Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN CARDCAPTOR SAKURA NOR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS - THEY BELONG PURELY TO CLAMP

NOTE: My laptop has been broken for a while now, and I've just bought my new one, so I apologise for this taking so long to get up! Thank you for being so patient!

Serious thing: I know that some writers value the story over the reviews, but critique is appreciated, so if you find any faults in the fic, please review! I'd love to know! Thank you!

Review Replies:

Ninor-san: Awww! Sakura isn't that bad! Yes, she's selfish, but she also has her reasons. Anyway, I'm glad that you're enjoying this! And everyone has to love Meiling! She was my favourite character when I first watched the show. Thank you so much for reviewing!

Sakura evil twin of Sango: I'm sorry the update wasn't as fast as it should have been! Thank you sooooo much! *Bows*

aishababy: Thank you!! I am trying to make them longer, but sometimes I need to end them in certain places so that the next chappie is better structured. Thank you so much though!! I'm really happy that you love this all so much!

kuropie: Thank you! I'm glad you like it!

mochiusagi: I know, Syaoran has it had right now. Thank you for reviewing!

jahrain: I love Meiling too! She rules! Hopefully there'll be more fluff soon. Thank you!!!

A big thank you to all of my reviewers once again! I always appreciate it!

Gypsy Dance
by Brooding Darkness

Part 7

Life had thrown some strange things at him.

Eriol has always been considered the complete gentleman, and he had always acted as such regardless of the situation – even towards people he practically hated. His composed nature had not been breached by anything.

He had taken the death of his parents at the tender age of eight with someone in his mid-thirties. He had remained composed enough to sort out the funeral and help along his saddened older sister, Nakuru, through the whole mess.

When he had been rejected from his first modelling job, and then later rejected by potential clients, he had still remained composed.

Yet, somehow, despite his experience as a gentleman and holding his smile for all the world to see, the tears that had made their way down lightly tanned cheeks had made him very angry. And it was very difficult for him to hold his infamous composure.

#The Night After Syaoran and Sakura Argued...#

Leaning lightly against the doorframe, Eriol watched as his lover tried to dig his face further into the sky blue pillow. Sipping from his cup of tea, the businessman let his eyes stray over Syaoran's pretty figure.

"You do know that you can't disappear into the mattress, don't you?"

"Shut up."

Pushing away from the door, Eriol stepped completely into the room, a small smile flickering over his face at the brunettes' typical response. Walking over to the bed, Eriol placed the drink onto the side-table, and sat on the floor, one hand on his now bent knee, the other rubbing Syaoran's side.

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"For putting up with me. I know I'm acting like a child."

"You're most certainly not," frowning, Eriol moved to look straight into the others eyes. "You have every right to be angry at her. She left you, with no explanation, and then she had the cheek to see you and bring up all that pain. You my dear little one, are acting as you should."

Scowling, Syaoran sat up completely, crossing his long legs and glaring at the bluenette.

"First, don't throw my apologies back in my face: I rarely give them, so be grateful. Secondly, don't call me 'little one'. I hate it. And thirdly, Sakura has just as much right seeing me as you do. Yes, our most recent history is bad, but she used to be my best friend, and I was going to marry her. It doesn't matter how much she hurt me, I won't be angry at her for leaving."

Blinking, Eriol raised his eyebrows slightly taken aback at the strength of the anger that he just been thrown at him. "Why? Why won't you be angry at her? You should be. I am."

"You don't have the right to be angry. It's none of your business as to why I'm not angry, and you shouldn't be involved at all." Standing, Syaoran manoeuvred off of the bed and out the bedroom door, throwing over his shoulder: "Sorry for bothering you. Obviously I came to the wrong place."

Also standing, Eriol watched Syaoran move out of sight, and listened to the main door shut a few moments later.

It was moments like these that his composure failed him.

#Evening After the Photo Shoot...#

Yes, Eriol was well aware that he had been completely unprofessional, and his composure had slipped somewhat. But, he was still Sakura's manager, and he needed to work with her, if not for her sake, then for Syaoran's.


Sticking the last pin into the mannequin, Tomoyo stepped back to admire her work. Although it was only the early stages, she knew that this would be her masterpiece.

Every year, the new summer line was a success, and it was always due to the last article of clothing: her masterpiece. The theme this year was an autumn summer, full of reds, browns, golds and whites. So, naturally, her masterpiece would enforce that, while bringing a new fashion into being.

Sighing, the young designer shook her head to herself, not really feeling the look.

Then again, she hadn't been able to get into her designs for a while now. It wasn't that anything bad was going on – not that there wasn't, what with Syaoran and Sakura almost at each other's throats – it was just that she didn't feel the designs any more. Once she had new designs by the minute, and every single one would fill her with a purpose of some kind. However, that purpose had slowly been leaving her, and the only thing that had brought it out was Syaoran.

Letting her make clothes for him, and watching those amber eyes light up in awe and delight at her work had made her feel special again. And her designs had a purpose again.

But for the past few months that feeling had started to disappear. And she didn't know why.

*Ring Ring Ring Ring*

"Hello, Daidouji Tomoyo speaking?"

"Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to get something to drink?"

"Syaoran! Why haven't you called me? I've been worried sick! And Meiling's looking for you," hand on hip, she let the relief flood through her. He hadn't spoken to anyone for almost a day – which was unusual since he always at least texted before going to bed – and they had rang around everywhere they could think of.

