A/N: Thank you for the awesome reviews, everyone! I'm sorry for the late update (yet again) but I graduated three days ago! Woot, college here I come!

Shameless Advertising: Please read my stories at the Naruto category. You can find the links at my page. Thank you.

&&&&

Forgotten

&&&&

Wet trails of tears dropped from her reddening cheeks.

Another.

And another followed.

It seemed an endless pool of liquefied, painful memories that Sakura had just encountered. She wasn't willing to go without Syaoran but without choice, limply followed the old man out of the mansion. Her eyes blankly stared ahead, the tears continuing to cascade down her cheeks.

Her knees weakened, her feet helplessly carried her away, and her body shook in a relentless denial. It couldn't have happened. Syaoran wouldn't let that happen. But he did. He drove her away, persisting that he hadn't known her. He had forgotten her.

The man in front of her looked back, facing her with a sad smile spread across his face. "I apologize, Miss Kinomoto," he whispered. "But I couldn't have stopped this from happening."

She stood still as she stared at him stoically. A long, black limousine arrived and opened its doors for her. She didn't dare move.

"Have a good day, Miss Kinomoto."

The façade she put herself through tore leisurely, and she broke down and cried.

"He couldn't have forgotten me so easily!" She whimpered, her bright emerald orbs glistening with helplessness. Wei looked on, his gaze unwavering but filled with sorrow.

"He was the only person I have left…" She wept, her auburn locks waved as she shook. "… I didn't even had the chance to tell him what I truly felt."

&

A swirl of black and white passed by his eyes, blurring his vision as he blinked continuously. A persisting nag in the back of his head intrigued him but he couldn't decipher what it was. A form tranquilized itself in front of his eyes, and two slits opened revealing a flash of bright emerald.

And he couldn't look away.

"Xiao Lang," a voice whispered in his ear. He stirred awake and opened his eyes, looking back at a pair of fiery red eyes. "Are you alright?"

He groaned in annoyance and stretched his arms wide. "Who the hell are you?" He asked, eyes heavily laden with mild curiosity and irritation. "What am I doing here?"

His eyes swept across the room and appreciation washed away all other emotions. The room was decorated a bright hue of silver and green with a tint of earthly colors as a side décor.

Meilin giggled, flipping her long black hair at her back. "Forgot me so easily, Xiao Lang? I expected better," she cooed lightly. He raised a brow at her.

Just then, the door opened with a squeak gaining the attention of both teens. An elderly woman came inside, her robes billowing behind her like bat's wings and held an air of sophistication that lingered in her presence.

"Aah, I see you have awaken," she said, her voice soft. "Meilin, have you filled him in with the details?"

Meilin shook her head indicating a 'no' and quickly reverted her eyes to Syaoran's confused form. "He doesn't seem to ask so much a question rather than the usual ones, Auntie," she shrugged her shoulders. "But anyway, to answer the latter, you've been asleep for almost a day and a half and we decided that it seems appropriate to place you in your room."

Syaoran arched both brows. "How have I gotten here, in this place, I mean?"

Meilin smirked. "Well, you followed me home and we were so close on doing unimaginable things to each other—"

Yelan interrupted with a hiss. "Meilin! Hush!"

"Sorry, Auntie," but sounded far from sorry. "But my explanation won't matter anyway considering that you'll remember it in a matter of moments."

Syaoran impatiently growled. "I want to know now!" He barked. "I don't bloody hell care if I'll remember it in a second or so but you guys need to explain before I bloody should well murder you all!"

Yelan laughed. It was concave and emotionless but Syaoran neither noticed nor cared because he was extremely pissed with both females.

"Have lost respect to your own mother, Xiao Lang?" Yelan's voice boomed across the room as she walked towards them. Meilin seemed rather confused but took a step back as Yelan neared. "How shameful." She taunted gently.

Syaoran gritted his teeth but held his ground. "Mother?" He spat. "I have no mother."

"Oh?" She raised a brow at this. "Fujitaka didn't tell you then?"

"… Fujitaka?" His voice sounded unsure but felt that familiar tug in his heart that persisted that… he knew something that he couldn't remember.

Yelan waved a nonchalant hand. "Never you mind," she quickly hid her mistake. "You'll gain your memories in a few hours or so, be patient."

She turned to Meilin.

"Take good care of him, Meilin," she said. "Wouldn't want to have your future husband—" here, Syaoran's eyes grew large. "—to go suicidal now, would we?"

Subsequently, she left without another word. And thank by golly because by that time, a deafening scream echoed through the mansion menacingly.

"You're engaged to me?"

An enraged growl followed thereafter but Meilin's stifled giggles could still be heard. She nodded her head in an attempt to seem shy.

"Yes," she whispered, "and so honored to be so."

