DEDICATED TO Annelee, whose b-day is on May 3rd!! Happy b-day Annelee!!!

A/N: Sorry;; I've been so busy lately with like, 4 projects! So pardon this chap if it's bad or sumthng!

Chapter 9: A Flashback


"So, he asked you out?" Tomoyo smiled wryly.

"Well, he kinda did," Cherry said, blushing. "But I think he did it so he can enjoy the night with a Sakura-Kinomoto-look-alike."

"That's not true!" Tomoyo protested. "The guy is totally in love with you. What can I say? He's confused."

"Confused?" Cherry asked curiously.

"Yeah, sure! He's confused because you look like Sakura and you act like her, but you guys are totally different people—at least to him. You've got different names and different personalities. While Sakura is kind and generous, you're... well... you're-" Tomoyo paused, "You're special in your own way."

"Right... so he likes us both, but he's confused whether or not we're the same person?" Cherry asked.

"Sort of..." Tomoyo sighed, and smiled at Cherry. "The dance is tomorrow, has he brought the pictures yet?"

"I don't know..." Cherry said disappointedly. "Just how good is that Sakura Kinomoto anyway?!"

--

Cherry walked alone in the hall. It was after school already, and no sign of Syaoran anywhere. She began to get more disappointed by the minute, for Syaoran didn't even come up to her at all today.

Is he okay? I don't seem to have seen him in school today! Cherry thought in pain. Where was Syaoran? Why is he avoiding Cherry? WHERE THE HELL IS THAT STUPID LIL' IDIOT?!!

"Cherry!!" Someone tapped Cherry hard on the shoulder. She jerked aside, whining at the pain the person has caused her, and whirled around angrily to meet the guy's eyes. Her frown turned into a bright smile instantly as she greeted, "Good afternoon, Mr. Li!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever... Anyways, I got these pictures from home of me and Sakura, here, look at this," Syaoran said impatiently while taking out a colored photo of Sakura Kinomoto smiling at the camera.

Cherry gasped at the picture. Sakura was holding an ice cream cone while kissing an angry-looking Syaoran on the cheek. Her flaming auburn hair was trimmed to shoulder-length, while her large emerald orbs showed to be in a state of shock as the camera clicked, but managed to smile anyways. The photo of Sakura Kinomoto matched Cherry's appearance, and no matter how she sees it, it always remained the same—

Pleasant and warm.

Cherry raised her head up slowly to gaze at Syaoran's face, who leaned against her for a clearer view of the picture, and reached her fingers to brush his hair with her hand. Syaoran, who's definitely confused, looked back at her, and smiled.

A smile... Cherry thought. A long time ago, someone smiled at me...

An auburn-haired girl sat on a bench near the park three blocks away from her home, and cried, stiffing and snuffing on her hand.

"Here," a cold voice pierced into the bright atmosphere as a boy, about the same age as her, with messy chestnut hair and handsome amber eyes, handed her a white handkerchief with a wolf's head on it.

"Thanks," the girl murmured softly, and blew lightly on the handkerchief.

"My name's Syaoran, what's yours?" the boy named Syaoran asked.

"Sakura... Sakura Kinomoto," the girl whispered, her eyes red from crying.

"So, Sakura, what's the matter? Why are you crying?" Syaoran asked curiously.

"I-I-My mo-mother is ill..." Sakura hiccupped while holding the handkerchief tightly in her hands. "She's going to somewhere else soon..."

Syaoran nodded in sympathy. For a while both were silent, only Sakura's sniffing was heard in the serenity of the air.

"Think of it this way then," Syaoran finally spoke, "—she's going to go to a better place. Besides, she'll be watching you from above. I mean, being an angel isn't so bad!" he smiled widely. "Daddy disappeared a long time ago, but I don't worry... I mean, if he's happy where he is, then let him be!"

Sakura looked up at the boy and smiled softly. Syaoran patted her on the back, and stood up to leave. "To my brave friend, Princess Sakura Kinomoto," Syaoran smiled again as he took off his orange cap and placed it on Sakura's head, "Always remember, let your parents be happy wherever they are."

...

Be happy... :)

Be brave... 0

...

My Princess Sakura...

--

Cherry shook her head in confusion. "Did you ever give Sakura Kinomoto a cap when you first met?"

Syaoran nodded in surprise. "Yeah, I did. An orange cap. How did you know?"

"I-I don't. I think I just had Sakura's memory from the past." Cherry said. "It's not abnormal for that, is it?"

"Unless you are Sakura Kinomoto, then yes, it is abnormal. (A/N: I'm so confused with the word phrase --)" Syaoran replied. "You are Sakura, aren't you?"

Cherry paused, thought for a moment. "I don't know... I mean, it can't be, can it?"

Syaoran stayed silent. Then Cherry fell. Syaoran caught her just in time before she landed onto the floor. "It can't be! It can't be true!!! Right? I mean, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HER! I'M NOT SAKURA!" Cherry yelled in frustration while Syaoran placed her next to rows of lockers and sat down himself, holding her shoulders while she leaned against him.

"Am I? Am I Sakura Kinomoto? The legendary princess killed in that awful plane accident?" Cherry asked.

"I-I don't know... I wish you're not though," Syaoran lowered his head in thought.

"W-Why?" Cherry asked, her eyes widening. "Didn't you want me to be Sakura?"

"That was then, before I realized that Kinomoto never loved me. You are you. She is her. You're nothing like her. She's gone. Disappeared! Now, it's your turn. There was no Sakura Kinomoto. At least there wasn't when Cherry Kura is in the house." Syaoran smiled widely, the same smile he had given to Sakura years ago.

"Syaoran! Didn't I make your life a living hell?" Cherry asked.

Syaoran leaned forward to meet Cherry's lips, caressing his hand on her cheeks. "No, idiot, I loved you from the start."

A/N: Short chappie... sorry... so much projects!!!!! HATE THIS HATE THIS SO MUCH!!!! Neways, yeah... RR plz!!

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