AN: I am so shocked that I got so many replies, but it's great, because I was encouraged to do my next chapter. So much love to you guys! S2!

Lavender V

Reunited?

The two stared at each other in a heavy silence. Syaoran let his hand drop to his side. Sakura could not stop looking at him, fearing that she would awake from a dream. Or discover it was a nightmare.

"So, you want to walk?" Syaoran said suddenly.

"Hey! It's Xiao Lang!"

"You're right!" The students apparently were back from break, and pointing fingers at Syaoran with an excited look, "It really is Xiao Lang! Whose that girl he's with!"

Sakura looked at him nervously.

Syaoran raised his eyes up at the sky as if asking the heaven why on earth his fate was so twisted and it seemed he had stalkers every where.

"C'mon – let's go some place else," Syaoran said, as the students all gathered in the hallway jeering and howling like crazy. Syaoran grabbed Sakura by the wrist and in a half jog, they raced off the school campus.

Sakura was very aware that he was holding on to her, and the feeling was all to unfamiliar.

The kids chased after them enthusiastically, thinking it was some game.

"Syaoran – their following us," Sakura gasped, realizing how fast they'd been running.

He said nothing but after they rounded a corner, the kids disappeared.

Sakura was out of breath and her heart was in a panic. Syaoran suddenly whirled around seeing her bent over, panting heavily.

"Shit – I forgot – you can't run that hard," Syaoran swore, putting his hands on his hips, silently scolding himself, "Are you alright?"

There was definitely a worried tone in his voice now.

"Sakura!" He pressed, leaning down. Sakura calmed. Being close to him was enough to endure the pain.

"I'm fine – " She breathed, taking a couple last deep breaths.

Syaoran sighed and stood up, "I'm relieved – not exactly the best birthday gift if you end up in the hospital because of me – like last time."

"You remember." Sakura said, standing straight, awkwardly facing him. They were in an alleyway. Near the bay. She could hear the water, and smell the salty wind.

"I remember – a lot of things," Syaoran restrained himself from saying everything.

"Syaoran…" Sakura said, she looked at him with pleading eyes, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Syaoran spat out a bit too harshly and immediately restrained himself, "I mean – for what."

"For saying those things about you – I'm – I'm really not like that,"

Syaoran felt an enormous relief wash over him. Than nearly had to slap himself from falling for it again. What if it was some sort of trick?

"Let's not talk here – c'mon," Syaoran urged, he wrapped his fingers around her hand and led her out of the alley way. This time, he made sure they were walking.

The two found a place to sit, their legs dangling over the bay. The sea waters lapping below, and the wind was strong. Blowing their hair back and piercing their skin.

"So you work at Tomoeda?" Syaoran asked, wanting to start a conversation. After twelve years, they felt like strangers again.

"Yeah – and you – you're a singer now," Sakura turned towards him, smiling, "I never thought you'd become a famous star."

Syaoran stared at his hands, "Really."

"So…what happened?" Sakura asked a bit hesitantly.

"What do you mean?" Syaoran asked quizzily, and stared off at the sea.

"I mean, what happened after you left Japan?"

"Oh," Syaoran sighed and leaned back, "I don't know, I met Hiroki, and we ended working together…"

Than he turned on her, "What about you?"

"There's nothing really…interesting about my life." Sakura blushed and looked away.

"Is your boyfriend treating you okay?" Syaoran said stiffly.

Sakura started and nearly lost her balance, "What boyfriend?"

"The one who gives you rides home," Syaoran added, his mouth still set in a thin line.

"E-Eriol? He's my boss! We're not together!" Sakura cried, realizing who Syaoran was talking about. How did he know that I got rides home from him. Why did he think we were together! No!

He said nothing.

"What about you? Do you have anyone…special?" Sakura asked. There, I said it.

"Girlfriends?"

"Yeah, I guess," Sakura blinked and found her shoes all of a sudden so fascinating. Woa, she never knew she had white laces.