"I'm sorry. I disappeared for a while. I had to. I'm at work now, and I've spoken to Meiling. She'll be joining us for drinks if you're up to it?"

Nodding to herself, she smiled realising why he hadn't called. 'Disappeared' was code for 'danced somewhere until I felt better'. Syaoran had taken a job somewhere and had let everything flow out there. It was his usual method for dealing with harsh situations – such as the Malight saga – and it was one that usually took his mind off of who he really was.

'Gypsy' ruled on those nights.

"I'd love to. And, we need to talk," she grabbed for her purse, not caring that the styling room was a complete mess, and looked for her coat. "Right now?"

"Yeah. And, Tomoyo? ....Thanks."

*Beep*

Smiling, the amethyst eyed woman wondered how such a gentle man had managed to come out of all of this.


"Gah! That man can be so infuriating!"

Laughing, Tomoyo watched as Meiling threw her mobile into her bag, and glaring after it.

"Who?"

"Tsukshiro Yue. Yukito's twin. He wanted somewhere big and furnished, but not so big that there's too much space, and not too furnished that changes can't be made. We just went to nine different buildings – all completely fine and to standard – and all he can say is 'This isn't accurate enough for the businesses requirements'. Well, I can tell him where to shove those requirements," she sneered harshly.

"But you're too professional and too much of a lady to say such things even if you think them," Syaoran interjected sitting down with their drinks. Smiling slightly at the two girls, he watched them both roll their eyes.

"Of course not!"

"Of course she is!"

Blinking at each other, eyebrows raised, they missed the quiet snort issued from the CEO. Shrugging, Meiling picked up her cup and studied her cousin.

"How are you feeling?"

Still smiling, he nodded. "I'm fine. Really. Last night helped at lot. Besides, it's about time that the past remained in the past. And it's not fair dragging it up just to blame one person."

" 'Blame one person'? Syaoran, she left you with no clue to her whereabouts, breaking your heart," Tomoyo frowned.

"And she didn't even hint that she was going to do it. And that fake apology! With the way she was yelling at you, it was almost like you left her!" Meiling said, vehemently.

Shaking his head, Syaoran stared down at his drink. "It doesn't matter that I didn't know where she was, only that she was safe. And it doesn't matter that she broke my heart then. I'd rather she broke it then before we married, than now afterwards. And Sakura isn't the only one to blame, I am too."

"What?!" They spoke simultaneously.

"Why? What did you do but love her?" Meiling uttered.

"That's just it. I loved her. Possibly too much. I pressured her, and she felt responsible for almost marrying me. For putting me in that position. I was mainly at fault. She only did what was right." Sighing, Syaoran sipped at his drink, recalling the comments she had thrown, rightfully, his way. He had done just as much harm to her as she had to him. And she was taking most of the blame. "I'm not running away from this anymore. I let her take all the blame back then because I didn't want to think about it. But she's still my Ying-Fa. She's still one of my best friends, even if it's not the same. And I need to own up to my part."

"What?! Are you crazy? What on Earth has she made you believe?" The red eyed receptionist gaped.

"Alright then. So you feel the need to own up to some of the blame? And by the sound of it, you should," here Meiling gaped in anger and shock at the other woman, "but it was her own fault for hurting herself, and in turn you, by not rejecting the proposal in the first place. And in some ways, for leading you to proposing to her. Yes, perhaps you pressured her somewhat, but she defiantly had the strength to say 'no' to you."

"Syaoran isn't to blame. At all."

"Meiling, I am. And... Tomoyo's right. Maybe.. maybe I'm not as much to blame as I thought, but I still need to own up to what I've done. To what we both did."

Slumping back into her seat, Meiling chewed on the inside of her cheek mulling this over. Sakura was still mostly to blame. But maybe it was time to move past it.

"Okay. So, you're both to blame. Where does that leave you? As best friends again?" The sarcasm dripped from her voice, despite trying to hold it back.

"No. There's no going back to that just yet, if at all. But maybe.." Sighing, the secret dancer didn't quite know how to finish the sentence.

"...As mutual acquaintances." So, Tomoyo finished it for him.


Smiling brightly, Kinomoto Sakura did what she did best. She carried on. Walking down the practice runway, Sakura stalked pristinely letting the light weight of the veil-like material flow out around her athletic legs.

She had come into work despite wanting the day off, but she wasn't about to quit over something that she had accepted years ago. Syaoran had been her biggest, and best, mistake in so many ways.

He had been kind, loving, caring, and everything a boyfriend then fiancé should be. And yet it had still felt wrong. So, she had accepted the proposal. It was the right thing at the time. They were childhood sweethearts. Young lovers. And yet her attraction to him stopped at those eyes, and his huge heart.

Yes, she knew very well how much she was to blame for what had happened. She had left behind and ruined her one realness in her life. And she had never felt so free.

Stepping to the end of the runway, the green eyed model swayed her hips to the music slightly, smiling brightly to the non-audience of empty seats, and twisted before re-walking the length of the platform.

Arms swaying lightly, Sakura wondered what it would take to make her ex-fiancé understand that.

Walking down the side steps, she began unfastening the back zipper.

"How was that?"

"Wonderful as always, Sakura-chan. You really are flawless at this."

Whipping her head around, she stood facing her manager. His infamous Cheshire Cat smile planted warmly, securely, on his face.


Brooding Darkness: I really hope that this was worth the wait! The next chapter will be up soon! And if you want to know what the Malight saga is, then maybe I'll make an extra bonus for you! Thank you for reading! *Bows*