AN: HEY! FIRST CHAPTER! I DO HAVE A DISCLAIMER! THANK YOU! Okay. Just had to get that out of my system. Sorry. Guess who updated? ME!

Lavender III

Not Syaoran

"WHAT?!" Eriol leapt from his chair and slammed the paper on to the desk.

Headlines: Old Student Slut for our Singer Xiao Lang?

"Eriol? What's wrong?" Sakura asked, Eriol jumped again. He hadn't seen Sakura standing there. He had been a bit touchy about Sakura's feelings ever since last night. She had been like a fragile vase, and he felt like he was always dropping it.

"Uh uh – nothing – nothing – at all – just uh – throwing away the newspaper – yeah – " Eriol shoved the papers behind his back and inched out the door.

Sakura shrugged. If he didn't want to tell her, she was okay with that. Sakura sighed. It seemed that Eriol had been avoiding her lately. Was it because of yesterday? Sakura continued trimming her lavender flowers. They were already blooming. Sakura felt her heart fading away as she remembered her birthday was coming faster than she wanted.

Tomoyo and Chiharu nearly pushed her over, shrieking with excitement, "SAKURA!!! YOU'RE IN THE NEWS!!!"

"What?" Sakura cried, turning around, and dropping her pliers. Her alarm surprised her friends but they shook it off knowing that they had gotten her friend's attention.

"Look! See! Right here!" Tomoyo pushed the paper in to Sakura's face and pointed than read, "Old elementary classmate, Sakura Kinomoto, has laid claims on our famous Xiao Lang." She said as her finger followed the line. Sakura felt her mind spinning with each word. She felt as if she was reading about some other Sakura Kinomoto, and not about herself. They couldn't be talking about her. Her eyes trailed the papers. "…a desperate girl…stealing Xiao Lang's attention…a romantic past…"

How can this be?

"And it goes on…see? You're mentioned here, and here, and here." Chiharu added, jabbing at all over the place.

But Sakura wasn't listening to either of them; she was staring open-mouthed at the title. slut?

Chiharu however, was still pointing and shouting at the top of her lungs, unaware of the large headlines, "That means you met him right!! Right?! C'mon Sakura…tell me you got autographs!!"

Tomoyo noticed her friend's distress; Sakura wasn't moving, her eyes were frozen in place, "Chiharu…let's…leave Sakura alone."

Sakura's mind whirled; she had to hold on to the table to steady herself. Her heart was pulsing again. She feared her illness might start acting up.

"But the autographs!! Look, its in the news, she's got to have met him."

"Chiharu," Tomoyo commanded, worried about Sakura's paled expression.

"Sakura!!! How was it? Was it romantic? Did you guys kiss?" Chiharu went on, ignoring Tomoyo. Sakura felt her eyes water. Kiss?

"Well Sakura? Tell us about it!"

Kiss? And than called me a slut?! In public news?!

"C'mon Sakura, did you meet him?"

Sakura had had it, all confusion left her, every emotion was replaced with fury, she threw the papers in to the air angrily. They flew all around, landing on everything inside the nursery, than she turned on the wide-eyed Chiharu, "I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO SEE HIM OKAY?! THESE ARE ALL LIES!!! I DIDN'T EVEN MEET HIM!!!"

Sakura, crying, ran out the door. Eriol met her on the way in, "Sakura! Wha – Sakura?!"

He took a look around the nursery. Papers everywhere. Sakura running and crying. Eriol pieced it together nearly instantly. Eriol exchanged looks with Chiharu and Tomoyo.

"I tried to stop her." Tomoyo said finally, pointing at the shocked Chiharu.

Eriol gave a frustrated sigh, and turned to chase after Sakura who had disappeared.

"What happened?! How did this happen! No one even saw us!!! We weren't even together!!! What is this!?!?!" Syaoran cried angrily, marching around his room. Hiroki sat near, hands folded together. He had a nervous look watching the short-tempered Xiao Lang fueled by rage.

