Chapter 3 – The Reason

Syaoran received a fax message from Wei after 3 days. It contains the list of countries/places that had a Sakura Kinomoto living in it.

Hong Kong, China, Korea, France, Taiwan and so on… blah…blah… blah…

"C'mon Eriol get on the plane, now!" Syaoran bawled and glared at Eriol who was quite hesitating of what they're doing.

"Okay, fine! I'm going." He strained out a smile then sweatdropped. 'Does he really conceived we can find Sakura when there are thousands of them in 100 places? Is he really serious of his plan of visiting all those hundred places on the list?' Eriol pondered… and when he twitched out of contemplation… he haven't noticed that the plane was now on board. He sweatdropped once more.

It took Syaoran and Eriol 4 months of searching in Hong Kong, half a year in China and 5 months in Korea. Summed up, they spent 15 months or a year and 3 months looking for Sakura, Meiling and Tomoyo and yet, they haven't found anyone of them.

Presently, they were now in France…

---At a Cafeteria---

"Syaoran, do you really think we can find them?" Eriol said while quaffing his cup of coffee. It had been a part of their daily routine to have their breakfast in cafeterias rather than in their hotel. Syaoran eyed at him.

"I'm not losing hope you know. I just really wanna know her reason of leaving. What's bothering me is that why didn't Sakura even managed to call me or email me just to inform me that she's fine or what. I am just too curious why she had to leave, for what? For whom?" Syaoran muttered in a downcast voice with questions circling his head. Eriol tapped his shoulder.

"Maybe Sakura had a good reason after all. I hope…" He mumbled trying to sound good. Syaoran nodded his head then smiled. They both took a sip off their own coffees and started eating their breakfasts.

Eriol looked around to search for a waiter when his gaze paused at a magazine one girl is reading on the table next to them. The picture he just had saw astonished him. He eyed closely at the magazine then he stood off his seat abruptly and headed to the next table.

Syaoran stared at him puzzled. Eriol continued his way and approached the girl for the mag. He took out a hundred bucks from his wallet and offered it to the girl in exchange of the magazine. The girl blushed then handed him what he wished. Eriol hurried back to their table and sat beside Syaoran.

"Hey, you did that for that girlish magazine?" Syaoran burst into laughter. Eriol glared daggers at him.

"Shut up! It's not that! Look closely… isn't this Meiling?" Eriol shrieked. He pointed out the picture of a model that looks exactly like their cousin. Syaoran gulped.

"Yeah, that is Meiling! Wait a second, she's one of France's hottest model?" Syaoran and Eriol were both shocked. They faced each other with their eyes widened. Syaoran turned the pages slowly and the second picture astonished them both especially Eriol.

"I….it… It's Tomoyo! France's teenage designer… WHAT?" Eriol gasped that he stammered. His eyes much widened in shock. 'My girlfriend is now a designer? She's so beautiful…uhhhhh!' He thought to himself. Syaoran felt his heart beat racing with the thoughts of 'If Meiling and Tomoyo were in this mag, perhaps…'

"Huh! It's Sakura…" Syaoran stuttered. "She's now France's top model and famous singer." He continued, unsure how to react or what to say. Pain and hatred started swimming in his amber orbs.

"Syao! That's Sakura right? We finally found them! Yippee!" Eriol screeched excitedly. Syaoran stared at him fiercely then he crumpled the magazine page where Sakura's picture is posted. His eyes were blazing in anger. Eriol looked at him confused and somehow, frightened.

"Eriol, were leaving tonight. Were going back to Japan as soon as possible." Syaoran said frantically. Eriol was taken aback in surprise of Syaoran's reaction.

"Syao, but why? We've searched for them for a long time now and now that we've found them we'll go home? I thought you wanted to find her, I thought you wanted to know the reason of her sudden leaving? It's all here now, but why are we going back home?" Eriol protested furiously. Syaoran glared at his cousin then took a deep breath.

"Don't you understand Eriol! I've found out the reason why she left me! Can't you see that? She left everything behind to fulfill her dream of becoming a famous singer… Sakura didn't ask my permission about that because she knew I wouldn't allow her. She didn't even dare to call or email me because she's afraid that I would interfere in her career. That's the true reason Eriol, that's it!" Syaoran squawked angrily. Hatred can be felt with his every word as he quavered horribly.

"But Syaoran, you're not sure about that! That's why you have to see her and talk to her so that she can tell you personally the reason you're longing for!" Eriol squawked back fiercely. Syaoran glared deadly at him.

"I don't need to see her, I don't want to see her! I don't need to hear any single word from her because I clearly understand everything! You know what I feel now? I feel betrayed, I'm angry, I'm mad that I hate her! I hate Sakura Kinomoto!" Syaoran began to weep. "If you want to stay here then stay! But me, if you're asking me! I'm going back to Japan as soon as I can." Syaoran stood off his seat, his hands clinched into a fist and his eyes burning with anger. Eriol gazed at him then dithered his head off. He felt pity for his cousin and also for Sakura.

"You might be right, but you might also be wrong! Okay, we'll come home. Just don't blame me if ever in the end, you'll find out that what you think of her is way too opposite." Eriol shrieked while locking his eyes at Syaoran's.

END OF FLASHBACK

Tomoyo was crying to herself. 'If he just knew…' She thought. Eriol pulled her into a hug and patted her back balmy. Tomoyo can feel the warmth of his breath on her neck.

When they broke, Eriol continued his story. "Since that day, Syaoran changed. When we came back here in Japan, he became so miserable that he didn't touched his food for a week. After that, he transformed from a serious guy to a flirty, playful one. He started dating different girls all at once. In school he's so happy-go-lucky and flirty but at home, he's so serious, too quiet and mournful. I believe that Syaoran is still madly inlove with Sakura but denies it to his self because of the hatred he's feeling towards her." Eriol stated sadly. He witnessed his cousin's suffering all thru out so he certainly knew what his true feelings are.

"Okay, I see… Gomen if I judged Li-kun…" Tomoyo apologized. "Anyways, Meiling-chan and Sakura-chan are coming home tonight. They'll be residing in my house during our entire stay here." She said exceedingly. Eriol smiled at her indicating there's nothing to worry about.

"Really? I want to see them. It's been three years… You better take a rest now. I know you're tired… C'mon, I'll walk you home…" Eriol held his girlfriend's hand and pulled her up. Tomoyo grinned and nodded then they both tramped home.

"Eriol dear, thank you for waiting for me…" She mumbled sweetly as she squeezed Eriol's soft hand. The latter beamed at her and squeezed her hand back.

"You don't have to thank me, Tomoyo dear… I love you, that's why I waited for you…" Eriol responded reassuringly. Tomoyo was delighted of his response. She leaned closer to him and swept her lips into his.

"I love you too…" She whispered.

Author's Notes: Well, this chapter is not as long as chapter 1…What do you think? Huh? C'mon tell me, just click that purplish button down there…