Epilogue

Sakura was met with a lot of cheers when she finally emerged from backstage. Tomoyo had rushed back to the dressing room breathless with her eyes aglow, and in frenzy, started getting Sakura out of her stage costume and into an entirely different dress. When Sakura tried to protest, Tomoyo shushed her delicately and said that this dress was more fitting for meeting the audience than her costume, though lovely, wasn't.

Amazed, Sakura couldn't help the blush the crept to her cheeks as she heard the praises from classmates, kouhais and sempais. Even some of the parents in the audience had approached her to congratulate her.

Rika popped next to her with an identically huge smile on her face as she held a bouquet of lilies in her arms. She gracefully accepted the compliments she received for the score she had prepared for the presentation, her eyes always straying to a certain direction where a certain someone stood waiting. "That was wonderful Sakura-chan. It was such an endearing and powerful performance." She managed to mumble in between thanking the audience and getting hugs. "Listen, a bunch of us will be meeting later on at the Nadeshiko Café. I hope to see you there later on." Rika called out before disappearing from the crowd surrounding an overwhelmed Sakura.

The next time Sakura caught sight of Rika, she was getting a congratulatory kiss on her cheek from that certain someone. Sakura managed a wave before receiving another round of hugs. In truth, everything lasted shortly under ten minutes, but for Sakura it felt longer.

When the crowd finally dispersed with some last enthusiastic waves, Sakura slumped down on the nearest chair. It was wonderful how excited everyone was about the performance, but she needed a break from the crowd to take in the thrill their performance had felt.

The sweet smell of flowers lazily tickled her nose. Wondering what it could be, she slowly lifted her eyes and found, before her, a bouquet of red roses. She followed the roses to its wrapper, up to the arm holding it, and finally, to the face she had never thought she'd see. "Syaoran-kun?" Sakura breathed his name, afraid that to say it out loud will cause the illusion to disappear.

With a nod, Syaoran offered his hand to help Sakura up from her seat. "These flowers are for you; for being a wonderful actress and for being my girlfriend." He placed the bouquet in Sakura's arms, his cheeks scarlet from his confession. It seemed that no matter how long they'd been together, Sakura still manages to make him blush.

Sakura set aside the bouquet, unable to decide what to do next. Throwing caution to the wind, she launched herself in his arms and felt the familiar sense of homecoming she always found in his arms. They stayed in the tight embrace for quite some time until an embarrass cough startled them.

"Um, excuse me, sorry to interrupt this tender moment." A man in a snazzy business suit stood a few feet away from them. "I'm sure you'd be more than happy to get back to what you were doing so I will make this quick." He quickly added. He cleared his throat and brought a fist from his back to rub it. He approached them and stared at Sakura.

"Excuse me?" Syaoran interjected cautiously.

"I'm sorry, where are my manners? My name is Mitsutake Yamamoto, and I am here to offer you a place in our institute, the world-renowned Hong Kong Institute of Theatrical Arts." Yamamoto smiled pleasantly at them, causing Syaoran to drop his guard.

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked dumbfounded.

"Young lady, have you ever thought about performing in theater? You are a complete natural out there. I have been traveling the Asian countries for awhile looking for talents like yours, and I am quite glad I had been given the chance to discover a rare gem like you. You have this faint aura around you that just simply waiting to be discovered, a new star that is starting to be certain of its glow." The man continued to gush as the two exchanged glances, trying to stifle their laughter. "So what do you say? Will you take up my offer?"

"Can we have a few moments to talk it over?" Syaoran asked before leading Sakura a few yards away from the man. Sure that they wouldn't be overheard, Syaoran turned to Sakura and smiled wryly, "A new star huh? If only he knew you already possess the power of your own star."

Sakura giggled slightly, then turned serious. "Ne, Syaoran-kun, is there really a Hong Kong Institute of Theatrical Arts?"

"Yes and I think we just found an answer to our problem of living in different countries." Syaoran tried to subdue the pleased smile that was blossoming on his face.

Sakura slapped him playfully on the jaw. "Syaoran-kun, I hadn't said yes. And of course, I need to tell my dad and Touya would probably insist on moving to Hong Kong as well." As she started to list the things she needed to do, the bubble of excitement that had sprung up slowly deflated.

"Sakura, what's wrong? I thought you'd be happy about this?" Syaoran started getting worried.

"I am, but its just that… do you think they'll allow me to go?" Sakura grasped at her boyfriend's arms.

"Well, you still have a year to decide. We can talk to your family and maybe in a year's time, we'll be spending our college years together in Hong Kong. How about that? Besides, I do believe the school will wait for your decision till the last possible second. You are after all a new star waiting to be discovered." Syaoran told her consolingly, slinging an arm over her shoulder and leading her back to the waiting man.

"Yamamoto-san, we talked it over and we were just wondering if it would be okay to have her give her answer after… a week?" Syaoran phrased the question casually.

"Why, of course." Yamamoto said, fumbling at his pocket. He extracted a crisp white calling card from his wallet bearing the impressive logo of the Hong Kong Institute of Theatrical Arts. "Please do give me a call. I would be more than delighted. But if you decide not to accept, I would understand."

Sakura took the calling card with a grateful smile. "Thank you Yamamoto-san. I promise to let you know soon."

Yamamoto took his leave giving a short bow. He strode unhurriedly for the gym door and the excitement of the festival, leaving behind a small spark of hope that Sakura had been looking for; a hope to build a dream of her uncertain future on.

A/N: Hi y'all sorry to kept you all waiting. Hehehe… been busy with work and everything I've been up to lately. I do hope you like how I end it. Thanks for all the support and for sticking around for the actual ending (I hope). Anyway, until the next story that invades my head, bye everyone.