Well, due to some unexpected reviews I received yesterday which turned me into gaga mode, here's Shaji once again to bring ya the late3st addition to Endlessly…Eternally!!!!

Read on

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Prologue: The Truth

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Not even once did Syaoran ever visit Cheng Li's funeral. After the declaration that he was dead, no one ever dared talking, much less, coming near the amber-eyed man. Syaoran refused to speak to anyone. Even to Sakura.

Sakura, on the other hand, felt more sorrowful than ever. This is the time she most needed Syaoran but she can't penetrate the thick walls he built between them.

After three days, the body of Cheng Li was cremated and the ashes were put in an expensive Chinese jar. It was placed in the family mausoleum beside his beloved, Emerald Li.

There were only a few more people left outside the Li mausoleum when Sakura noticed Syaoran. He was meters away from her and was under an old tree. His hands were in his jeans pocket. She ran to her fiancé but when he saw her he started walking away.

"Syaoran, please!"

He stopped and stared at her. She stared at him too as she tried to catch her breath. She noticed the growing stubbles on his face and the darkening of portion below his eyes. In just three days, he doesn't look like the Syaoran she knew anymore.

"Listen to me, Sakura," he said without any emotion. Sakura felt like she is facing a stranger. "I'm ending whatever relationship we have. This is the last time we'll ever meet."

Sakura's eyes widened. She felt them burn with tears; her knees turn into jelly. He can't be serious. This is not true. "Y-you don't mean it, Syaoran…"

"You better believe it."

Sakura saw the truth in his eyes and that's what hurt most. "I…know you're upset. All of us are. You blame yourself. Grandpa's death is not your fault."

"Goodbye, Sakura," he told her one last time. This is it. He finally walked away from her…forever.

Sakura couldn't take it anymore. The restlessness, tension, pain…all mixed emotions made her weak. Her body trembled and she collapsed.

Syaoran stopped when he heard somebody dropped to the ground. He immediately neared Sakura and bridal carried her. He wanted to hurt himself for hurting her…he wanted to cry when he looked at her pale ghostly face.

Eriol and the others saw and approached them. Including Xander, the man Cheng chose for his granddaughter. They were all worried. Syaoran chose to give Sakura to Xander. Casting one last glance at his sleeping angel, he close his eyes then opened them again. "Take care of her," he told Xander.

He walked away.

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When Sakura woke up, she was in her room. She saw a violet raven-haired woman beside her with worried amethyst eyes. It is her sister.

"How are you feeling?" Tomoyo gently asked.

"I'm, dying inside, Moyo," she cried. "I wish I hadn't woken u…there's nothing to wake up for…"

Tomoyo breathed deeply. She caressed her sister's auburn mane. "Ssshhh…remember when we were still kids? We used not to go out of the house every time it rains. We used to sit beside the window, waiting for the sun to come out. We would always go out and greet the sunshine once the rain stopped, remember? After the storm, the sun shines brightly and the brightly colored rainbow appears…"

"I only want to see Syaoran. Only him, Tomoyo, only him," she continued sobbing.

Tomoyo shook her head. "No one can penetrate the wall Syaoran built around him, Sakura. Even Yelan and Eriol. Even me. No one knows why Syaoran is acting like that. Maybe he really blames the death of Grandpa to himself."

"He shouldn't do that, Tomoyo. And he doesn't need to end what's between us. I can't live with that," she hysterically stated. She can't live knowing something is missing…a part of her life…of herself.

Her heart.

Tomoyo stood up and got a bottle of something to calm her down and a glass of water. "Drink this, it will help you calm down."

Sakura took the pills and drank the water. "It would be better if you gave me all the pills. I'll appreciate it a lot."

"That's great cowardness, Sakura. Wanting to end your life like that. What about other people who loves you? Me, Eriol, mother, Rika and a lot more people. We love you, don't we?" her tears are threatening to fall as she said those.

Sakura hugged her sister. "I'm so sorry…"

"Hush, Cherry Blossom. Next week, I'll tell Eriol that we'll tour Europe. We will entertain friends. And Xander, Sakura, he cares a lot for you. He's checking on you every hour."

"I like him, Tomoyo, but he isn't a replacement of Syaoran. I don't want to use him. It is unfair…for…him."

The pills are working. Sakura fell asleep again. Tomoyo touched her forehead. "Sleep for now, Sakura…" she whispered then stood up. She took the pills with her then went out of the room. Just to be safe.

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Sakura woke up the next day. Her body felt light but her emotions are still down. She quickly took a bath and got dressed. Today is the reading of Cheng Li's last will and testament. She isn't interested but for the sake of her family she would show up.

