Author's note:- I'm very very very sorry for the long gap, I hope you haven't given up on me. We're nearing the end of this story (sniff) I enjoyed typing it very much just as much as you enjoyed reading it (right?)

Lol, read on now…

Chapter 9:-

Sakura jumped up from bed and threw open the window. She took a deep breath of fresh morning air and smiled; "It has been ages since I went to work" she said aloud and started to get ready.

When she got downstairs Tomoyo was already there, "Good Morning, Sakura"

"Morning"

"Here's breakfast. Hurry up or you'll be late"

Sakura shrieked and gobbled up her breakfast, "It's too 'ot" she said her mouth full.

"Don't gobble, you'll get sick"

Sakura did not pay heed to what Tomoyo said and quickly finished her food.

"I'm leaving, Tomoyo" she called running out.

"See you later" Tomoyo yelled back.

Sakura dashed off to the restaurant where she worked; I hope Lee has come today. Sakura flung the door open and stepped inside,

"Good morning"

"Good morning, Flora" Chiharu appeared from a room

"Strange, Lee hasn't showed up yet" Yamazaki commented coming from behind Chiharu.

"I thought Lee is always on time" Sakura said wonderingly.

"Lee won't be coming anymore" announced a voice from behind them.

"What do you mean, Akane?" asked Naoko at once.

"The farmer's wife came over this morning, she informed us that Lee and his cousin Eli disappeared mysteriously last night. Apparently they had written a note to the farmer apologizing for their sudden departure and also requested them to inform at their workplaces. They didn't say anything about where they're going." Akane explained.

Sakura's face paled, Lee has…gone!

"Oh and by the way, the farmer's wife asked you to drop by her house, Flora. She says she has something to give you from Lee" Akane added as she left the room.

"Are you ok, Flora? You look incredibly pale" asked Chiharu, concerned.

"I'm fine" she managed to choke out, "I—I just have to go somewhere" her voice ended in a whisper and dashed out of the restaurant hoping the others wouldn't notice her tears.

"I wonder if she's ok" Chiharu said after Sakura ran out.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say she really likes Lee" Naoko said wisely.

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Sakura ran out into the busy streets towards the farmhouse where Lee stays or rather stayed. Her tears were falling freely now, almost blinding her eyes.

Lee…why did you have to go? I don't understand…everything was ok till yesterday. What happened? Why did you leave me…all alone?

Questions flooded into her mind as she ran blindly towards the farmhouse. She bumped onto someone and didn't bother to say anything. She brushed herself and was about to run again when,

"Oh, Sakura" It was Tomoyo, she was panting and she looked incredibly upset.

"Tomoyo, do you know that…."

"That Lee and Eli have disappeared? Yeah" she said slowly, "Rika told me… but I don't know why" She said sadly.

"Come on, I know Lee and Eli would have had a good reason to disappear like that, let's go find out what the farmer's wife wanted to give us" Sakura said confidently grabbing Tomoyo's hand.

Tomoyo gave her a feeble smile, "Okay"

The two girls walked the rest of the way in silence, both of them deep in their own thoughts. They knew that someday they would have to leave as well, but if that happened they would never be able to see Lee and Eli ever again. Finally the two of them reached the place. Sakura knocked on the door

"Oh it's you Miss Flora, Miss Violette" said the farmer's wife opening the door.

"Akane told me that you've got something to give me from Lee" Sakura asked her.

"Yes, dear. Mr. Lee and Mr. Eli had written to me specifically that I give it to you personally" she said letting them come in.

"What is it?" Tomoyo asked curiously, hoping she would find some answers in whatever Eli had left for her.

"I don't know. I was asked to take you to their rooms; they've left it on the bedside table." She replied, taking them to Syaoran and Eriol's rooms.

