Disclaimer: CCS and Tada, Kimi Wo Aishiteru isn't mine.

Last section of the three parter. Enjoy!

Thank you to synchronocity for correcting the mistake in the name.

This chapter is no longer retold from the past.

It's because I fell in love with you：君を恋におちた

Chapter Three: More than the world

I felt my blood running cold as I finished reading her letter – at the beginning; it seemed like a cold welcome. I thought she was breaking all my dreams into pieces. But then I read that she felt there was more to that kiss.

We had felt the same, and yet, neither of us confessed, in fear of rejection. In fear that we would be alone again.

Your hand was shaking as you wrote that letter, wasn't it? I can tell some letters and characters are slightly strange. The letter looked like someone had cried on it. Oh, Sakura, don't tell me you cried over me – I'm not worth it.

Suddenly, as if a light bulb appeared on top of my head, I hurriedly found the envelope that I had ripped open in anticipation and terror. And then I found it. The address to Sakura's house.

But Sakura, why are you in NEW YORK of all places!

…

Ok, to be honest, the plane trip wasn't the greatest. Food was terrible, Sakura. You made me eat that! But, I suppose it's little trouble compared to being able to see you again. For the first time in seven years. Are you still like the little Sakura I knew? The one with hopes and dreams as big as a skyscraper? Or have you finally recognised reality…finally had to leave your dreams…

I don't want you to turn into someone like me.

The journey to your apartment wasn't the greatest either. I got lost only about a couple hundred times, with the different numbering and naming systems compared to Japan. The streets were actually numbered here, can you believe it? Anyway, I finally found your apartment, on the 11th floor of a dark and grey building. It just didn't seem like a place where you'll live, to be honest. I thought you'll be living in a bright orange and yellow beach house.

None of it seemed real until the moment I pressed the doorbell. All these seven years Sakura – it seemed to me was just a dream. Like you never left me. To be honest, in those seven years, I wasn't even sure if I ever did meet you really. I realised all too late, that I never treasured the time I had with you. I never thought that a day would come where you wouldn't be there.

Ding-dong!

My heart was pounding inside my chest. I wondered what I could say to you when you opened the door. Should I go, "Hello!" or should I go for a more casual greeting? "Yo". Or maybe stare infinitely into your emerald orbs...absorbing them in…and then say breathlessly, "I've missed you," and then embrace? Or should I be angry at you for deserting me all those years ago? Or should I steal your second kiss away from you (providing you hadn't kissed anyone else in those seven years). I heard footsteps hurriedly coming towards the front door, and someone said "coming!"

It was a voice I could distinctively remember…but something in it wasn't right…

The door opened, and disappointment stabbed me deep in the heart. In front of me, wasn't the bright green eyes I was looking for, but a pair of ruby ones.

I was struck speechless for a few moments, and then I said, with a tinge of disappointment in my tone, "Meiling."

She looked surprised for a few seconds as well, as if not expecting it to be me, "Syaoran-kun. It's you! Haven't seen you in a while…in fact…four years. It's been that long since I've left Japan, hasn't it?"

I shook my head, unable to bare it anymore, "That's not what I came here for," I peered inside for any signs of that emerald eyed individual, "I…"

"Sakura's in London. She's at a photo shoot; she'll be back in a few days or so,"

It was like pouring ice cold water onto a fire.

"Oh…" I said hesitantly, trying to looking more optimistic and cheerful, "Well then I guess…hang on, what are you doing here?"

"I drop by…every so often, to you know, keep an eye on things. Me and Sakura have been…close I suppose you can call it,"

She handed me the set of keys, and motioned for me to go in, "Sakura wouldn't mind. She'll be ecstatic to know you've came. After all, you guys haven't seen each other in years…right?"

She gave me a sad smile that seemed to know to much. I shivered. The apartment seemed to give off an unwelcoming, gloomy aura. I don't know why, but Sakura, you seemed more far away than ever.

…

A few days turned into a week. A week turned into a month. In that depressing apartment I lived, but nothing seemed wrong – until a month had passed. Until then, I had dismissed the thought of you as simply "away working". But a month is too long compared to the few days Meiling had pointed out. Meiling didn't drop by again after that either, but I had the most suspicious feeling that she walked past the hallway a few times, making sure I was still there.

But where are you?

That's when I couldn't hold in my curiosity of the apartment anymore. I started scavenging throughout the house – although I knew it wasn't my place to do so. Drawers – cupboards – shelves, you name it, I searched through it.