Everyone is already present when she entered the study room. From Eriol and another lawyer, Atty. Touya Kinomoto, Tomoyo, Rika and her husband Yoshiyuki (fine, he's Terada-sensei but in here he's just three years older than Rika), Naoko, another cousin of hers and Rika's sister, with her husband of four months Mika (I've read a lot of fics of Mika being Naoko's lover), the widowed Selena Sasaki, Cheng's only daughter and sister to Xenon, and the most trusted butler Wei.

Nadeshiko is not present. Even in Cheng's death, she still couldn't accept the fact that he took her two precious daughters away from her. Cheng didn't like her for his only son. When Cheng finally traced them after 19 years, it was too late. Xenon already died 17 years ago because of a freak accident. And even in his deathbed, he refused to contact his own father. And that was what Nadeshiko continued to do. Cheng took Sakura and Tomoyo in return.

Sakura sat beside Tomoyo. Everyone looked at her, sympathizing.

"Are you alright, princess?" Mika asked her using his endearment for his baby cousin-in-law. Sakura smiled at him to cease his from worrying. Mika is like a big brother to her just like Eriol and Yoshiyuki to her.

After some preliminaries, Atty. Hiiragizawa showed the documents to the lawyer next to him to show everyone the legalities. Atty. Kinomoto nodded and Eriol proceeded to read the will.

Eriol cleared his throat. "This testament is legal and binding. Date: April 16, 2001. This was made when Tomoyo and Ying Fa Li were properly proclaimed as Li's and for the first time in twenty years the Li's and Hiiragizawa's gathered, and daresay, reunited. The only new here are the ones Cheng Li added for Mika Wong after his marriage with Naoko Sasaki."

Eriol first read the considerable amount Cheng left to Wei for the butler's loyal years of service to the Li family and for all the loyal and senior employees of the Li Group of Companies.

"The large part of Hacienda Emerald, specifically the fruit plantation and Emerald Hotel and Resort, are all inherited by his only daughter, Selena Li Sasaki. It is clearly stated that all these will be inherited and equally divided to her daughters, Rika Sasaki Terada and Naoko Sasaki Wong, when time comes," Eriol continued as he spared a glance at Selena who is wiping her tears.

"Ying Fa and Tomoyo Li will each receive 15 percent share of stocks in the Li companies. The mansions in mainland Hong Kong and Beijing, China will be also received by the siblings…"

In that part, Sakura cleared her throat and tried to catch Eriol's eyes but he refused to look at her.

"And you, Mika Wong, will receive 5 percent share of stocks just like Yoshiyuki Terada. I, Eriol Hiiragizawa, will also get 5 percent once I married Tomoyo Li."

Yoshiyuki voiced out everyone's question. "What will happen to the forty-five percent controlling shares, Eriol? We know that the other 10 percent is meant for stockholders and this mansion here in the island will remain as a Li property because Uncle Xenon is dead."

Eriol sighed. "The controlling shares and the limestone site here in the island is not clear, Yoshi."

A knock broke the silence of the room. Everyone looked at the door when Yelan entered.

"Auntie?"

Yelan reached her nephew and gave him an envelope. "That's what Cheng told me about before he died. He told me where he kept that in the library. He instructed me to give it to you today and he would like to ask for forgiveness. That's all he said," as soon as those left her lips, she sat down in the available seat.

Eriol opened the envelope and read the contents of the letter. Everyone could see his look of shock and amazement. He was momentarily stumped before he passed the letter to Touya. "This is legal and binding. It has the same date as the first document." He returned it back to him.

Eriol took a deep breath. He looked at everyone in the room. Each one present is anxious to know the contents of the document. Eriol stared at Sakura and smiled at her briefly.

"April 16, 2001," he started. "To whom it may concern, the Li Mansion and the 1/3 part of Paso de Blas (just for you to know, the island, Paso de Blas, is divide into three parts. The first two parts are owned by the Li's and Hiiragizawa's respectively and the other 1/3 is a government property, meaning for the people), the limestone property, the 45 percent controlling shares of the Li Group of Companies, are inherited by my LEGAL heir…" Eriol stole a glance at everyone. They are all holding their breaths. He continued reading, "…the only living Li MAN, XIAO LANG HIIRAGIZAWA LI."

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Oh my God, when I checked my mailbox yesterday I thought nobody reviewed and American Beauty is my worst fic!!! But in turned out that I got tons from certain reviewers, that's why I would like to give thanks to Musette Fujiwara and Chibi angelle! You, guyz, are the best!!

Stay tuned for the next chappie, the last prologue…

Mwahugzzz,

Shajira