Done! Finally! Wow, you must all thought I gave up, didn't you? Well, not quite, I'm afraid. Haha! You've all still got 3 more chapters to endure! That's including this one. But not including the epilogue which I may or may not write. We'll see. Not there just yet.

Basic things to be aware of are as follows:

1) My editing job is lame. I kinda glanced at it (found really random things, like a random '1' at the end of a paragraph), but it's mostly unedited.

2) This is a very choppy chapter. When I say that, I mean that it's kinda all over the place. I'm aware of it, but not sure how to fix it since I need it in order to lead up to the end of the story. Bear with me.

3) This is super late, and I'm sorry about that. There are just other things that need the majority of my time because they're really important, plus I've got things going on in my personal life that require my attention. That's just life, though, I guess.

Anyways, that's all I need to say before the chapter. So... Yeah, let's goooooo~!

Sakura's POV

I'm standing on a plain. Green grasslands pan out around me. In front of me, I can make out the peaks of mountaintops, one in particular stretching high above all the others like a symbol of its greatness. Behind me, stretched out endlessly on either side, is a beautiful, tranquil forest. High above my head, cumulus clouds are dashed across the azure sky like puffs of cotton candy.

I marvel at the beauty of it all, spinning in circles before finally just stopping to take it in. Then there's a tap on my shoulder. Despite there not being anyone else in the magnificent dreamland, I'm not surprised or startled. As if expecting it, my smile grows and I eagerly turn around.

Behind me stands the most handsome man I've ever seen. His chocolate locks are devilishly messy, yet they've never looked better. Those mesmerizing pools of amber are full of love and happiness as their beholder longingly gazes down at me. And his lips, his captivating lips, turn upward to reveal his pristine white teeth.

He doesn't say anything as he takes my hands and leans down to kiss me chastely on the lips. I don't question it as I smile pleasantly at him after he's pulled back. It just seems natural, as if we've done it our entire lives.

In that moment, everything is perfect. We let ourselves drown in each other's presence. Not once does it cross my mind that this beautiful world I've created will change.

But it does.

The ground beneath my feet suddenly seems to come to life. The sensation of the Earth trembling beneath me sends my panic skyrocketing. Then I'm abruptly pulled away from the one I love as the smooth terrain splits in two. For a moment, I'm gaping down at a never-ending abyss of darkness. Startled by the chasm leering at me, I fumble backwards.

To my horror, the Earth continues to convulse, and the huge break in the land continues to grow as the plain is divided in two.

I hear my name called then. The familiar voice draws my attention back to the person standing equally petrified as myself. I cry out back to him, screaming his name.

Peace has turned to chaos in a mere instant.

The distant mountains, I now realize, were never mere peaks, but rather access points to the Earth's molten core. Clouds of ash and smoke rise from their depths.

Thousands of feet up, the once fluffy, cottony wisps of condensation have transformed into a gray sky that stretches out in every direction, blocking out any rays of sunlight. The millisecond-long flashes that light up the entire sky are followed by the loud clap of thunder. The static electricity in the thinning air leaves the small hairs of my arms rising.

A prickling sensation across my back sends me whipping my head over my shoulder. Behind me, the once tranquil forest has morphed, now covered in thorns and holding a dark eeriness that seems ready to devour any living thing that enters it. Its never-ending sides feel like they're wrapping around on either side of me. The entire forest seems to inch closer and closer, eager to consume me into it's darkness.

I spin around again, daring myself to leap to the other side where my lover is... Only he's gone. Frantic, I whip my head around and scream out to him at the top of my lungs, but am met with nothing but the sound of thunder and the Earth groaning beneath my very feet.

There's nowhere to go. Behind me, a forest of death closes in, and in front of me, glowing, red-hot lava trickles farther and farther down the side of the volcano, burning everything in its path.

I'm trapped. It's then that I realize I'm going to die no matter witch way I choose. There is no safe path.

Then the Earth beneath my feet gives out, and before I have time to move or jump, I'm sent tumbling downward into an endless pit of darkness and despair.

Falling... falling... falling...

Thunk!