Sakura stepped inside the room; there was a bed and table beside a large window. She walked over to the table and saw a note lying on the table addressed to her. Her name was written in neat handwriting on the parchment. Sakura quickly opened the parchment roll and read,

Dear Flora,

I know that you're really mad at me for having disappeared so suddenly. I don't blame you, I'd be mad if I were you. I'm really sorry for leaving without saying goodbye. Something sudden happened tonight and I can't tell you what it is (sorry). I had no choice but to leave. I just wanted to tell you thanks for everything you've done. I know you're wondering what I mean. You've been great company for me these past few weeks. You taught me that I should open up a little and helped me break the wall that I had built around myself. You were always ready to help others without thinking about yourself. Sometimes I wonder if I'm good enough for you. You're so much better than I'll ever be. And I'm really sorry that I worried you when I was unconscious. I promise that I'll never forget you.

And that… I'll always love you. I'll always remember you as the bubbly and enthusiastic girl who threw a bowl of rice on me. I'll try my best to meet you again.

Love,

Lee.

Tears began to pour from Sakura's eyes as she clutched the letter to her heart. She sank down to her eyes and broke down completely sobbing bitterly holding the letter like it was her life. She buried her face on the bed and mumbled to herself,

"I love you so much, Lee. I wish that you could have stayed here…"

She could smell his scent on the bedspread and it made her cry harder.

Meanwhile, in Eriol's room Tomoyo's hand shook as she read the contents of the letter,

Dear Violette,

Ever since the day I first met you I knew you'd be a really kind hearted and nice person. All the girls I've met so far only liked me for my looks (if I say so myself), but you saw the inside of me too. You're the most sincere person I've ever met; you're always ready to help your friends in whatever way you can. When I found out that you were also staying here, I was overjoyed. I wanted to get to know you better. I'm rather a lazy person and I didn't want to work but you're different you seemed to enjoy whatever you're doing. I know that you're very talented; Flora told me once that you're a fabulous dress maker, an awesome singer, a wonderful cook and an amazing artist. I overheard you sing at your work once and I thought that your voice was enchanting.

I'm very sorry that I had to leave without saying goodbye. But circumstances change and thing's are not always the way you want it to be. I love you and I always will. Please don't forget me, I'll always think of you.

Love,

Eli.

Tomoyo smiled lightly and cried softly. Then she walked over to Lee's room, Sakura was sitting on the floor her face buried in the bed and sobbing quietly,

"Sakura" she said gently, "It's time to go now,"

"Oh, Tomoyo. I just can't help thinking that one day when we have to leave, then we might never be able to see Lee or Eli again" she cried.

"Shh… just don't think about that right now, ok?" Tomoyo said softly and the two of them rose to leave.

Back at the Li Palace,

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, MAN?" roared a voice to a shaking servant who had dropped a pile of dishes, "CAN'T YOU SEE I'M TRYING TO HAVE SOME PEACE AND QUIET HERE?" Syaoran slammed the door of his bedroom so loudly that the entire palace shook.

"Oh dear, I was afraid of this" Queen Yelan said to Queen Hikaru (A/n: That's Eriol's mom, I just made up that name so bear with me Lol!)

"You're right, now we've got one prince flaring up at everything and another one looking like he's going to die" she added, watching Eriol gloomily making his way up the staircase with glassy expression.

"I've promised them that we'll be leaving tomorrow, I can't think what the boys would do if they found out that their engagement is still on" Queen Yelan walked back to the throne room.

Syaoran sank into his bed, an image of a beautiful emerald eyed, auburn haired girl appeared in his head, he groaned,

"Flora, I wish I could see you again"

There was a soft knocking on the door, "Yes?" he called out gruffly.

"Her maj…majesty…would li...like to...to see you…sir" mumbled a shaking voice.

"Alright I'm coming" he heaved himself from the bed and walked over to door and threw it open,

"Where is she?"

"In the throne room, sir" he bowed, relived that the prince didn't yell at him.