"I'm sure it was a hoax. But this is how gossip works, especially if you're a star; they dig up information on you, " Hiroki said reassuringly.

"She can't see this!" Syaoran cried, turning on Hiroki, "She can't see this!!!" He repeated, even more disorientated. His face was bright red, and his eyes were piercing cold. His fists were clenched and he kicked a chair impatiently. Time was ticking away. Sakura would be reading the disastrous headlines any minute now. Than how was he supposed to explain himself?

Hiroki frowned, who was this girl to him anyways. Why was he so angry with this, it doesn't even affect him at all.

"I need to see her, I need to tell her what happened, she can't possibly believe this, this – this trash – this shit," Syaoran slumped in to his couch, and buried his face in his hands, "How could this happen," He moaned.

Hiroki scowled. There was that word again. "need" She needed to see him. Now he needs to see her. Why was everyone so needy? But…although the girl was none of his concern, Syaoran was his road to fortune.

Hiroki rubbed his head, "I think we can work something out."

"What?" Syaoran said half heartily, rubbing his face. Relaxing his tense body.

Hiroki was suddenly reminded of something that had happened yesterday and spun the plan in his mind almost instantly, "You need a place for autographs, you know that, and since you like lavenders, I was thinking you could go to the nearby Tomoeda Nursery Gardens."

Syaoran looked up hearing the familiar name, "But what does that have anything to do with the girl."

"She works there…She was the one who delivered flowers to our concert hall." Hiroki said.

Syaoran's face fell, "That's great but if I don't see her now, I think she wouldn't even want to meet me any time later." Syaoran said blandly, and folded his arms firmly across his chest. Giving a defiance glare at his manager who looked disappointed that he did not like his plan.

"But I'm still going to plan the site." Hiroki said stubbornly.

Syaoran narrowed his eyes, "But I need to see her as soon as possible, manager." He retorted with a heavy mocking tone.

Hiroki frowned again. See her as soon as possible, "Fine, I'll find out where she lives."

"Now." Syaoran commanded.

"Fine Fine! Now it is! No respect for the man who does all the work – " Hiroki, murmuring to himself, rose and left the room.

After his manager had gone Syaoran groaned in to his hands than threw himself in to the couch. He stared at the ceiling. How could this happen? I finally get to meet Sakura. And I have to meet her like this. ARGH.

"Sakura…" Eriol said, putting his hand on to her shoulder. She shrugged him off. It had been all afternoon that Eriol had pursued her, she was tired of crying. But not tired enough to start talking.

"Sakura…? Listen to me." Eriol turned her around; she refused to look at him. Eriol sighed, she was giving herself too much of a hard time. Her hair hung limply down her face as she stared at the floor. Eriol tried to make his voice sound as soft and gentle as possible, "Xiao Lang is a famous celebrity, celebrities always cheat and lie to get themselves to the top, he doesn't deserve a girl like you, you shouldn't get yourself beat up over him."

Sakura shut her tear-stricken eyes but relaxed in Eriol's firm hold.

Eriol was right about celebrities. In a way, but Syaoran was different. Because Syaoran had given her something she would never forget. Love and Care. During her childhood, no one ever gave her any of that. Syaoran changed everything. He was different; she knew that he was different. But still. He had changed. She didn't know him anymore. He had drifted somewhere far off.

He wasn't Syaoran. He was Xiao Lang. Someone who could get any girl he wanted. Why would he want someone as plain as Sakura Kinomoto. Why would he want her? Now since he had it all.

"Eriol?" Sakura said suddenly. The first words she had spoken to him during the two hours of crying. Her eyes remained dull however as she looked at him. Eriol wanted to see the familiar sparkle, but he knew that was too much to ask at the time.

"Yes?" Eriol replied, glad that she was finally up to talking again.