"My girlfriend's back in Hong Kong," Syaoran replied smoothly and planted both palms to his side.

What? He - what! Sakura fought back the urge to scream at him. He never cared...He never came back to Japan for me...He fooled you! He tricked you!

"Speaking of which…I need to go…I have a meeting with – in half an hour, Hiroki will go crazy if I don't show up," Syaoran said suddenly, after he checked his watch. Than with a graceful heave, he jumped off the ledge on to the solid pavement behind him. Sakura turned to watch him.

"Well – happy birthday Sakura, I'll see you around." He waved casually, and left.

He waved.

As if he was just waving to an ordinary classmate.

Someone he just had an ordinary conversation with.

Whom they shared an ordinary reunion.

Nothing special.

Nothing special at all.

Sakura felt shattered.

"He's late," Syaoran hissed angrily, leaning back in his chair, glaring at Hiroki. The stressed manager was nervously playing with his hands and sweating like a pig.

"Sorry Xiao, I don't know – he's an important man…traffic? Maybe he's sick…don't worry – he'll come…" Hiroki grumbled under his breath, hastily twisting his palms together.

"He's still late," Syaoran repeated in a very sour mood.

"Maybe, you're just early," A man suddenly said.

Hiroki leaped to his feet and burst out crying, "Yue! So nice of you to join us! We have your papers and samples ready! Xiao Lang has just been dying to meet you since we got to Japan! You are such the model for – "

Yue held up a hand. Syaoran rubbed his temple, refusing to stare at the man who settled himself in to his own chair.

But how could he not look? He was the singer of Japan. He was all over. He was everything. And not only that. He wrote all of his songs. And they were all hits. Syaoran needed this. He needed to get his own voice through. He didn't just want to be a singer. He wanted to write out his own voice, like Yue.

His hair was white that ran down his back. And he had a piercing gaze that was now looking through Syaoran's head. He scowled at him.

"Xiao – xiao!" Hiroki snapped, bolting Syaoran from his thoughts.

"What." He replied harshly.

"The samples!" Hiroki cried as if it was obvious and nudged Syaoran sharply in the shoulder. Than Hiroki turned to face Yue with a gleaming smile, "Sorry, Xiao Lang's been really busy lately…knowing how fast his fame is rising these days."

"We'll decide his fame after I hear his music," Yue said coolly that sent chills down Syaoran's back.

Syaoran fished the cd out of his pocket and handed it to a man beside him, who instantly swept over to a nearby player and stuck it in.

During the whole time, Yue and Syaoran had locked eyes. Both glaring. Wondering who was going to back down first. No way in hell was Syaoran losing to anybody.

His song played. The one he had been working on since the day of the concert. It was played on the piano. It had many running sixteenth notes and swells of dynamics and a crystal clear melody. Syaoran had worked hard on this. Finding the exact notes, the exact pitch. It had been a painstakingly long task. He felt every bit of glory as his song played on that small machine.

Yue was listening. Syaoran could tell. He was listening, hard.

What is he thinking?

Hiroki in the mean while, was busy playing with his hands again, nervously looking from Xiao to Yue. Two very cold singers who were battling over superiority. Hiroki felt the need to leave.

The song went on. But Yue seemed to have made up his mind and his eyes flew at Syaoran, piercing them, "I've heard enough."

Was all he said. Than the tall man rose from his seat, and literally, deserted the room.

Hiroki jumped from his seat and called after him, "Was it good? Did it pass? Are we in? What did you think?"

Syaoran was furious. What the hell is he doing! He didn't tell me anything about it at all!

Syaoran slammed his palm on to his table and ran out the door, finding the back of the white-haired man walking away. Without a care in the world. Syaoran caught up to him and stopped his path.

"What is the meaning of this? Aren't you going to tell me what you thought of it?" Syaoran snapped, feeling like hell.

"I don't need to say anything." Came the cool reply.