Both Syaoran and Eriol went to the throne room silently, they had a bad feeling about this. Syaoran knocked on the door and almost immediately a voice answered,

"Come in"

He pushed the door open and the two of them went inside,

"You wanted to see me mother?" he asked in a monotonous voice.

"Well, dear, I just wanted to tell you that we're leaving tomorrow" Queen Yelan started hesitantly.

Eriol pricked up his ears, "Leaving? Where?"

"To the other kingdom" said his mother slowly.

"What other kingdom?" asked Syaoran sharply.

"Well…you see…the engagement is still on" she said softly.

"WHAT!" yelled both the boys in unison.

"No way, the only reason that we ran away is to break this stupid engagement, and there's no way you're making me leave" stated Syaoran stubbornly. He had such a glare on his face that if looks could kill, everyone there would have dropped dead.

"There's no question of whether you want to leave or not. At least meet the princesses, we'll talk about marriage later" Queen Yelan said firmly.

"But… but I don't want to get married to someone I don't even know" cried Eriol, looking at his mother helplessly.

She sighed, "We made a promise, and we have to keep it"

"How could you make a promise without asking us?" demanded Syaoran furiously.

"You're coming tomorrow, Syaoran. Meeting them is not going to do any harm. Now start packing, we're leaving first thing tomorrow morning" Queen Yelan concluded with an air of finality.

"Don't think about running away, it's not going to help" she added as she swept out of the room with Queen Hikaru.

"Damn it" cursed Syaoran, glaring at everyone back on his way to his room. Eriol gave a defeated sigh and followed him.

Sakura and Tomoyo were sitting in their cottage, Sakura kept reading Syaoran's letter over and over again.

"Hey, Tomoyo"

"Mmm?"

"Do you think that they've organized a search party to look for us?"

Tomoyo looked up from the sewing that she was doing,

"Maybe."

"I wonder what will happen if they find us"

"Isn't that obvious? We'll have to leave as well"

"I hope they've broken that engagement"

"Me too"

"You know for some reason I've got a feeling that I'm going be able to see Lee again" Sakura sighed happily, hugging her knees to her chest.

Tomoyo smiled, "I've got a good feeling we might" Then she stood up and stretched, "It's still light out, want to go for a walk?" she asked.

"Sure" Sakura replied tucking Lee's letter in her pocket and stood up.

"Do you have to carry that wherever you go?" asked Tomoyo referring to the letter.

Sakura grinned, "Yep"

Tomoyo looked thoughtful, "Maybe I will too," she walked over to her diary and pulled Eriol's letter out and stuffed it into her pocket. While pulling the letter out, a small brooch fell out from the diary.

"Hey, isn't that the brooch Eli gave you?"

Tomoyo stared at it then pinned the pretty purple brooch on her dress and smiled, "I think I'll take this also"

The two girls locked their little cottage and went for a walk towards the edge of the forest,

"Remember the first day we met the guys? You simply hated Lee that time" Tomoyo said suddenly.

Sakura smirked, "Yeah, he was rude, insensitive, arrogant and…"

"And?"

Sakura smiled, "and incredibly cute too"

"I knew from the first time I saw you two together, that you two were made for each other, you were so cute when blushed around him" said Tomoyo, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Sakura blushed, "Stop it" then she sighed, "I hope he's ok"

"Don't worry I bet he's thinking about his darling, Flora, right now" Tomoyo taunted.

"And I bet Eli's thinking about his beloved Violette also, just as much you're thinking about him" shot back Sakura and both of them laughed.

"Princess Sakura, Princess Tomoyo" called a familiar voice and Sakura and Tomoyo froze. They spun around and Sakura stuttered,

"Yukito?"

Author's note:- Well ppl, we're reaching the end of this story (boo hoo!) and I'd like you all to be kind enough to leave me a review telling me what you think about this chapter. Tell me if I've made any mistakes I haven't revised this chapter. Sorry for the delay!

Signing off

sakura doll.