Sakura hesitated before answering. After all, the story belonged to her and Syaoran, did she dare unfold it to someone else "I want to show you something."

Show me something? Eriol thought to himself, puzzled. He looked around, as if expecting to see some giant thing hiding somewhere off in the distance. But all around them were meadows of wild flowers. They had wandered off the road for a long time now. But Eriol knew the land around his nursery like the back his hand.

So what was there to show?

"Show me what – hey – " Eriol gasped, Sakura had grabbed him by the hands and began running up the hill. Eriol followed quickly, catching on to Sakura's building excitement. This was going to be the first time after many years she was going to see the place. She felt that if she went alone, the memories would haunt her. So Eriol would have to accompany her. They ran up the hill and across another vast plain.

Eriol was confused; he hadn't seen this place before. How did she know where she was going? Eriol began to drag behind, trying to take in the new surroundings. They had lost site of the road now. All around them were small blooming purple flowers. They folded like waves in the ocean. Lavenders…Eriol thought to himself…How Typical. Sakura pulled him playfully along.

"C'mon!" She called, smiling.

"Tomoeda Nursery Gardens, how may we help you today sir?" Tomoyo chirped, pleased that she had memorized Eriol's lines perfectly.

"Good day, I'm here to schedule an event that will take place on your nursery, and we need your permission." The man replied curtly.

Okay. Now what. Tomoyo didn't really know what to say, after all, this was Eriol's job. To answer the phone. But he had run off after Sakura.

Tomoyo glanced at Chiharu nervously. She shrugged and continued pulling weeds out of a small pot. Tomoyo frowned.

"Um, okay." Tomoyo replied uncertainly.

"Would you like the time?"

"Um…okay…."

Meanwhile, Hiroki was getting slightly impatient on the other line, that the person wasn't helpful at all.

It will be held tomorrow, at one." He said, annoyance dripping from his voice.

"Uhhhhh…sure….." Tomoyo than jumped and realized she should be writing things down, she grabbed a pencil and wrote, Tomorrow, big event.

Than she decided to ask her own question, "What is this event anyways?"

This the man replied with a sheer obvious pride in his tone of voice "Leo will be holding his autograph signing session at your nursery."

"Okay." Tomoyo agreed without really paying attention. Than, "WAIT WHAT?!"

Chiharu jumped from the floor, and stared at Tomoyo with questioning eyes. Tomoyo squealed silently and gestured her to come over. Chiharu hurried to the table and stuck her ear next to Tomoyo's.

They both listened to the man's second explanation, "I said Leo will be holding his autograph session at your nursery, is that alright?!"

"YES!" Tomoyo said loudly. Chiharu leapt from the table and danced around the greenhouse. Spraying weeds across the floors.

"Okay, than it's settled." The man said, with his eyebrow twitching at the screams in the background.

"YES!!" Tomoyo shouted, "THANK YOU!"

Click.

"Oh." Tomoyo pursed her lips, "How rude, he hung up on me, oh well!"

"LEO!!! COMING HERE!!!" Chiharu grabbed Tomoyo and they both danced around Eriol's table. Tomoyo grinned. Sakura's' going to love us. As long as Eriol agrees with the idea.

What is this place? Eriol thought quietly to himself. Sakura had led Eriol non-stop to a gigantic ancient greenhouse. The hinges were rusting. The grass inside were all weeds. In fact, there were nothing on the outside either. And it seemed it was at the end of its days as a standing building. Sakura however, seemed as happy as ever, though panting heavily.

Eriol looked at her with a curious expression as of why Sakura would bring him to such a dumpy greenhouse.

"Let's go inside." Sakura said, and pulled on Eriol's sleeve. He followed her to the door.

Grabbing the handles, Sakura heaved them open. They creaked loudly as they slowly inched apart. Eriol winced. Someone needed to oil these doors. Sakura didn't seem to mind, she stepped inside.

Eriol squeezed through the gap after her.