I hit the wooden floor with a painful thumping sound. Groaning, I roll over, my sheets still tangled around the lower half of my body. Drawing myself up, I squint at the clock by my bedside.

The numbers 1:38 glow red in the pitch-black room.

Another nightmare, I realize. They've been coming to me on and off ever since my close encounter with death. They'll come to me in the middle of the night, waking me up in the worst possible ways, so that when I wake, I'm covered in sweat and shivering from the cold.

Sometimes I'll say in bed for a while until I fall back asleep, since I never have more than one each night.

Other times, I'll clime out of bed and shuffle down the hall to Touya's room. At first he was confused when I came knocking on his door in the middle of the night telling him I had a nightmare, but now he leaves the door unlocked so that I can be more quite when waking him. When he does get up, I'll gently take his hand, and he'll let me guide him back to my room, where he will remain by my side until I've fallen asleep. All the while, he sits on my desk chair and strokes my hair down just like our mother did. Then, in the morning, sometimes I'll find him still there in that chair, dozing off in an awkward and uncomfortable position. More often than not, though, he'll be long gone, and the chair won't even have moved an inch from the desk.

As mad and worried as Touya was when he picked me up from the hospital, he still wasn't able to shun me much more than yelling at me for a while to make sure I understood just how devastated he was. In the end, though, he was more happy that I was alright than he was angry because of my actions. He doesn't try to hard to hide it, either. Not that I'm complaining. After everything, having Touya angry with my would send me plummeting into a state of loss and confusion.

Today, however, I don't go to get my brother like a cowardly child; instead, I pull myself off the ground, untangle myself from my sheets, and remake my bed properly before laying down–atop the covers this time. I don't force my eyes shut, nor do I keep them open against their will. I simply allow my body to decide on its own whether I will get more sleep. Maybe I will, and maybe I won't. All that's left to do is wait.

Meiling's POV

It's been nearly a week since the Tomoeda High senior field trip, and ever since, something has been off about my usually moody and distant cousin. Instead of his typical annoyed response to most of the things I do, he's started to just go along with them. Not in a cheerful open-minded way, though. Oh no–instead, he just agrees without giving the task any thought or enthusiasm.

The other day, I asked him to go shopping with me at the food market, and he went right along with it, simply grabbing his coat and leading the way out the door without even giving me a second glance. All I got was a nod of the head. He doesn't even bother verbally replying! I don't know whether to be irritated by the passive attitude or thankful at his lack of resistance.

Either way, I've had enough of it. So, instinctively, when Wei happens to come innocently walking down the hall while I'm spying on Syaoran in the midst of his daily training, I snag the old man and haul him out of sight as well.

"Wei, I know what you're thinking–that Syaoran's fine, and I'm just over reacting–but there's definitely something off about him!"

"Meiling-sama-"

"I mean, I know that Syaoran and I don't see each other very often... And that we aren't as close as we once were, even though I may act like we are."

Seeing the perplexed look on the ender man's face, I shake my head, and blurt out the rest of what I have to say.

"Wei, I'm telling you, there has to be something wrong with him! Sure, he's always been a bit of an introvert, but this isn't like him. He hasn't spoken more than a handful of words to me within the past week! I think the only reason he does things with me is because he knows if he doesn't, I'll be on him for neglecting me during my visit. I'm supposed to leave in a week, but with the way he's acting, I would really feel way more comfortable if I could stay until he starts to liven up."

"Meiling-sama, I understand where you're coming from, and would gladly give you my intake, but would you kindly let go of me first?"

"Huh? Let go?" Somehow, my hand is still clutching the upper sleeve of his suit. Giggling guiltily, I straighten my fingers and pull my hand away, showing him my palm. "My bad."

He just nods. "I agree that there is something off about Syaoran-sama, but whatever it is, it seems unlikely that he is going to tell either one of us about it."

"So what are we supposed to do? We can't just ignore it. Who knows when he'll get back to acting like his normal self!"

Wei's eyes twinkle. "Meiling-sama, have you spoken of this to the mistress?"

"Um," I frown as I recall my last phone call to my aunt, "yes. I mentioned it in passing, and she seemed interested, so I told her about how he's been acting weirder and weirder the longer I've been here."

