs that sloped down across the corners of his eyes. He had light brown hair. That hadn't changed since elementary school. His eyes were always commented by. Intense. Deep. Cold. Piercing cold. And his mouth was always set at a thin straight line, he never looked like he smiled.

Twelve years ago, the same face was always laughing. How come he didn't feel the same.

Syaoran shook his head.

Is it just because of my looks?

Do they even care about my music?

I never wanted to just show up. I don't want that to be my only fame.

Sakura looked in the mirror. Her hair was neatly brushed down. Golden brown, glowing in the dim light of the room. She had washed and readied. Her soft green eyes stared back at her. Now she just needed a good outfit.

She tried her jeans, her red top, her blue top, her polos, her jeanjackets, her sweaters, her tank tops, her halters, even tried a dress.

She finally decided to wear something more casual. It would be sad if Syaoran didn't recognize her if she dressed very much unlike the eight-year-old Sakura he used to know.

Sakura looked in the mirror again. She had tight jeans that billowed out at her heels. And a light pink sweater that rested on her shoulders lightly. Sakura smiled. This was definitely the old Sakura.

Now for preparations.

She lifted the vial gently off the table and peered inside. The same dried lavender she had received from Syaoran was still there. Her daily reminder of his promise. It would just have to be fulfilled a week earlier. She slipped it in to her purse.

Than the ticket, from Eriol. Sakura patted her pockets. It was still there. Okay, everything was set. She just needed one last…thing to do before leaving the house.

An excuse for Touya…

"You look…dressed-up." Touya raised an eyebrow as Sakura sneaked her way downstairs.

"Do I." Sakura said simply, trying to keep a steady gaze at the door.

"Where are you going?" Touya asked, stopping at the bottom of the stairs, blocking her way. Sakura was forced to look at him. The question she had been dreading. Her brother was a good head taller than she was. He had dark hair and dark eyes. Eyes that were searching Sakura for a truthful answer.

"I – uh." Sakura gulped, damnit, "I'm going out?"

"I believe…sis. I asked where."

"Just – out."

"Sakura." Touya sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Don't worry about it Touya, I already took my medication…I'm grown up now, okay? I can take care of myself." Sakura said firmly, her eyes filled with determination, and her chin held high.

Touya didn't say anything but just sighed again, "But I always worry."

Sakura felt taken back. Touya had never been so blunt before. She knew he cared for her, but he had never really said it. Especially since father's death…he had closed up so much more.

"I – just – watch out for yourself…" Touya said suddenly, just as Sakura was opening her mouth. Than he released his hold on the banister, clearing Sakura's path, and disappeared in the kitchen.

Sakura was shocked, she couldn't even move. Touya had just…Let Her Go.

After being such the overprotective brother he had been. He had just…

Let her go.

Sakura smiled. Touya had just opened up that much more.

She felt slightly guilty for having her way now without the usual argument. The usual excuse. But this had happened only in her dreams. Meeting Li Syaoran again. On her twentieth birthday. At her old school. Seeing him all grown up, handsome. Than they would hug, and laugh, and share old memories.

In her dreams.

Sakura could feel the vial in her bag pulsing with energy.

Her dream was coming true now. Syaoran was back. She was going to see him.

With Eriol.

"Sakura!" Eriol called, waving. Sakura turned her head. Eriol was wearing a black jacket, his red shirt showing underneath.

She smiled and ran to meet him.

"Did you bring the ticket?" Eriol asked quickly.

Sakura nodded, taking it out of her pocket. Eriol looked relieved and saluted her jokingly.

"You can go on and watch the concert, I'll wait for you outside."

"Huh?!" He's going to wait for me outside?! Isn't he coming in with me?!

The crowd was forming at the concert door now. Screaming girls madly rushed through the double doors, flashing their tickets at the doormen.

Sakura wasn't screaming. She was here for a different purpose. She had to see the singing star more than the others had to. She had a reason.

She didn't want to see Xiao Lang. She wanted to see Syaoran. Her Syaoran.

But…why wasn't Eriol…?

"Why aren't you coming with me?" Sakura asked, dumbfounded.

"I only bought one ticket, and it was for you." He said under his breath, as if hoping she could not hear him.