"So…this is it?" He commented, looking around. Seeing there was nothing interesting in the greenhouse. Nothing really growing in it. The whole ground was covered in dense weeds. There were practically no flowers. The shelves hung low. Some were on the floor. Pots were broken. Dirt was scattered everywhere. Nothing was in bloom. Eriol frowned. Nice Place…

"Syaoran took me here, when I was eight."

Eriol tensed at the name. So it's about him again. I see…This is why she was so happy.

Eriol found himself unable to open his mouth. He didn't want to say anything nice about this greenhouse. If it was Syaoran's.

Sakura twirled around in the small patch of pavement. Eriol noticed how beautiful she looked turning around and laughing. The sun shining on her hair and her eyes were sparkling again. A beautiful green glow that warmed his heart.

It was night, and the weather was warm. Sakura and Eriol stopped at her house. She took of her pink helmet and gave it back to Eriol.

"Thanks for sending me home, I could've biked…really…" She remarked. Eriol shook his head.

"No, it was the least I could do, after showing me that greenhouse today.." Eriol replied, taking the helmet. Sakura was about to say good-bye when Eriol suddenly remembered a call he had gotten from Tomoyo earlier, "Oh wait! Sakura! I almost forgot."

Sakura turned around, "Hm?"

"Yeah, Tomoyo's made reservations at the nursery tomorrow, you got to be there at one. No later."

"Sure…but what's going on?"

"You're boyfriend's planning his autographing session there."

Sakura frowned. "I don't have a boyfriend – " Than it hit her. And she said angrily, "Syaoran is not my boyfriend."

"Would it be a bad thing if he was though?" Eriol said, shifting his weight to face Sakura on his bike.

Sakura laughed sourly, "If he was my boyfriend?"

Yeah right...he doesn't even remember me...

Sakura laughed again, "Being a star's girlfriend, life would be too easy, you'd get his car, and his money, and his house, and his fame…there'd be too much stuff to do." Sakura joked.

Eriol felt himself relax. So she didn't like him anymore. But Sakura looked a little sadder as she joked about Xiao Lang's life.

Meanwhile in his car a little distance away from the two Syaoran was struck cold. Sakura had changed, she was just like all the other girls. The girls who were after his fame and money. Syaoran's head whirled. He needed to get away. He didn't want to see her. He didn't want to see her like this. How could she change this much. Sakura was never like this. How could she do this to him. Syaoran's hand shook as he placed it on his car keys.

He looked at Sakura with hate and despair. And hit the pedal in his car furiously. This was not Sakura. Sakura would never think of me like that.

Eriol looked up and just barely slid past the racing car that shot down the road past Sakura's house. Sakura glanced at it, puzzled.

"Dude, that was a Mercedes, what kind of a guy drives a car like that around here." Eriol commented, watching the roaring vehicle disappear in the distance.

Sakura glanced at her watch and realized it was too late, her brother would be mad, "I've got to go Eriol…I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay. Don't forget! Tomorrow!" Eriol reminded and watched as the green-eyed girl disappeared behind the door.

After all...tomorrow's for you...


Sakura laid in bed, unable to fall asleep. How could Tomoyo do this to me. Inviting Syaoran over like that. How could she. Sakura turned on her side and stared straight in to the old elementary school picture.

Syaoran smiled back at her.

The real Syaoran.

Sakura felt a single tear roll down her cheek and hastily wiped it away. I'll just not go tomorrow…Eriol will understand. Sakura put her hand on the frame. Than flipped it upside down on her desk. She didn't want to have to see a smiling Syaoran watching her sleep. There will never be a smiling Syaoran…Just a star named Xiao Lang.

But she dreamed of lavenders that night.

The next morning, Tomoyo was dressed in her nicest apron and her nicest bandana. So was Chiharu. Eriol was in a simple sweatshirt and khaki pants. He wasn't really the kind to want to impress a guy like Xiao Lang.