"And what did she have to say about the matter?"

"Well, she seemed a little concerned, and told me to keep her up to date on how things are going here."

"Alright." Wei nods thoughtfully. "I'll speak to her and the young master separately and see if perhaps he'll talk to his mother."

"Yeah, good idea. Even if he doesn't want to tell her, he's too scared of her not to!" I smile victoriously, only to receive a disapproving look from the butler. "What?" I shrug. "Everyone knows it's true."

After giving me one last pointed look, Wei shakes his head and makes his way down the hall. He knows it deep down, too, though–even if he won't admit he does.

Syaoran's POV

Alright, so maybe I should've seen this coming sooner or later. After all, with Meiling here, I can't fake being alright. If it were just Wei, he might turn a blind eye to the odd behavior for a while, or at the very least, not say anything to me unless he was genuinely concerned. But for him to go behind my back and tell my mother is an entirely different story.

It's Meiling's fault, really. That's what I've been told, anyways. Apparently she tipped off my mom, and convinced Wei to voice his concern as well.

None of that matters now, though. Currently, my mother is on the other side of a phone call demanding to know if I'm alright and what has caused the sudden change of behavior that has apparently sent the other two people in the house into an uproar.

"I'm fine, mom. You know Meiling, she worries over every little thing. Whatever she thinks is wrong with me, it's probably just something she's telling herself because she feels neglected."

"I hardly think that's the case, Xiao Lang." Her stern tone and use of my full name make me flinch–something that almost nobody else has the ability to make me do. "Now stop making excuses, and tell me what's going on before you send your poor mother into a state of panic."

I groan and run a hand through my hair as I reply, "Mom-"

"Don't you 'mom' me, young man. I'm your mother. It's my job to worry. It doesn't help that you're so far away from me, either."

"I know," I tell her in a soft and tired voice. "But I'm fine–really. Things have just been kinda crazy around here lately. Sakura and I kinda... hit a rough patch."

"Oh, sweetie. I thought you two were on good terms again."

"We are! Kinda... It's not that we're arguing exactly. Things are just complicated."

"Complicated? Complicated how?"

"Um," I hesitate before admitting, "in the way that I told her I'm in love with her."

There's a long pause followed by the rattling of the phone, and when the shouting comes from the other end, it isn't my mother's voice. "Oh my gosh, is it true, Xiao Lang? Did you really tell that girl how you feel after all of these-hey! Wait! Mo-" There's a struggle on the other end of the phone.

Sounding distracted and irritated, my mother's voice returns saying, "I'm sorry about that, Xiao Lang. Apparently your sister has been outside my office for some time now. I've taken you off speaker now, though, so go on."

I grumble inwardly. "I wish you wouldn't take all your calls that way, especially not when Feimei or Fanren are around. You know those two are master eavesdroppers."

"Xiao Lang!" she scolds. "They are still your older sisters, and you are to respect them."

It's a good thing she isn't here to see me roll my eyes.

"Now please explain what you said. You told the girl you're in love with her? After everything that happened, you still have feelings for this girl?"

"I do," I state firmly.

There's a sigh on the other end, and she says softly, "Well, I can't say it comes as much of a surprise. She has always been able to affect you in ways nobody else could."

"You're not disappointed?"

"Disappointed? No. If that child is anything like she once was, I have nothing to be disappointed about. Worried is what I am. She was the cause of your depression and the reason you refuse to stay in Hong Kong with your family."

"Mom, I've told you Sakura isn't the reason-"

"Yes, yes, I know," she says, cutting me off. "Now, tell me, what exactly has happened? Did she reject your feelings?"

"No, it's more complicated than that. Look, mom, I'm really not comfortable-"

"Don't try to tell me you aren't comfortable talking about it with your old mother. I want an explanation, and I want it now. Otherwise, I'm sending one of your sisters over there to investigate for me."

I cringe, but give in. There's no use fighting it, after all. In the end, I tell her everything–well, almost everything–that's gone on over the past few weeks.

Once I've finished explaining my situation, there's a long silence before my mother speaks.

"So that's how it is."

Not knowing how to reply, I remain silent.