Unfortunately, Sakura could hear him, loud and clear "You only bought one ticket? But I thought – you – one ticket?"

Eriol rubbed the back of his head, "Well they were sold out…"

Sakura felt her heart drop. She couldn't take his ticket…it wasn't even her money. But Syaoran.

Sakura shut her eyes and pushed the piece of paper in to his arms, Eriol looked confused, "Don't you want it?"

"You take it…and go watch, I'll wait outside."

Eriol refused it angrily, "No! I don't even want to watch the concert, this was for you – "

"It's yours Eriol!" Sakura protested. The air was cold. And the first raindrops came down. The crowds were thinning. And everyone was inside.

"But – Sakura…"

"Take it!" Sakura cried.

"Sakura, they're going to close soon, you need to get inside, it's raining."

"Eriol – I'm not going in by myself. You bought it, so it's yours!" Sakura retorted, tears in her eyes. But Eriol couldn't tell. The rain was coming down, hard.

"Hey you two! We're shutting the doors now! Is it in or out?!" The man at the door called loudly through the storm.

Sakura took the chance and shoved the ticket in to Eriol's hands than marched off, her heart breaking in two. She stopped a few steps away. Drenched in water, her hair sticking to her face, and her carefully chosen sweater now drooped.

Eriol looked at the ticket in his hands than and looked at the sky. His beautiful dark blue hair was soaked, and his glasses had fat droplets on them.

He shook his head and ran forward to Sakura's side, just as the concert doors closed. The two stayed in silence.

Sakura could hardly think. She had just lost her chance…to see Syaoran. She couldn't bear to believe that. But she didn't blame anyone but herself. Why hadn't she relied on buying her own ticket…

Eriol took off his jacket and wrapped it around Sakura's small figure, she shivered in the cold, but refused to budge. The rain came down in torrents now. She sneezed, her hand opened her bag and drew out the vial. It looked almost dismal now…far away. As if it wasn't in her hands.

Eriol sighed, staring at the ruined ticket in his hands and dropped it to the floor. It was useless now. The doors had closed. He stuck his hands in his pockets.

Standing in the rain was doing them no good.

"Sakura…wait here – I'll go get an umbrella." Eriol said, giving Sakura an attempted smile, and jogged off. Sakura stood alone, with a jacket over her shoulders, in the pouring rain. Frozen. Shattered. Crying.

In the mean while, Syaoran Li was singing his heart out on stage. To hundreds and thousands of screaming fans that roared their approval.

Xiao Lang's approval.

Sakura could hear him outside. And her heart throbbed, knowing that she could be one of the girls in the audience, cheering him on. She wanted him to notice her. To see her. And she wanted to see him. To see if he still remembered her.

To see if he knew what the flower lavender really meant.

Eriol returned quickly with a clear umbrella and covered Sakura underneath it. Sakura held on to herself, keeping warm.

They stood for about an hour. A boy in nothing but a t-shirt, hand in his pocket, in the rain, holding an umbrella for a girl, drenched, and hugging herself. As the music stopped, Sakura felt her senses returning to her. Syaoran had not left the city yet, she still had a chance.

Eriol as if sensing her feeling a bit better opened his mouth, "You really want to see him…don't you…Syaoran?"

Sakura was startled, he believed her?

"It's okay, I understand how you feel, I'll help you meet him, tonight."

"But – " Sakura began, looking up at the man. He gave a faint grin.

"They have a backdoor don't they? I thought singers always sign autographs at the end of the concert."

"But that's only for the people who are inside," Sakura said, disappointed, the hope leaving her eyes once more.

"I'll find a way."

"How?"

"I don't know, wait here, I'll be right back." Eriol gave her a pat on the back and handed the umbrella in to her hands. Sakura, a bit shook up, took the umbrella and watched as Eriol disappeared between the sheets of rain.

What's he up to.

Sakura touched the vial that rested in her hands. But if he could find a way. Any way. She'd take the chance. She had to see him. Syaoran.

"Xiao Lang!! Over here!!! Over here!!!"

"I see him I see him!!!!!"

"I love you Xiao!"

"I have all your cds!!!!!"

