Chapter 29 Mother's Advice

After meeting up with Yelan at the airport, Fujitaka immediately brought them to the hospital. Sakura led the way to Shaoran's room. As Sakura showed Yelan inside, Fujitaka entered as well as he was invited by Yelan while Touya and Yukito waited outside.

Shaoran was awake when Sakura walked back in. It seemed that his face lit up a bit when he saw Sakura and tried to get up. "I don't think that's such a good idea." Sakura immediately said. Shaoran knew what she was trying to say as he lay back down.

"Well at least you still listen to reason, my son." Yelan suddenly said as she came into view and headed straight to Shaoran's side.

"Nice to see you too, mom." Shaoran replied as he greeted his mother.

Sakura suppressed her laugh. It was like before, like nothing had ever changed. Sakura then felt her father's warm hand on her shoulder. Fujitaka had a smile of his own on his face. Wei excused himself and left the room. Yelan then turned to them and urged them to come forward. Sakura didn't want to come near but didn't have much of a choice when Fujitaka still had his hand on her shoulder and seemed to be guiding her there.

She allowed herself to be led. The last thing she ever wanted was to have her father find out that there was something wrong, much less Yelan. She hadn't seen Shaoran in a long time and she really didn't want her to know that they were having problems.

"How are you doing, Shaoran?" Fujitaka asked as he smiled down at the young man who had been like a son to him already.

"I'm fine, Kinomoto-san. Thank you. I'm doing better." Shaoran answered.

Fujitaka smiled again.

"That's good. When Sakura told us of what happened, we were really worried. We came as soon as we heard and have picked up your mother." He then said.

"I really didn't mean to worry anyone. I'm sorry. But thank you for worrying."

Fujitaka nodded, his smile never faltering.

He then gave a pat on Sakura's shoulder.

"Well then, I suppose we better leave. It's better if you rest and I'm sure you and your mother would want to catch up on a few things. We will visit again, Shaoran. I'll tell Touya and Yukito to make it quick so that you can rest." Fujitaka said.

Sakura then stepped forward and gave Yelan a big hug and bid her farewell. She then allowed her eyes to drift to Shaoran. She froze a little when their gazes met.

"Goodbye…Shaoran. Get better soon, ok?" She said, giving him a small smile.

Shaoran nodded and smiled a little in return. Fujitaka and Sakura then left the room. Yelan's stare drifted from Shaoran to Sakura. She was about to say something when Touya and Yukito entered. They went in to say hello and quickly excused themselves to leave. Yelan saw them to the door. She closed it behind her and bid them goodbye properly outside. She watched them go when Wei came up to her.

Yelan noticed that Wei was struggling a little with the right words to explain to her what had happened and how he wasn't able to protect him from the accident.

"I do not blame you, Wei. You have looked after my son for all these years and I know that the least you wanted is for him to get hurt." Yelan quickly said to Wei's surprise.

He said nothing as he too watched Sakura and her family left. His eyes filled with this sorrow that gave Yelan the confirmation that she needed. A mother truly knows.

"It seems only yesterday when those two were mere children. They have grown up to be fine young adults." Yelan commented.

She then turned to Wei and asked, "Is there something that I need to know?"

Wei was taken by surprise with the sudden question. His mind reeled in the gravity of her words. Truly, a mother knows.

"Madam, it was Sakura-chan who had saved Master Shaoran's life."

Yelan said nothing as she waited for Wei to continue. Wei, feeling that his Mistress wanted more of an explanation, quickly added, "Master Shaoran had lost a lot of blood because of the accident. Because of certain factors, Madam, the hospital's blood bank had ran low on his blood. When Sakura-chan found out, she immediately offered her blood to save his life. She had asked me not to tell Master Shaoran about it. She has her reasons but basically, Madam, she wants Master Shaoran to be happy."

Yelan couldn't help but smile. She looked at the direction where Sakura disappeared with her family. She had always had a soft spot for Sakura. She was like a daughter to her. Finding out what she had done for Shaoran endeared her more to her. It hadn't been long since the incident at the French embassy and Yelan knew that the pain from that experience was still fresh.

She remembered that Sakura had told her jokingly that it would be years before she could bring herself to look at blood again without having to re-live the experience of seeing people being killed or even talk about the subject. But here she was…she openly offered herself as the donor to help save Shaoran's life without any regret or hesitation.

You have your mother's spirit, Sakura. She could have lived great many years even with the sickness but she chose not to…to save your father's life. She confided in me that it was better that way instead of you and Touya losing them both. You truly are her daughter.