Another growl. "Have you people gone completely mad?" He asked, glaring at Meilin's offended look. "I don't even fucking know you, woman!"

Meilin scoffed. "You'll soon know well enough that we're truly compatible with each other."

"Just standing here beside you, talking to you makes me think otherwise," he muttered wryly. "I'm calling it off."

"No!" She shouted hastily, red orbs wide with fear and rejection. "You won't dare!"

"Of course I would," he snarled. "Wouldn't caught dead with you, anyway."

She shrieked, angered by his words. "But… but we're cousins!"

Syaoran's arched a brow and realization kicked in. He screamed. "We're going to wed and—and we're freaking cousins? You people have gone mad! Utterly insane!" He rambled on.

"But you were totally in love with your step sister, dammit, what's wrong with us?" As she finished the sentence, she quickly clamped her mouth shut and her eyes widened, horrified at what had just passed her lips. "No, no, that—that was just…"

"Step sister?" He echoed, mouthing the words in remembrance. "I—I…" He stuttered, a haze of darkness overclouded his eyes and as quickly as it came, it was gone. "Are you implying that I'm—"

Meilin shook her head. "No," she mouthed. "No, you're mistaken…"

"Sa—" He breathed but was cut-off by the sound of angry voices. "—crap."

A sigh of relief passed by Meilin's lips as the elders barged inside the room. "Our young master has finally awakened!"

"Shall we start his training right away then?" One questioned, his pale eyebrow raised, his forehead creased. "Even though a bit late in his age."

"Yes, yes," one rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But perhaps he's… different than the others?"

"Quite so, obviously." They all agreed.

"Very well then," one clasped his hands together. "Meilin, escort Xiao Lang to the training room later the afternoon."

They went outside of the room, their murmurs barely reaching the ears of Syaoran as he strained to hear more. He sighed and shook his head at Meilin.

"Training? What are they talking about?" He asked, outraged. "They're not the boss of me!"

Meilin laughed. "Aah, perhaps I should remind you that you're completely at their mercy… but maybe you didn't remember that teensy little detail, no?" She added as an afterthought.

Syaoran growled in exasperation. "You're hopeless," he sneered. "Are you saying that I have some sort of amnesia?"

She broadly smiled. "No doubt about it."

Syaoran paced back and forth in the room, constantly aiming a glare at Meilin's nonchalant expression. "Wench," he muttered darkly. "Tell me what I have forgotten."

Meilin shrugged, turned, and whipped her hair out of her face. "You best better find that out for yourself."

And she walked out of the room.

&

"Sakura?"

Tomoyo's voice reached her barely deaf ears. Sakura's form quivered from her uncontrollable sobs. She didn't turn nor face Tomoyo's nearing form.

"Sakura?" Tomoyo called out softly. "What… what happened?"

Sakura shook her head, tears flowing down from her sad, emerald orbs. "He… for—forgot." She hiccuped as she looked up, her cheeks tainted a bright reddish hue. "He—he drove me away."

"He what?" Tomoyo asked, confused but concerned nonetheless for her restless friend. She noticed the now mess of a hair that hung about on Sakura's face, her lips swollen, and eyes groggy. The organized school clothes that are now creased with wrinkles and the tie that hung on her neck, askew, left her unruffled.

"Syaoran," Sakura breathed. "… he sent me away."

Tomoyo's eyebrows furrowed. "But… why would he do that?"

"I don't know," Sakura said truthfully.

"Oh, Sakura," Tomoyo said soothingly. "Maybe he just needed some time alone."

"He told me he doesn't remember me."

Tomoyo's eyes widened slightly and shook her head. "I—I guess he…"

"… he's not coming back, is he?" Sakura asked dryly, tears continuing to flow.

"Sakura…"

&

Bright light coursed throughout the room as a gentle clap of hands brought the room into instant liveliness. A clashing colors of blue, red and white decorated the room and its adorns. Syaoran looked around the room but took no heed of awe or adoration.

He gently scoffed.

"When will the old coots get here?" He asked Meilin as she sat down on one of the couches in the room. "I prefer sleeping rather than to be here, anyway."

Meilin tusked. "Be patient."

"I am patient," he grumbled. "I'm just irritated."

Silence overcame the room. Syaoran squirmed slightly on Meilin's unwavering gaze. He turned his head and decided to try out some of the equipment in the far side of the wall. He took an odd looking spear and went into a fighting stance.

"Want to fight?"

Syaoran arched a brow at this statement. Meilin gently rose from her seat. "I think its better if a girl such as you stay seated," he drawled. "You might break a nail."

Meilin glared at him. "Not all girls are pansies, Xiao Lang. Some of us are better in the time of battle than men."

"I'd like to see you prove that, Meilin."

She smirked as she picked up another spear. "Gladly." Meilin quickly took a small step back and brought her spear down towards Syaoran's.