"Alright, Xiao Lang, I know this must all be very confusing for you, but no matter what happens, you need to respect her decision. You also have to figure out if you can still be by her side as just a friend if she does end up not returning your feelings."

"I know... Look, mother, I really need to go. Our school is holding a festival this weekend, so they need as many helping hands as they can get."

"I see... Well, I'll let you go then."

I'm about to pull the phone away when I hear my mother's voice call out, "But before you go..."

"What is it?"

She sighs heavily. "Please, don't let this be a repeat of what happened when you two were younger. I don't ever want to see you like that again, Xiao Lang. It was hard enough to bear the first time around seeing you in that much pain and sorrow."

"Mom..."

I wish I were in front of her. She tries to act like she kept it together when I was depressed all those years ago, but I know how much it affected her and her work. Late at night, she would come and check on me when she thought I was asleep. She would just sit there on the side of my bed stroking my head or rubbing my back for a while before finally kissing the top of my head and leaving.

"It won't be. I promise... I really need to go now."

"Alright. I love you, Xiao Lang."

"I love you, too, mom. Bye."

Sakura's POV

"Tomoyo, where did you put the orange paint?"

The beautiful head of violet locks rises from the costume stitching to face me. "The orange? Naoko came over earlier to asked for some paint since her class ran out, but I'm not sure if I gave her the orange."

"Alright, I'll go check."

"Okay. But, wait, Sakura! If she doesn't have it, check down the hall in the supply room, because someone might have put it back already."

"Got it. I'll be back soon. Oh, and can you make sure nobody touches the banner until I get back? Thanks."

Leaving the room, I make my way next-door to 3-A. The entire school is in a state of panic as we make last minute preparations for the school festival we're having this weekend. It's an annual event we hold to celebrate the finishing of the building's construction twenty years ago. The time of year isn't exactly ideal for a school festival, but most of the students really get into it and go all out.

As for me, I enjoy getting to make banners and signs that allow me to show my creativity, even if it is just to display information about my class's event. This year we're doing an indoor café theme, since doing a play was out of the question and nobody was thrilled about the idea of setting up outside.

Upon entering 3-A, I spot Naoko right away and make my way to her.

"Oh, hey, Sakura," Naoko greets me, looking up from the papers she's filling out in the front of the class room. "Sorry, I didn't see you come in. Can I help you with something?"

"That depends." I stand across the podium from her and look around the room to investigate for any signs of paint. "I'm trying to track down the can of orange paint, and Tomoyo said she might've given it to you. Any clues?"

"Ah, that. I actually was getting it for class C. They ran out and couldn't find any more in the supply room."

"Figures," I mutter.

Naoko giggles, and offers, "Do you want me to come with you to look for it? I need to check in on the other classes anyways. Student council work," she informs me, holding up a clipboard.

"Sure." As we make our way out of the room, I ask, "So, what's your class doing this year? Something spectacular, I'm sure."

"Ha! Not quite. I wanted to do a haunted house theme, but apparently the freshmen have been battling it out with each other for that one, so we're stuck with doing a survey."

"Wow, really? That sounds awful. I mean-"

"No, you're right. Not much to do about it now, though. Hopefully we get a better option in the spring."

I just nod and follow her in as we reach 3-C where the door has been left open for all of the people coming and going. Inside, the desks are all pushed up against the back wall of the room and most of the students are huddled in groups holding scrips and reading off of them as they memorize the words.

"I didn't know they were doing a play," I say in fascination.

"Yeah. It's parody of The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, apparently." Naoko's attention is pulled away as she spots the group making the decorations. "That's them."

I move to follow her into the room, glancing around as I do so, only to be stopped short as three familiar figures catch my attention in the back of the room. "Um, Naoko, do you mind if I..." It just takes a glance at where I'm pointing for Naoko nod and motion for me to go ahead. I smile thankfully and move towards the far corner of the room.

As I make my way closer, each step I take seems to accelerate my heart rate until it feels like there's a hummingbird in my chest. My eyes, no matter how hard I try, won't stray from the messy chocolate locks of hair slowly growing nearer and nearer. A few feet away, I stop, unable to bring myself to take the last few steps. It's at that moment that the chocolate locks sway and the person's head turns.