"How do you feel after – "

"What is it like to be the new – "

"XIAO!!! I LOVE YOU!!!"

Girls screamed, pushing the boundaries to the fullest. Guards had to be called to push the crowd back. Syaoran moved down the line of screaming fans and reaching hands that brushed against his brown coat and at his arms.

Syaoran found it hard to not smile. He had just finished his concert with the largest ever showing numbers for an audience. Even Hiroki wasn't being his usual annoying pestering self. He was busy laughing and following after Syaoran congratulating everyone on his hard achievement.

Eriol only caught a glimpse of the singer before quickly turning on his heels and started running back.

Syaoran finally reached the room for him and his staff. Far away from screaming girls, and noise, and autographs, and reporters.

Hiroki entered, quite flustered but grinning like a sappy fellow and immediately popped a bottle of wine, "To Xiao Lang! His future has just begun!" He called, lifting the foaming bottle to the staff who all cheered and rose glasses of already poured wine.

Syaoran suddenly felt himself lose his happiness as Hiroki shoved a glass in to his hands. What am I doing. He stared at the glass in his hands, and decided to place it on the table when nobody was watching. I wasn't meant to do this...

Hiroki was busy thanking everyone when Syaoran left the room unnoticed.

"I found him." Eriol breathed, grabbing Sakura who was hastily folding the umbrella.
An hour after the concert, Hiroki was busy organizing papers and fan mail when he saw Eriol and Sakura burst in to the room.

"Hi" Eriol gasped for air.

"What are you doing here? You're not suppose to be here." Hiroki said quickly, looking at the panting two.

"Can we see Xiao Lang? Just for a minute?"

The man burst out laughing, "See him? Everyone wants to see him, what makes you two exceptions."

Sakura cut him off seizing the moment, it was her only chance, "I'm his classmate – from elementary school – he knows me – "

This only caused the man to laugh harder, "Right, and I'm his great grandfather – I've heard EVERY lie in the book – you can't pull one over me – "

"Look, remember us? We were from the flower service? Remember?" Eriol gritted, turning red with anger, and stepping forward. Hiroki rose, squinting his eyes.

"Oh yeah, the two clumsy potters." He said, annoyed. Eriol snapped, and lunged forward, grabbing the man by the collar.

"We would like to see Xiao Lang, this girl needs to see him." Eriol snarled, pulling him forward. The man was nearly lifted off his feet and he began to howl loudly.

"GUARDS!!" He shouted, "HELP!! INTRUDERS!"

Two men burst in to the room and pulled Eriol off of him. Sakura was nearly pushed to the floor, she almost lost the vial. Than she suddenly remembered.

A man grabbed her by the arm and heaved her to her feet, than started pushing her forward, towards the door. Eriol was furious.

"I'm really his classmate! My name's Sakura Kinomoto! He knows me!! Give this to him, he's sure to remember!" Sakura shoved her arm over the guards shoulder and presented the vial in to Hiroki's face. Who only stared.

"Take it!! Show it to him!!! He'll remember me!! Please!" Sakura tried desperately, Hiroki frowned but let her give him the vial who only stared at in disgust. Flowers. More flowers.

"Do what she says!" Eriol shouted, the two were dragged out the door.

Hiroki muttered, "She has to see him." He mimicked, "How disgusting." Than he dropped the vial in to the trash. Forgotten.

Meanwhile, Sakura and Eriol stood outside, it was still pouring. The rain came down like sheets, drowning the ground. Sakura, who had just dried off, was drenched again.

"Sakura…it's late, we should go home."

"You can go Eriol, but I know he'll come after he sees the vial, I just know it…" Sakura said hopefully, missing the emptiness of her hands.

Eriol sighed and shoved his fists in to his pockets, "Alright. But we'll wait, only for a while."

Syaoran sat in the back of his seat, his head leaning in to his hand, watching the city lights go by "Hiroki, where are my papers?" He said suddenly, remembering about the music he had been writing before the concert.

"Huh – what?" Hiroki muttered, half asleep.

"Where's my music?!" Syaoran cried with an outburst, leaning forward at the passenger seat where Hiroki sat.

He thought a while, "I forgot about them…"

Syaoran twitched, "You what?! Where?"