Yelan turned to Wei and said, "You may go home now. You could use the rest. You look like you've been up for many days on end. Thank you for watching over my son. Take a break, Wei. You deserve it."

Wei gave her a bow and went on his way as Yelan entered Shaoran's room. She saw herself at Shaoran's side. She didn't speak for a while. Shaoran felt that the silence was becoming uncomfortable. Even if it were his mother already, he was feeling a little guilty for worrying her like he did.

"Mama…I wish…you would have gone here for another reason…and not this one…" Shaoran finally decided to say.

Yelan looked at her son. There was genuine guilt and remorse in his eyes. She smiled warmly at him and squeezed his hand.

"Xiao Lang, these things do happen, especially when you save someone. Sakura had told me all about it…why you had gotten yourself into this accident. That was a brave thing you did, my son."

"Mama…I…"

Yelan then smiled and then replied, with a tinge of disappointment in her voice, "But I do have to wonder, Xiao Lang, how in the world you could hurt her the way you did?"

Shaoran was dumbstruck. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He had been wondering about that himself. Ever since he and Sakura talked by the stairway, the last time they actually talked to each other, he had been wondering and cursing himself how he could hurt her the way he did.

"Mama…how did you…?"

Yelan started to laugh a little before she replied, "I am your mother, Shaoran. I know these things, not disregarding the fact that Sakura is almost like a daughter to me. It is not hard to figure out with how you both looked at each other awhile ago."

She then patted Shaoran's hands and said, "But I believe that you aren't as lost as you try to show me now. I believe you already know the answer. You cannot deny your feelings for her."

"Mama, what am I to do? We have just drifted apart without me even realizing it. I've been stupid." Shaoran answered but paused. He felt a little crazy for having that talk with his mother but then again, he knew that his mother would never lie to him.

"Do you think I have a chance? I mean…do you think that I can have space in that big heart of hers?"

Yelan almost laughed as she caressed her son's cheek. She looked into his eyes. He had grown up alright but then at that moment, it seemed like he was this lost boy who was just looking for some hope.

"I cannot speak for Sakura, my son. You have been best friends all your lives. If fate destines that you two take that step, then it will happen but like I said I cannot speak for Sakura. But you should know that you will always be treasured by her in that big heart of hers. She never would have saved your life if she didn't."

Shaoran was stunned. Save my life? What was his mother talking about? Sakura had sacrificed a lot for him, for him to be happy. But it seemed there was something else that she did that he did not know.

"It may not be my place to tell you this and this will definitely go against Sakura's wishes but you have asked if you have a chance. Well, Shaoran, when Sakura found out from Wei about your accident, she immediately came here. Now I know that tension between the two of you must have been happening awhile now, am I right? But she still came anyway. When the doctor came and told them that you needed blood, Sakura, without even thinking about it, offered hers to save your life."

Yelan watched her son's reaction. She could tell that it was a big push for Shaoran back into reality. It somehow renewed him…given him strength.

"Offered hers…and she didn't want me to know about it?" Shaoran was thinking aloud.

Yelan looked at him amused. She couldn't hide a smile.

"I was told it was so to ensure your happiness." Yelan decided to say.

Shaoran looked at his mother. His wide-eyed expression made Yelan smile. She ran her hands on his unruly brown hair and gently caressed his cheek. Definitely, her son had chosen a wonderful young woman to love. She was already part of the family even if they didn't end up together but it was inevitable. Since they were children, they had been extremely close to one another. Falling in love with one another was always a possibility every one who knew them anticipated as it only seemed natural.

"Now, Xiao Lang, if you let her go, I will never forgive you. You two have been hurt enough being apart. I don't want you to promise me that you will not hurt her because being in a relationship and loving, hurt becomes part of that too. But I know you two won't hurt each other on purpose. Like I said, if you let her go this time, Xiao Lang, I will honestly never forgive you."

There. She said it. Shaoran had his mother's blessing. All he had to do now was get better and find a way to tell Sakura without frightening her off. Yes. She needed to know. If she didn't want to, well, he will just have to make her and it's her decision afterwards. This time, he will not stand against her happiness and he would put her first before his own. It was his turn to do that.

(to be continued…)

With a new found determination, it can move mountains for a certain someone. Hehe. He already knows that she cares about him that much. But why do some guys just need to have it told to their faces? Well anyway, it really is a complicated relationship, having fallen in love with your best friend. Hehe. Well anyway, thanks for those who read and reviewed up to this chapter. Please do continue to read and review. Thanks.

Michiko