At first glance, he looks the same as he always does. His hair is still unkempt, yet devilishly handsome. His uniform still looks spotless and ironed. His jaw still sets in the same stiff, locked position it always does when he's not talking or smiling. If I didn't know him, I doubt I would notice any changes. There's an unmistakable difference in his eyes, though. They still shine a brilliant shade of amber, but they seem less lively and alert than usual. Tired, maybe.

Before I have a chance to put my finger on it, there's a voice that cuts into my thoughts.

"Sakura!" The second Chiharu says my name, the head turns again, and all I can see is the back of it. "Oh my gosh, I haven't seen you in forever!" She jumps up out of her chair and runs over to give me a hug. "I meant to stop by your house sometime, but never got a chance." Her arms around me vanish as she pulls away. "Um... Sakura?"

"Hm?" I finally redirect my attention. Chiharu watches me with confused and mildly concerned eyes.

"Are you still not feeling great? You seem out of it."

"I'm fine," I assure her softly.

"Well, alright. Anyways, what brings you to 3-C? Trying to get a sneak peak of the play?"

My eyes wander back to the splotch of dark hair over Chiharu's shoulder.

"No, I'm trying to track down the orange paint can."

At that moment, Naoko appears from nowhere saying, "They say that they already put it back in the supply room. You should probably go grab it before somebody else does. Seems like it's in high demand."

Forcing my eyes to Naoko, I flash a small smile and say, "'kay, thanks. I'll grab it in a minute."

Naoko raises an eyebrow, but turns to go, mentioning her work for the student council. When she's gone, I allow my eyes to fall back to where they naturally wish to go. This time, Chiharu follows my gaze, and a sparkle of understanding shines in her eyes. Before I know it, she's saying, "Hey, Li, do you mind helping Sakura for me? I'll take over with Takashi."

Finally, he turns fully around. First he looks at Chiharu, then his eyes meet mine.

Tired, I silently agree with myself. And almost reluctant or sad.

"Sure." He turns away again and hands the small booklet he's holding over to Yamazaki. "Let's go," he says, not even looking at me. I have to nearly run after him to keep up.

Once we're in the hall, he waits a moment longer before deciding to ask, "How have you been feeling?"

At first, I'm not sure how to reply. Confused. Stressed. Worried.

"Since you were discharged," he adds, making me want to smack myself.

"Better. You'd never have guessed I was in the hospital to begin with."

"Well, that's good to hear."

Yeah. It's great, I think to myself. The tension–to me, at least–is so thick, a knife could slice right through it. Syaoran is able to maintain his cool and calm demeanor, whereas I'm as stressed and awkward as I always get when I don't know how to act around him.

"You're getting the orange, right?"

I glance over at him, then make note of the door we're standing in front of. "Yeah." We move into the room and make our way to the paint. Part of me wants to say something like why didn't you call me, but the self-conscious, somewhat proud part of me keeps me silent. All I do is watch as he studies the cans of paint for the right color.

He stops at one in particular, and asks, "Is this it?"

I glance at the can and nod. I go to reach for it next, but Syaoran shakes his head, mumbling, "I've got it," under his breath. Then, paint can in hand, he turns and heads back to the door. Once again, I have to rush after him not to be left behind, but he suddenly stops short at the door. I'm forced to stagger a few steps back just to avoid running face-first into him.

"Why did you-" As I meet his gaze, I don't need to continue. Syaoran's eyes boar into me with a need to say or do something, but he from the looks of it, he isn't sure how to put it in words. I wait anxiously for him to say something while he looks at me, then away, then runs his free hand through his hair before looking at me all over again.

I want to say something, too, but find myself in a similar bind as Syaoran. After what happened, there are a million things to be said, but it's how to say them that is the problem.

Finally, he stops and looks directly at me for a good while, then announces, "It should never have happened. You know that, right?"

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out, so Syaoran continues.

"Sorry if I'm being blunt, but I really need to get this out there. What happened in the hospital was a mistake, and I'm sorry I didn't realize that sooner. I should've pulled away, not encouraged you."

I stare up at him for a while, before saying in a idiotic tone, "But you... You did pull away."