The nursery was packed. There were several news vans parked down the road that led to the city. The garden itself were filled with crowds and crowds of screaming girls. Cameramen. Reporters. And everyone really…

Eriol felt dizzy watching it all. And he wondered where Sakura was. It was already one-thirty. She was late. And she was never late.

Tomoyo and Chiharu were busy setting refreshments. They hoped if they finished early, they would get a glimpse of Xiao Lang in person.

That's when Sakura burst through the doors of the nursery. Apparently she had just finished chaining her bike outside. Eriol looked relieved. Sakura quickly tied the bandana in to her hair and took a tray of wine from Tomoyo. Who only looked more cheerful.

"Xiao's over there." Tomoyo nudged her shoulder in a direction. But Sakura wasn't listening and bustled off in the same direction Tomoyo had been indicating.

Eriol frowned, Sakura didn't' seem very happy.

Touya had to make me go to work. He just had to. Sakura was cursing under her breath. Maneuvering between the many people who crowded around the signing table.

Than she caught site of him. Just the view of messy brown hair, was all Sakura needed to turn around and start walking in the opposite direction. She didn't want to see him. And she didn't know why. All she ever wanted to do all these twelve years was to see him. And now…since he was just a couple yards away, she turned away. Why? Sakura shut her eyes. I don't care about him anymore. He doesn't even remember who I am.

"Hey! You! If you have refreshments, why don't you come over here?!" A familiar voice cried. Hiroki. He grabbed Sakura by the arm, and Sakura, shocked by the sudden contact, she screamed and ended up dropping most of the glasses on to Hiroki's suit.

It was Hiroki's turn to scream, "LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID!!! THIS SUIT COST ME A FORTUNE!!"

Sakura quickly looked at her feet, so he would not recognize her. This only fueled Hiroki on, who was shouting at the top of his lungs.

Some people stopped talking to look at what had happened. Eriol heard the shouting a while away and hurried towards the direction.

"JUST LOOK AT IT! WHAT KIND OF – YOU – YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS – THIS" Hiroki spat, turning beet red.

"What's going on?" Eriol gasped, reaching Sakura and Hiroki, "What happened?"

"THIS GIRL RUINED MY SUIT! YOU WILL HAVE HER PAY FOR IT!" Hiroki cried furiously, shaking his fist.

Eriol scowled, it was this man, than he turned towards Sakura, "Are you hurt?"

This only angered Hiroki more, "What are you doing?! She poured it all over me!! And you're asking her if SHE's HURT?!"

"Look You! I don't care who you are, but you shouldn't be yelling at her like that, it wasn't her fault!"

"So are you saying it's MY FAULT?!" Hiroki howled.

Everyone stopped laughing, talking. They all stopped to stare at the red-faced man in a soaked suit who was shouting like mad. Even Xiao Lang looked up from his work to stare at the scene. Who was Hiroki yelling at now.

"What's your name! I demand to know your name!!" Hiroki spat.

Eriol intervened, "You have no right to ask her that!"

"SHE RUINED MY SUIT! I WANT HER NAME! SHE WON'T GET AWAY WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT!"

"SHE DOESN'T NEED TO ANSWER YOU!"

"Sakura Kinomoto!" Sakura blurted suddenly, her fists clenched, eyes set, "My name is Sakura Kinomoto."

Hiroki's face went blank, Sakura Kinomoto? The guy who…Xiao Lang…

Syaoran snapped up. It's her.

In three powerful strides he arrived on the scene. Hushing everyone almost instantly. Syaoran pushed Hiroki aside, so he could see Sakura's face.

Syaoran stared at the girl in front of him. This was the closest he had seen her. Her green eyes hadn't changed…at all. Her face was slimmer though. And her hair was down. It was beautiful down.

Eriol felt himself stepping aside as everyone stared as the two face each other. Boring down each other's eyes.