In the second day of my scavenge hunt, I found what I was looking for. A draw filled with letters.

Prewritten letters. To me.

All postcards. All with my name and my address. They were never sent. The dates on the postcards also lasted until about eight more years into the future. Why had she prepared to send me letters for the next eight years?

And then I found it. A bottle of tablets that was still half filled with pills that were red and white. The label on it was a long, scientific name, and then at the bottom, it said, "Prescription only."

I read through the labels, and I dropped it in shock. Sakura, you had lied. Again.

You said you had inherited your father's genes – the perfectly healthy ones, when in fact, you had inherited your mother's infected genes. You said you won't let the world swallow you so easily. You said you'll fight!

"PUT THOSE BACK THIS INSTANT!" I heard someone shrill.

I turned around and found Meiling, fuming at me, and she stormed over, and slammed the drawer shut, "I never told you that you could raid Sakura's belongings! Don't you think she deserves to have some privacy while she's in France?"

France? Just a few days ago, on the phone, Meiling told me she was in Greece…

My dream shattered. How long did you think you were going to deceive me for, Sakura? Just how long? Thirteen years later? Twenty years later? Just how long have you been planning this Sakura? I'm not as stupid as you think I am…I do have a heart…

You were never in London. Never in Greece. Never in France.

You…were long gone from this world, weren't you…?

That's why all those letters and postcards were prewritten and not sent. That's why they were all dated in the future. Because you had told Meiling to send one to me each month. So I would still think you were alive…

I felt my eyes watering, and desperately turned away from Meiling, and held my head up high, "…when did you plan on telling me? That Sakura was never in London. That…she's been long gone…"

Something in my throat stopped me from being able to speak. I just couldn't anymore. The tears were welling up so rapidly, I could barely see what was in front of me. Why Sakura? Why? You never told me…I could never help you…you left me without even saying a Goodbye…

I bought a hand to my face, and quickly wiped away the tears. But it didn't help – they just kept coming. Oh god. Sakura was dead.

An astonishing silence fell upon the room as Meiling's own voice had gone quiet, "she told me…she told me to not tell you…in her last three minutes of her life…" she croaked, "In the hospital bed…she told me, to let you keep thinking she was alive. She told me to keep sending postcards to you, never expecting you to come for a girl that you met for only a few years in university,"

Meiling desperately turned to me, and she cried out, "Sakura told me she thought she was nothing in your life. She thought she didn't mean anything to you at all! Even so…she said, she just wanted to continue becoming a part of your life…despite whether you loved her or not…because she loved you."

It was like a slap in the face.

But the only thing I could say pathetically was that, "But she promised…"

The tears wouldn't stop. At least, before, I had a dream that you'll someday come back to me. Or that we'll meet again. I never went to look for her, because I thought she wanted to be free. Because if you love something, you'll let it go. If it's yours…it'll come back… That was what I had thought…but now…everything…was gone.

"I'll keep sending those postcards…Syaoran…she'll want me to," Meiling whispered, looking away.

I could only nod, my head hanging down. It was raining outside; it looked like even the weather, was reflecting how I felt like.

I thought we'll be together some day…thought we'll be together forever…

…

I went to your exhibition, Sakura, the next day. The one you told me about in your previous letter…I remember you telling me, "I like taking pictures of people, because you can just feel the love vibrating off the photos,"

Why couldn't you say more to me? Why couldn't we have talked for longer? Why didn't I appreciate all that you've done…until you're gone forever?

Hallway by hallway, I walked through. Pictures of people smiling…pictures of people crying…pictures of people embracing. It was a wonderful…picturesque exhibition. I could feel your happiness and sadness in each of these pictures, did you know, Sakura? I can visualize you, setting up the tripod, and clicking the button.

It was the last hallway now, and I slowly walked up to the end…to find the picture of us kissing, Sakura. The sparkling lake was behind us, and we both had our eyes closed. It was so breathtaking…but to think…I can never…see that face of yours again…never witness that smile…never talk to you again…

I felt the tears coming again, but this time, I held them back. I couldn't cry at your exhibition; I'm meant to be proud of your work.

Slowly, I turned towards the exit…only to be confronted by a life size picture of you.