"Back at the hall, aw c'mon Xiao Lang, music is just music, you can rewrite it later." Hiroki said, waking from his sleep, and finally turning to look at the back of the limo.

"Driver, turn around." Syaoran commanded.

"What?! It's nearly midnight!" Hiroki cried, leaping from his chair.

"I said, turn around."

"Syaoran, you are being unreasonable." Hiroki ordered, "Keep going." Was what he said to the driver who was torn between two important men.

"TURN AROUND!" Syaoran shouted sharply.

"Fine fine!!! Turn around! Do as he says, head back." Hiroki slumped back in his chair, rubbing his head.

Syaoran did the same. Damnit.

Where is it? Syaoran wiped his hand across the clean table. The janitors had already swept the floors, tables, and shelves clean.

Where is it?!

"Face it Xiao, it's not here, we should go." Hiroki said yawning loudly.

"No. It has to be here." Syaoran muttered, bending down to look underneath the tables, than he spotted the trashcan.

"Give up, the janitors already dumped everything out in to the hallway, in the morning, it'll be taken off – "

Syaoran ignored him, and turned the trash can over, it was empty, he threw it on the floor, letting it clunk loudly in the empty room and rolled around in circles.

Than he ran out the room.

"Where are you going?" Hiroki cried, following him out. He found the singer furiously digging through trash bags laying in the hallway.

"EW! Don't touch that!!! It's garbage!!! How gross!!!" Hiroki cried in disgust.

Syaoran heeded no warning and took out trash after trash, searching for his papers when he saw something.

A vial.

Just laying there.

A vial like mine, he thought.

Snatching it from the layers of trash he stared, "Sakura."

The one he given Sakura twelve years ago, why was it…?

"What are you staring at? Did you find it?" Hiroki asked, leaning forward.

"What is this doing here?" Syaoran said swiftly, lifting the vial, and getting to his feet. Hiroki took one glance at it and let out a short laugh.

"Oh just some girl who said something like 'she had to see you'. Long lost classmate," Hiroki rambled, not noticing the light brightening in Syaoran's eyes, "Sakura Kinomoto, or what's it, it was disgusting, the way she was asking about you – "

But Syaoran had already ran off again. Hiroki was calling for him, but he wasn't listening.

Sakura was here, he forgot everthing, he just had to make it in time to see her.

Hiroki could do nothing but watch him run out the doors in to the pouring rain, Syaoran's brown jacket flying behind him.

Sakura brushed the tears and rain out of her eyes, and grabbed the back of Eriol's soaked shirt, clambering on to the back of his motor bike.

It had been an hour, and Syaoran had not come. He had forgotten…all about me.

Eriol looked slightly disappointed by the way Sakura was feeling and tried in failure to cheer her up.

Eriol started the bike. Sakura clung on.

"I'm sure there are other guys out there who are willing to remember you for life." Eriol commented, looking back.

"You're just trying to make me feel better." Sakura said, but tried to smile and change the subject from her wrenching heart, "Tomoyo and Chiharu would be disappointed, I didn't get them autographs."

Syaoran burst out the doors, the rain coming down on him, his soft brown hair lost its volume and clung to his cheeks. Syaoran noticed the umbrella almost immediately. It was a lone clear umbrella, and the ground was dry around it, as if someone had been standing there for a long time.

Syaoran felt a sharp stab of sorrow, he had not come in time. Than he heard the motorbike. Turning his head, he glimpsed a girl and boy riding away down the street, disappearing in to the darkness. In to the rain.

Hiroki came out of the concert hall, and immediately stepped back seeing the rain. He was calling for Syaoran, obviously distressed that the singer was soaked. And that it was way past his bedtime. But Syaoran wasn't paying attention.

He was standing next to the lone umbrella on the floor. His fingers were rolling the vial of Sakura's dried lavender around in his hands. Cherishing the familiarity of the vial that he had held twelve years ago. Wishing that it wasn't just the vial that he held.

Syaoran stood there for the longest time, staring off in to emptiness, where the motorbike had disappeared. Though inside, Syaoran felt loneliness, standing by himself in the rain. Inside he felt he had missed something important. But on the outside. He was smiling. Something neither Syaoran or Xiao Lang had done in years.