Gambatte Kudasai
Epilogue
Touya sat in his sister's room, not daring to leave her side. His mother had said that that gaki was helping. He wanted to help too…but knew there was nothing he could do. He looked down at his sister's seemingly sleeping form. She was always so genki and happy. Now she lay there…on the brink of death, hooked up to countless machines programmed to keep her alive.
Touya sighed. "You had better bring her back…" He paused. "Syaoran."
As if hearing him, the room was suddenly filled with wind, circling around his sister. Papers and other items were thrown into disarray around the room. Touya blocked out the wind with his arm, and watched in amazement, as his sister started to glow.
Soon, the wind seemed to wrap around Sakura's body and twirl off to the side. What materialized there was the body of Li Syaoran. Touya gasped, but as the wind died down, he held his breath, unsure of what to expect.
Touya heard Sakura breathe in deeply and smile, as her bright green eyes slowly opened for the first time in days. "Sakura!" Touya exclaimed and rushed to his sister's side. "You're okay!" Not even trying to hide his enthusiasm.
Sakura nodded. "Thanks to Syaoran."
Touya turned and saw the youth she referred to, was in pretty bad shape. His clothes were torn, and dried blood covered his body. Touya took a side-glance at his sister and saw her worried expression.
Syaoran coughed and moaned as he slowly came to. Touya turned to him, with a glare. Sakura tensed for the eminent argument. When Syaoran stood up on wobbly legs, he noticed Touya, and tried to move back, but fell.
Surprisingly, to everyone present, including Kero-chan who had stuck back to his drawer, Touya caught him a steadied him. Syaoran looked at the college student wearily, not comprehending the situation.
Touya, keeping a straight face, broke the silence. "You shouldn't try to walk, in your condition." Syaoran opened his mouth in shock and Sakura smiled. "Come on. You can rest up in my bed."
Syaoran nodded and allowed to be led out of the room, but not before leaning over and kissing Sakura on the forehead. "You rest up." He said gently, and smiled.
Touya, for some reason, didn't seem surprised. Simply keeping his straight face, he led the injured teen out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Once in Touya's bedroom, Touya directed him to the bed, while he went to get some bandages. Touya then proceeded to clean up the youth's various wounds and lent him a shirt to wear, while he disposed of the torn one.
Syaoran frowned. "Why are you doing this?" He asked carefully.
Touya turned to face him. "You brought her back to us. For that I owe you."
Syaoran's eyes went wide. "You know?"
"Not everything. Just enough. What ever cause you that much damage, and kidnapped Sakura…you taking care of it…I can at least show some hospitality."
Syaoran smirked. "But you still don't like me."
Touya looked at him for a minute…then smirked. "Let's just say that I don't hate you as much."
Syaoran laughed and nodded. "More than I hoped for anyway."
Touya started putting the bandages and ointments away. "Do you love her?"
Syaoran seemed shocked at this, but nodded briefly. "I do."
Touya looked at him carefully, then nodded back. "Take care of her then."
Syaoran gasped. "You are all right with this?"
Touya shrugged. "Well, at least I know she's in okay hands. You have some fighting skills at least."
Syaoran raised an eyebrow. "Some? I nearly kicked your butt at ten years old!"
Touya glared. "One lucky shot! I can easily take you out!"
Syaoran stood up. "Oh yeah?"
"Syaoran?" A weak voice came from the far room.
Touya and Syaoran stopped, and looked towards Sakura's room. Syaoran looked once at Touya, who nodded, approving the youth to attend to his loved one. Syaoran left and Touya sighed.
"Thank you." A gentle voice said from behind him.
Touya turned around and was not surprised to see his mother's spirit floating in her angelic beauty. She smiled at him and he took a step forward. "Is she going to be all right?" He asked.
Nadeshiko nodded. "She will. The force that was inside her, was draining her life energy. The boy saved her."
Touya nodded, not knowing what else to say.
Nadeshiko came forward, putting a hand to Touya's cheek. "I know you are worried for her, demo she has to keep this from you. Just like you kept your secret from her. What would it do to her if she knew you could see me and she couldn't?"
Touya looked down. "It's just-"
"You hate being kept in the dark." She finished. Touya nodded. "She will tell you in time…until then you have to trust her."
"I feel so helpless." He admitted.
Nadeshiko pulled up her son's face to meet her gaze. "Syaoran will be there to protect her when you can't. She appreciates what you do…and so do I. Gambatte Kudasai. Keep your chin up. Things will look better soon. I promise."
Touya nodded and watched as his mother moved back and smiled. "Take care and know I'm watching over you…always." Then she was gone.
In Sakura's room, Syaoran sat at the edge of Sakura's bed, and held her gently. She hugged back, relaxing into his arms, knowing that together they had completed one more obstacle and had come out victorious. Not only that, but she found out Syaoran loved her back. But what worried her were the future challenges. Would other try to come after her like the woman?
Syaoran seemed to feel Sakura tense in thought. "Hey come on. What's wrong?"
Sakura pulled back and sighed. "I was so helpless…being drained like that. If it weren't for you…"
"Shhh." He put a finger to her lips to silence her. "Don't talk like that. You are strong. If it weren't for you, that woman would have gotten the best of me. We did it together, depended on each other. That was how we won."
Sakura nodded. "What if there are others?" She asked.
Syaoran smiled. "We will take care of them too."
Sakura smiled back. "My mother has a saying…one dad told me she always said that would cheer him up. She said… 'Gambatte Kudasai'… 'Keep your chin up'"
Syaoran laughed. "That's what you should do now then. After everything you have overcome…the tasks that will be laid before you will also be over come."
Sakura hugged him. "I know. Because you will be there with me."
"Always." He replied.
Nadeshiko smiled as she silently watched the two. Growing tired the two lay down and rested in each other's arms. Syaoran gave a gentle kiss to Sakura on her forehead and she sighed with a smile, laying her head on his chest and falling asleep.
Syaoran blushed and whispered in her ear. "Aishiteru."
She snuggled up to him… "Aishiteru, Syaoran, forever and always." And with that…they both fell asleep.
Nadeshiko smiled and disappeared from the room, knowing her daughter…was in good hands.
THE END
A/N: Okay that's the Epi…actually my favorite in this whole dumb series. Not very proud of it. Thank you all who read…and thank you Sakura-chan for the encouragement. Ja ne minna!