"Oh is that right, well, I don't care if your some famous star or some homeless man out on the streets, I want to know what you think of my music," Syaoran demanded, pointing to his own chest.

Yue stared down at him, his expression completely empty, "You're music isn't worth my time, it means nothing, there is no emotion, you have nothing in it, it's nothing but notes."

Syaoran felt a million poisonous darts had just rained in to his skin. What!

"What do you mean! What's wrong with it!" Syaoran hissed, blocking his path and scowling at him with intense hatred.

"You need to think of a cherished memory, a special person, a certain emotion when you write music, or put notes on paper- when you wrote – this – music – you had nothing, when you wrote this, you felt nothing, so the music becomes, nothing, end of story," Yue said evenly and raised his eyebrows, "I would like to get through now boy, I don't have time to waste on people like you."

Syaoran growled darkly, but Hiroki had found the two.

"Xiao Lang," He said timidly,"Let the man go,"

Syaoran unwilling stepped slightly to the side so the tall man had to squeeze through him and the wall to continue his way. Syaoran was still glaring down his back.

That bastard…

"Xiao, get a grip!" Hiroki was pleading, shaking him.

Syaoran's mind was thinking about nothing else. Damn him to fucking hell. I don't need anything to write music. Nothing, nobody.

Whose the lucky Birthday Girl?

Kero

Yesterday, our one and only Xiao Lang, was spotted near Queenside Elementary. And he was not alone. Witnesses reported that he was with a certain girl, and that they ran off together, holding hands. So who is this girl? None other than Kinomoto Sakura, the same girl who had driven fans completely crazy just a couple days ago. And we have discovered that yesterday just happened to be her 20th Birthday. So what was Xiao Lang doing with Kinomoto? Making out? Sharing romance? Whatever it is, Kinomoto was one lucky Birthday Girl if she caught Xiao Lang's eye.

Sakura gasped as her eyes skimmed the article.

Not again!

Touya, oh no.

"Hey Sakura,"

Sakura let out a stifled scream and slammed her palm across the headlines. It was only Eriol. She relaxed, "You – you scared me."

"Oookay," Eriol said, rubbing his head, "How was your birthday – yesterday."

"My birthday?" Sakura repeated, suddenly lost for words, "It was – it was – "

"Well - Happy Birthday Sakura, I'll see you around."

"It was fine," Sakura finished, looking away, feeling even more depressed. She didn't want to be reminded of Syaoran anymore.

"Well – I thought," Eriol said as he sat down in front of Sakura, and stared, "Since we didn't get enough time together last night, I was thinking of taking you to a flower exhibit tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yeah, well?"

"I – I'm not sure…" Sakura broke off, wondering if she was ever going to be in the mood to do something fun.

Eriol was not about to give up, "Here, take this, it's at seven – I'll wait." He handed her a ticket and left the greenhouse. Tomoyo looked up, puzzled.

"What was that about Sakura?"

Sakura stared at the ticket in her hands, than had an idea, "Tomoyo – will you do me a favor?"

"What is it?" Tomoyo said at Sakura's side and leaned down.

"Take this and meet Eriol at seven, I can't go, I have…things to do." Sakura handed Tomoyo the ticket.

Tomoyo frowned slightly, "But he wants to take you – not me."

Sakura groaned and stood, being a bit shorter than Tomoyo, "He gave it to me, I'm giving it to you – it's the same thing, please?"

She gave her the eyes.

Tomoyo sighed, "Okay, but it's only because you're my best friend."

"Right," Sakura gave her a hug, "I'm going to go now, tell Eriol I'm taking an early leave."

"Okay, be careful Sakura – and feel better – alright?" Tomoyo waved bye and Sakura nodded. I need time to think. No. I need to stop thinking about Syaoran Li.

Damnit

Syaoran was lost.

Completely lost.

Where the fuck is this place? I swear I parked somewhere here.