You were…different from before. You were wearing a formal, black dress, and your hair was long. Sakura…you…you looked mature. You didn't look a bit like the child I knew back in the university days… This time, I couldn't hold back. Tears gushed out, seeing your face again. I couldn't stop. This was the 'you' I can never see. Never speak to you again and share those donut biscuits.

Never again…

What have you done to me Sakura?

…

I'm looking at the sunset, on top of the roof of the humanity studies dorm, Sakura, a place where we shared many afternoons, many mornings, and many nights. A place where you cried in my arms when you were sad; a place where I sat grouchily beside you, wanting to daydream for a little longer. The sun was slowly coming down, the red rays spreading across, reflecting off the windows of the other dorms. It was beautiful, Sakura…if only you could see it. I think you would've liked to take a picture of it, wouldn't you?

In my other hand, is another postcard from you. You were talking about how Paris wasn't anything like how you thought it would be. 'The city of love – is nothing, without you, Syaoran.' I smiled, reading the postcard aloud. You sent a picture of you standing at the Louvre, with a mysterious, all-knowing smile on your face. The light behind you was illuminating you. It was surprisingly fitting, but I had honestly never thought of it that way. Sakura, you were the angel that saved my life.

Smiling, I looked into the sunset from the rooftop. I think I'll like to continue receiving those postcards from you, so this dream of you, Sakura, will continue on living. People may think you're not there anymore – that you don't exist. But in my heart, the Sakura I know will always be there with me.

I just want this dream to last a little longer.

End.

To all those unsatisfied, here is an alternate ending:

I pressed the button on the doorbell, and I heard a scramble of feet that seemed to gradually get closer to the door. I braced myself. Maybe I was at the wrong house…maybe she doesn't remember me anymore (who knows, amnesia always happens in these stories), or maybe…something happened to her in the two days it took me to get here…

"Coming!" I heard someone from inside say. The voice did sound oddly familiar…

The door opened, and I was suddenly staring, at a girl that I know, and at the same time, did not know. You are dressed in a knee length formal dress, with your hair in waves. You shone with elegance and grace. I didn't know this girl. If only seeing you from your attire, I would have stepped away immediately, claiming I had the wrong house.

But I knew your face. Your emerald eyes were still the same. Your gentle, blissful smile and the way your eyebrows raised whenever something funny happened. The way tears seemed to gather in your bright green eyes whenever you were getting emotional. The way you hugged me…

"Syaoran!" you cried, suddenly embracing me tightly, your arms around my neck. I could feel your tears trickling down your face, I could feel the way your heart started beating faster. I could feel your pain, your joy and your love.

Can you feel mine, Sakura?

Can you feel my love for you?

I couldn't say a word at all; all the thoughts of 'hello' and 'how are you' simply disappeared from my mind the moment I saw you – a mature lady, no longer the childish girl I knew. You unknowing had put lipstick on; unaware of the impact it had on me. Sakura, I had wanted to say you were cute before…but now…

"You're beautiful," I whispered to you, whilst hugging you. The closeness of our bodies was getting to me. I could feel my face heating up.

Finally, you let go of me, and wiped you tears with your hand. Laughing, you cried out, "I thought…that you wouldn't come, after what I told you in that letter…I thought I had broken the friendship forever." you looked at me seriously, "That's why I never sent it. I had rewritten it almost fifty times in the past seven years, never satisfied with the result. But in the end…I thought, just go for it. It's now or never. If I kept waiting and perfecting it…time will end…and my dream…will simply stay as a dream,"

"Sakura…you've changed…" I murmured, unable to take the amount of maturity my Sakura had taken. Sakura of the older times would've continued putting it off, afraid to fail. Afraid to love and be unloved. But now, you knew that if you lived in that fear, your fear will actually become reality. It had taken you seven years…but…I finally…knew how you felt about me.

You placed a finger on my lips, and smiled, "There's plenty of time for explanations, Syaoran. Let's just go out right now, and have some fun, right? I discovered a really cool place to take photos…"

"Sakura, I have the answer. To the question in your letter."

I saw you pale to faint beige or green colour and you started biting your lip. It was then, that I knew…you had grown stronger, but deep inside; you were still the Sakura I met. The Sakura that everyone dismissed and never took the time to get to know. You're still her.

Did that kiss mean anything at all to you, Syaoran-kun? Did you feel anything, even just a tiny bit?

"It meant the whole world to me, Sakura,"

End.

So, pick whichever you like better! (Because I could honestly not decide between the two). This is probably my longest chapter to date.