A
lone girl watched as the sun slowly set in the horizon as she
unconsciously sifted the sand beneath her feet. It had been a
while since she had been at this place-together with the person
that she had been longing to see for a long time.
"I'll be back."
He had uttered those words to her the day she had
obtained news that he was leaving Tomoeda for the second time
to resume his duties in Hong Kong. It wasn't that she didn't want
to trust him; it was just that she was afraid that he couldn't
fulfill the promise that he had told her.
Besides, it was already five years since she had
last seen him. He had not once returned to Tomoeda, and it was
quite evident that he might never come back. Still, she knew that
she would always wait for him, no matter what would happen. He
had made a promise, and she was sure that he wouldn't break it.
"Ai shiteruSakura-chan."
She squeezed her eyes shut, reflecting bitterly as
a lone tear slipped down her cheek. He had explained to her that
he did care about her, yet he had a responsibility to take on.
Yet, he had left her without telling her, and she had almost been
unable say goodbye to him.
"Is this is, Li-kun?" she whispered, her
eyes flooding with tears as she gazed straight at the reddish-orange
sun. "Is this our final goodbye? Will we never see each other
again?"
As she uttered these words, she could feel the piercing
loneliness that had penetrated her heart ever since he had left
Tomoeda. No one could fill this aching loneliness in her heart
except him, she knew. He was the only one that was important to
him.
Li had always been different from the others, she
reflected with a wistful smile as she looked down at the teddy
bear that he had given her before he had left for Hong Kong the
first time. He had always shunned away from people, preferring
to be a loner, just like the reincarnation of his ancestor, Eriol.
Eriol too had left her, she reflected as she wiped
the tears that fell onto her lap. Everyone that she thought she
knew well had left her alone, except some of her close friends
such as Tomoyo, Chiharu and Rika. They had comforted her after
Li's departure, yet she knew that no comforting could aid the
void that he and his cousin, Meilin, had left when the both of
them returned to Hong Kong.
Her mind flew to the time where he had returned to
Tomoeda for the second time. She had ended up working together
with him to defeat The void, yet she had been afraid of losing
her most precious feeling when she converted the card into a Sakura
card.
She had closed her eyes anticipating the black
sphere to descend over her, riding her of her most treasured feeling.
If this was her destiny, then let it happen!
It was only after a few seconds before she realized
that the black sphere wasn't closing in on her. Instead, the chosen
one was the person that was standing beside her at that very moment-
Li.
She stood shock still, watching helplessly as
the gigantic black object began to envelop him. He was smiling
shyly at her as he spoke.
"If I am to lose this feeling, I will come
to love you again, Sakura-chan. Ai shiteruSakura-chan."
It was then that the black sphere covered him
completely, blocking him from her view. She took a step back,
as if struck by his words. Liloved her?
She didn't know why, but she found herself sobbing
uncontrollably while watching the sphere cover him. Would Li truly
forget her after all they had gone through? Would he forget how
long the both of them had been together?
Watching as the black sphere began to disappear,
she gazed at Li who stood not far from her now. He seemed different,
and she felt certain that his most precious feeling had been taken
from him.
It was only then that words came to her, and she
burst out, saying the words that she had keeping within her for
so long.
"I know it's too late, Li-kun," she
had sobbed, her tears flowing freely down her cheeks as she looked
down. "You may not care for me now, but I don't mind. Ai
shiteru, Li-kun!"
He had smiled ever so gently at her when she burst
into tears, crying her heart out. It was too late-he had lost
what was most important to him already!
"Ai shiteru, Sakura-chan," he had spoke
softly as she looked up wonderingly. "I have always loved
you, and always will. Ai shiteru."
It was as if a miracle had happened, and she could
feel herself smiling as she gazed at him. So he hadn't lost his
most precious feeling after all!
Holding her Jump card in front of her, she had
proceeded to use it despite his protests that she should conserve
whatever power that remained inside her at that moment. Leaping
into his arms, she hugged him as tears flowed freely out of her
eyes.
"I really love you, Li-kun!"
Would he ever return to Hong Kong now? She sighed
heavily, smiling at the small teddy bear in front of her. He had
promised that he would, and something inside her told her that
he would return, at any cost.
It was only when the sun shone its last rays that
the words finally escaped her lips. The words that she had been
longing to say all this while, but simply hadn't found the courage
to say it to him.
"Ai shiteruLi-kun."