The morning after Sakura and Yue, Syaoran had disappeared from his apartment and took a day off, fully against Hiroki's schedule. He had missed at least five talk shows by now. The sun had set, and it was chilly and pitch dark out. By the lack of street lights, Syaoran assumed he was in a nearby alleyway.

Not that he cared. By all means, he thought he was a failure. A failure. He had stayed up all night, thinking about his music, tearing apart his pieces, and just slamming away on his keyboard, trying to figure out what was wrong with what he wrote. Hiroki had wisely left him alone.

He couldn't care. Why would he care?

Yue wasn't anybody important.

What would he know about music? His music.

Shit. I am lost.

Syaoran rounded another unfamiliar corner. He saw figures standing in the narrow alley space.

"What have we here? A visitor?" One of them snickered, nearing a lone light bulb on the red brick walls. It was a tall boy, with slicked back hair, and trashy street clothes. His friends weren't that much better. They all had gelled hair, and jeans that were ripped in half. Shirts that were torn at the sleeves.

One of them laughed hollowly, "A pretty boy," He said, enunciating the Ts, "I think he needs a makeover."

"I want to rip that good looking face apart." The other said, Syaoran noted they were all street built. Muscles, all brawn, no brain.

Not exactly the smartest place to be lost in.

He thought the best thing to do was to keep his mouth shut. But with ever insult, his anger rose. He had already been trashed enough by Yue, he didn't need to take this.

Next thing he knew, he was pinned to a nearby wall. The first boy, he assumed, their leader, was rummaging through his pockets. He found his wallet.

"Let's find out who you are eh? Canner, check this!" He threw the wallet at a boy next to the light who flipped it open expertly. His eyes grew noticeably wider and looked up, grinning.

"We've got ourselves a celebrity, Xiao Lang."

"Xiao Lang?" The man in front of his spat, showing complete disgust. Syaoran felt the grip on his collar tighten, and cursed that he hadn't done something about it and letting himself get pinned.

This Yue shit…I'm getting fucking careless.

"You've got a pretty face, boy," One of them snickered, threatening to choke him, "No wonder you bastards get rich."

Syaoran felt the words sink in slowly. Was that all he was? Someone who looked good, was that why he was famous? Did no one care about his music? His work? Nobody?

"Let's see what the public will think of Xiao Lang, once we're done with you," The one in his face said smoothly, beckoning for his men to come closer. Too late. The next split second, two men were on the floor, and Syaoran had lost it.

He jump kicked the man dubbed "Canner" And he slammed his head in to a garbage can, crumpling to the ground in a messy heap.

"Son of a bitch!" The leader of the gang swore and backed away from him, "Shit."

He bolted, deserting his comrades who were all unconscious. Syaoran noticed a sharp sting of pain on his right hand. It was bleeding. Must've been when I knocked the first two out…I'm out of shape…I normally don't get hurt so damn easily.

He shook out his wrist and stepped over Canner's body, feeling a bit more tensed up than usual. Once he turned another corner, he finally found familiar ground. His car was only two blocks away.

He had a bleeding hand as a compensation for his anger. But it was worth it; he felt he had taken some of his heat out on Yue. On everybody. And now he felt like going home.

Sakura didn't know where she was going when the first raindrops started falling to the ground. She knew she just wanted to walk for the entire night, and find a way to get rid of this nagging feeling in the back of her mind. The nagging feeling of a long awaited birthday that had ended up being, nothing at all.

No stop, stop it. You're killing yourself.

Sakura kicked a puddle, and realized she was already soaked. The weather was so unpredictable these days.

Her socks were wet now, and she didn't bring an umbrella.

That was the least on her mind, she wouldn't care less if she died of pneumonia, she was going to die anyways. Her stupid sickness.

Who would come if she died anyways?

Eriol maybe.

Tomoyo.

Chiharu?

Syao -

Sakura shuddered, what am I thinking? Stop doing this.

Why am I doing this?