Their spears clashed creating a clunking sound. Syaoran jumped a bit back as Meilin charged gracefully at him, hitting his spear roughly. Her long, black hair hit his face as she turned and kicked him on the underside of his chest. He groaned as he almost blindly swung the weapon in hand.

"You're good," he gasped.

Meilin laughed as she stopped, calm and collected. "You just need practice, Xiao Lang. You're a bit rusty but can be trained to get better."

He quickly composed himself and smirked. "Really? Care for another round?"

Meilin shrugged and walked away slowly. "Nah, I think I'd rather sit this one out."

"Afraid you'll lose?" Syaoran taunted as he took leisure steps towards her.

She scoffed and turned as she swung the spear at Syaoran's head. "As if."

The loud patters of metal filled the air as they fought out. Sweat covered their body fully, as they never ceased to rest until one surrendered.

"You're getting better as each second passes, Xiao Lang," Meilin gasped out as she ducked, barely getting a scratch from his swing. "I must say that I'm impressed."

Syaoran smirked; his chestnut bangs hung on his sweaty forehead. "Thanks," he said as he aimed another blow. "By the way," swish. "Who's that girl," clash. "Who claim to know me?" gasp.

Meilin avoided one of Syaoran's powerful swings. "Who?"

"That emerald-eyed girl," he ducked and kicked Meilin under, making her lose her balance slightly. "With the auburn hair."

"Aah, Kinomoto?" Meilin groaned as he disarmed her for a moment. "Why do you ask?"

"She seems vaguely familiar for me," he muttered lowly under his breath. "But I don't know who she is."

Meilin guiltily stopped as she stiffly stood up. "I think we better stop for now," she announced. "Before I forget."

"Forget what?"

She waved her hand in the air, indicating she wasn't going to answer. She looked back at Syaoran's exhausted figure and sighed. What was she thinking? Will she ever replace that retched Kinomoto girl from Syaoran's heart? Will she even try?

The door suddenly opened, revealing the four elders. She bowed her head. Perhaps, she just has to try… for the benefit of the clan.

"Good afternoon," she murmured, as she stood straight once again.

"You can go now, Meilin," one of the elders said. "We'll take it from here."

She nodded her head and walked out of the room silently, but not before giving Syaoran a reassuring look. A small smile fleeted across his face for a moment, but she noticed. A thank you of sort but Meilin knew she's going to treasure that moment for eternity.

She loved him, for that moment, she saw him.

She gently closed the door and went away.

&

She stirred awake as a gently pat on the back contacted her skin. She felt pliant and weak and—

She felt utterly unloved.

Without Syaoran to tell her that he loved her. Without Syaoran to tell her that he needed her. Without Syaoran to kiss her… Without Syaoran…

She felt incomplete.

But who would stay beside her and take care of her in her most vulnerable time? Who would care for her now that Syaoran wasn't in sight?

She slowly fluttered her eyes open and smiled.

"Good morning, Eriol." She whispered. "Why are you here?"

He smiled back and ran a hand through his navy locks. "Tomoyo told me to take care of you while she's running an errand. So how are you now, Sakura?" His blue eyes held so much passion; it made her lose herself in a trance.

"Fine, just fine," She breathed as she cuddled loosely in his slight embrace. "Thanks for taking care of me, Eriol-kun."

He laughed. "It's no problem, Sakura." He carefully patted her head, lovingly. "What are friends for?"

"Right…" She said softly, smiling. "Friends…"

Eriol smiled and rubbed Sakura's back soothingly. "It'll be alright, Sakura, he'll come back."

Sakura's eyes fluttered wide open and resisted the threats of sobbing. She wiped her eyes groggily, and forced a smile. "Of course, I know he will," she lied. "I'm tired, Eriol-kun."

Eriol softly chuckled but deep inside, he was hurt. Sakura was a good girl; she didn't deserve any of this. She was like porcelain, unreachable, untouchable, and yet, these things drew Eriol to Sakura.

She was charming in every way.

But he knew that he already had Tomoyo and that would also be like turning his back on his and Syaoran's friendship although, it wouldn't be bad to have a little crush on the emerald-eyed girl, right?

Right.

So decidedly, he'll keep this little fancy a secret. She squirmed in his arms, looking for the most comfortable position, and slowly fell asleep. She looked absolutely… ravishing.

He direly resisted the urge to pounce.

Remember, Eriol, you have Tomoyo. He reminded himself all over again. But he couldn't find himself thinking of the pretty lavender-haired girl now, because—

—Because Sakura was now nuzzling his chest and it felt natural.

He sighed as he gave her a peck on the forehead. "Sleep tight, Sakura…"

And he securely hugged her petite form, not wanting to let go.

&&&&

End Note: Please leave a comment.