"Not soon enough. It went way too far. You have to know that. Nothing like that can ever happen again, at least not as we are now."

I feel as though I've been struck my his words. My arms snake their way around my torso as though they can protect me from the ache caused by Syaoran's words. Looking away in shame, I manage to get out in a small voice, "Do I disgust you?"

"Disgust me?" He sounds as if he's in awe from the proposition. I can see him shift from the corner of my eye, clearly frustrated. "Are you really asking me that?"

"You're acting like what I did was something grotesque!"

"That's because it's not just about what happened! I'm being this way, because of what could've happened had I not pulled away, had we not been interrupted! I can't always control myself when I'm around you. Impulse is going to be the death of me. It's something I want to control, but I need you to understand and help me so that I can. I don't want to hurt you, Sakura. I don't want to hurt either of us."

He finally stops, and I bring my eyes back to meet his. His face softens as they do, and he heaves a heavy sigh. "Please, try to understand," he says more softly this time. "I'm trying to do the same as well, but you're a mystery to me sometimes. If I knew what you were thinking, maybe things would be easier for us." He shakes his head. "Forget it. As for what happened at the hospital, you'd just been through a near-death experience. Neither of us was thinking straight, and we were both doing and saying things we wouldn't normally. It was a mistake, so let's just put it behind us. One incident of irrationality and impulse shouldn't ruin what we have. We're friends. I don't want anything to ruin that. Do you agree?"

All I can do is manage a stiff nod.

No, I want to say. I don't want to forget about it, or pretend it didn't happen. I thought it meant something, or at least that it could. I meant all the things I said and did.

But I don't say anything. I remain silent as Syaoran nods his approval, lifts up that can of paint and says, "Good. Now, let's go get this paint back to the room before someone comes looking for it."

And then he goes, leaving me in the dark, cold room with nothing to do but gawk at the empty doorway, wondering how I ever let such a thing happen, before finally stumbling after him down the hallway and back to reality.

The students are still working. Tomoyo is still in her desk, working on the costume designs. And Syaoran still seems as far away as he was the day he walked out of that hospital room.

Nothing has changed. I'm the only one stuck at a permanent stand-still.

There's a door before me now. It stands between myself and the world of wonders beyond. A bright, magnificent world full of color, life, and love. It has rolling hills with ups and downs, and a few patches of mud here and there, so it might get a little mucky and unclean at times. But despite the few little quirks here and there that may have some throwing in the towel and turning back, it has a view that is to die for. One just has to be open enough to see it.

That world is so close for me. I could reach out and touch it if not for the single locked door that prevents me from going too far. That day at the hospital, I tried to force my way into that world by using an alternative path. A ridiculous feat, really, as I already hold the key in my hand. I'm just not ready to use it.

And what scares me is that I never will be.

See what I did there? (Smiles with self-pride) I tried to use a metaphor. Gotta start incorporating those literary elements to add a deeper meaning. Hopefully they make sense and don't seem completely random. I'm mainly talking about the door thing. I'll be going back to it.

Okay, so for anyone out there who has an account, I have a question. What happens to the comments when a chapter is deleted? Like, if someone reviewed this chapter, then I deleted it, would the comment disappear, too? Now, nobody panic, I'm not going to delete a bunch of chapters, this is just so that once I've finished the story, and I go back to re-edit it, if I want to combine chapters, I don't accidentally delete a bunch of comments. I'll probably ask this question again in future chapters for anyone who doesn't read it here.

There are two more chapters left for me to write as of this point in time, but you all know me by now. I'll start writing one and have to cut it in half. I did it with this chapter, too. Next chapter should easily be one, but I'm not sure about the last. After that, I'm thinking about an epilogue, but am also cowering away from it, which I shouldn't do since I've put so much into this. The epilogue may come post-edit, as in after I do the final edit where I go back and re-do/alter/improve all the previous chapters. That's going to take a really long time, though. Probably won't get to it until the summer.

Getting late, so I should be off. Please read the author's notes here at the end. Important stuff. Not so important that I'm going to underline, but still important. I'll save underlining until a little later for affect.

Bye! Have a good week, everyone!