She spotted one of Xiao Lang's posters hanging loosely due to wetness on a window pane. Sakrua had a longing to touch his face, the real Syaoran's face. She walked up to the poster, and placed a hand on it. It was icy cold.

Like him…he was never this…distant…

Sakura fought to keep tears back. What happened? What happened to him!

Syaoran cursed at his bad luck as he realized the traffic light had broken and the workers were busy fixing it. Don't they realize their holding half of the city up! Idiots!

Syaoran's eyes wandered the streets, searching for perhaps a detour. Than he saw a familiar backside of a girl. Her hand was placed against a poster. She looked so…

His eyes narrowed. Is that? …what the hell is she doing in the rain!

Sakura didn't exactly notice when or how the rain suddenly stopped. Or when someone had stepped up behind her. She only realized it was much warmer.

"You're going to catch a cold," A voice stated matter-of-factly.

Sakura sniffed, thinking the voice was only part of her imagination.

Syaoran frowned and pulled at her wrist, "Sakura, what are you doing?"

She caught her breath and whirled around to find deep entrancing eyes, "You! When – when did you?" Sakura gasped, "I was - I was just – you're poster – it was falling off – I."

"Is that what you were doing?" Syaoran humored. Sakura fought to catch her words. She couldn't talk right, why was she acting like this? I should hate him!

Sakura looked away, ashamed, "What are you doing here?" She said miserably.

"Let's see, you're standing in the rain, and I have an umbrella."

"Aren't you worried they might see us together again?"

"No, I'm not afraid of the public…I would care less."

Sakura shut her eyes and took a step away from his umbrella.

"Sakura!" Syaoran stayed with her as she made her way to the curb, "What are you doing!"

"Stay away!" She cried, now crying, she couldn't stop herself anymore, she didn't want him there. She was trying to forget him! Why did he have to be everywhere?

"Why?" He scowled, "You're wet, it'll be my responsibility if you catch a cold, I have a car close by, stop being stubborn!"

Sakura bit back a sob, and held herself.

Syaoran let out a frustrated groan as he watched the girl shivering there. What is she trying to prove!

"Sakura…" He pleaded. A part of his tone hit Sakura fiercely. He was worried.

She felt a heavy coat descend on her shoulders. Syaoran was busy pulling the sleeves across her chest so his leather jacket would stay on.

"If you're not going to move, neither am I," He gritted with clenched teeth. To convince her, folded his arms the best he could, still lifting the umbrella up high over Sakura's head. She noticed that he was still very much in the rain.

Sakura let out a little smirk, it was just the same as always. He was always just as stubborn as she was.

The next part she remembered as well. She would always give in.

"Okay," She said softly, "Just because I don't want you getting sick."

He lifted the corners of his mouth just slightly, "Knew you'd see it my way."

Where is she? Eriol checked his watch.

7:30

She was never usually late for anything so what happened?

Oh no, what if she was sick?

Or kidnapped?

Or maybe she got lost?

Eriol shook his head. She's not that stupid, idiot.

"Eriol! Eriol!"

See? She's coming now, you're just over-stressed over- worked…

Eriol turned to meet a cheerful dark-haired girl.

"Um – " He started, biting back his original shock, "Where's Sakura?"

Syaoran fumbled around with his keys, and swore at his bleeding hand for not responding.

"You're hurt!" Sakura realized, staring at him, "What did you do to it?"

"Nothing!" Syaoran replied hotly, "I – fell."

"You did not fall," Sakura argued, taking his house keys away and fitting them properly in to the door. The handle turned and it swung open. Syaoran, muttering under his breath, entered his apartment after Sakura.

"Where's your first aid?" Sakura asked, searching his room as if it was her own.

Syaoran found himself frowning even more as he retorted, "I don't have one."

"You what?" Sakura whirled on her heels to face him, "Okay – where can I find one?"

Syaoran shrugged and dropped down on to his sofa, hissing when his hand hit the table accidentally.

Sakura bit her lip, "Forget it, I'll ask the office – stay here – and don't move it!"