Sakura could hardly breathe. This was Syaoran. Staring at her. Syaoran, who was now half a head taller than her. Syaoran who was giving her weak knees. Sakura felt as if she couldn't hold herself above the water. She was drowning in those eyes.

"Kinomoto Sakura?" Syaoran said deeply, feeling the name that had always been at the tip of his tongue but he could never say out loud.

Sakura brightened. He did remember her.

Than the cameras started. The reporters went crazy, "XIAO LANG! IS THIS GIRL YOU CLAIM TO HAVE A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH?!"

"XIAO LANG!!! WHO IS SHE?!"

"Syaoran?" Sakura barely whispered. Than she saw something change in his eyes. Something was different in those amber eyes.

Syaoran felt himself burning as he remembered what Sakura had said yesterday night.

"Being a star's girlfriend, life would be too easy, you'd get his car, and his money, and his house, and his fame…"

That was all she wanted. Than let's see how she likes it…being a star's girlfriend.

And right there. When all the cameras were clicking. When everyone was holding their breath. Wondering who on earth this girl in a plain apron was. And why Syaoran was looking at her in such a strange way.

Right there. Syaoran swept down and pressed his lips against Sakura's. Sakura gasped in to his mouth. What is he doing?!

The cameras were exploding with excitement as picture after picture was taken. They could see the next headlines. The Mysterious Girl from Nowhere; Xiao Lang's new Interest.

Just as fast as Syaoran had surprised her, they separated. And Sakura was frozen in shock. As the warmth that had just been against her mouth disappeared.

Syaoran however, was unfazed, his eyes blank with no emotion, "This is Sakura Kinomoto, we were classmates in elementary school." He introduced to the crowd that had gathered.

The reporters all murmured and jotted notes down. The screaming fans now eagerly watched what Syaoran would say next.

But the next thing he said, was not given to the audience, he turned towards Sakura. Who had still not moved from her spot. Her mind was everywhere. Her heart was beating so quickly she thought she would faint.

Eriol was nowhere to be seen.

Syaoran's face however, had changed, "Isn't it great to be my girlfriend? Sakura Kinomoto?"

Sakura jolted back to reality. His girlfriend?! What is he trying to say.

"You can have my fame, my money, my car…you can even have my credit card." Syaoran cried loudly, so everyone could hear.

The girls laughed and shrieked. The whole crowd surrounding them was laughing. At her. Sakura felt herself lost in a world of confusion. What is he saying? What is he saying?!

"So? You want to be my girlfriend?" Syaoran asked, in a deep mocking voice. His eyes were taunting, angry. He looked at Sakura like she was nothing to him.

Sakura's mind went blank. Than she felt a sudden anger burning inside of her. This was not Syaoran Li. This was not her Syaoran Li. Syaoran Li would never. Never, say something like that to her. This was not the same eight-year-old boy who had promised to return just for her. This was not the same boy who had given her the love inside a small vial.

This was…

Someone who had no heart. No emotions. No feelings. This was Xiao Lang. Not Syaoran.

Syaoran stared in to her eyes with a fierce intensity. Sakura's face had lost its smile, it's gentleness. She gripped the only glass of wine left on her tray.

Every emotion was replaced with fury.

He would not get away with this. Humiliating her in front of all these people.

How dare he think of her like that. She was no crazy fan girl. She wasn't after his money. She didn't even want the famous Xiao Lang.

She lifted her chin high, and glared straight in to this man's eyes.

"So? Are you going to say anything?" Syaoran demanded impatiently.

"You are –" Sakura said, in a bare whisper. But Syaoran heard every word. The reporters leaned forward.

"I am a what." He cut in coldly.

"You are not Syaoran!" Sakura finished in an outburst.

Than she threw the remaining glass in to his face.

Hiroki let out a shriek. Syaoran could say nothing as red wine dripped from his brown locks. Sakura. The crowd was in an uproar.

Sakura didn't even look back as she ran, tears threatening to fall.