Grumbling loudly about his "carelessness" she left the room and descended down the stairs.

Syaoran sighed, was it a great idea to bring her along?

I still have Hiroki to deal with…

Syaoran sighed again, leaning back in his couch and cupping his free hand over his forehead, massaging the massive headache he was getting.

Sakura returned quicker than he thought humanly possible, and in one hand, she had an enormous roll of bandage and a kit in the other.

She knelt in front of him and took his palm gently.

"Doesn't this feel all too familiar?" She commented stiffly, unrolling the bandages.

Syaoran's head pulsed as he fought to respond, "I remember- "

Syaoran grabbed Sakura's hand and pulled her away from the crowd, "ERASE THAT!"

"NO! UNTIL YOU ADMIT THAT YOUR IN LOVE WITH SAKURA KINOMOTO!"

Syaoran snapped, he grabbed the boy with both hands and pushed him to the floor.

"Fight! Fight!"

"No! Syaoran!" Sakura screamed, and tried to pull him off the boy.

"Fight Fight!" The crowd cheered enthusiastically. The boys were punching each other now, rolling on the floor.

"Did you get in to a fight again," Sakura stated rather than questioned. An annoyed expression on her face.

Syaoran decided best not to say anything. He winced as the bandage rolled across his wound and between his thumb and index finger, under his palm, and over his wound again.

"Eriol gets pricked a lot by thorns, so I'm used to doing this," She commented. No wonder she was so gentle about it.

"You're boyfriend?" Syaoran mouthed feeling bitter.

Sakura stopped rolling and looked at him, her eyes were fierce, "He's not my boyfriend."

After that, Syaoran noticed she started pulling a bit tighter on the bandages.

"There," She said huffily, as she taped the end in place, "Don't do anything else to it, or it'll split open, and you might die of blood loss."

Syaoran looked at her, "You're joking."

She shrugged, than got to her feet.

Immediately she sensed something wrong. Everything was swirling around, and the floor was swaying underneath her. What's going on? Sakura fought to stay upright, and placed a hand on the sofa arm to steady herself.

The floor was becoming the ceiling; the ceiling was becoming the floor. The walls were everywhere. I forgot to take my medicine this morning! Sakura caught her self as she nearly toppled forward. Shit.

Syaoran stood up, noticing that Sakura wasn't feeling quite well.

" – you okay?" He asked watching the girl hold her head, than she completely lost her balance and plumeted to the floor, "Sakura !"

Syaoran caught her just in time and hissed out in pain as he had had to use both hands to stop her from hitting the ground.

"Sakura!"

No response. He checked her pulse, it was still going, slowly, but it was there. Syaoran let out a relieved breath. Damnit, don't scare me like that.

He stretched out his legs from underneath him and managed to put her on the sofa. Than he folded his legs next to the sofa and wondered what to do.

He stared at her for a while.

She had changed.

She was…actually rather beautiful.

The way her hair descended on her soft cheeks, it was…entrancing.

Syaoran reached out a finger to brush the hair out of her eyes when a noise startled him.

What was that?

It wasn't his cell phone…

So?

It was coming from her bag.

Syaoran blinked. What he had learned during the ages of growing up. Never look through a girl's purse. NEVER.

But…

She wasn't looking? Heck, she was unconscious.

What if it was important?

Syaoran took her bag and unzipped it, fearing for its contents, but he found the vibrating cell phone with ease.

"Hello?" He said coolly.

A very confused voice answered on the other end, "Hello? Is Sakura there?"

"She's…kind of busy – right now," Syaoran said, glancing back at the girl on the sofa. He noticed that her chest was falling in a more regular pattern. Well, she was busy.

Than he added as an afterthought, "Who are you?"

"Eriol – ah – Eriol Hiirigizawa – " Than there was a pause, the voice sounded mildly braver, "Who are you?"

Another Cliffie, wow I AM evil! Muahahahahahaha.