CHAPTER 13 - Epilogue
When Sakura recovered from receiving the magic, she was distressed to learn that Eriol was gone. Kero explained that he was a menace to the world as long as he lived, as the evil side of Clow would eventually retake control, and that his death was his own choice and a necessary one for the good of everyone, although he didn't sound like he believed it much himself.
None of them had any idea of what to do next. Removing Eriol from power had been their goal, and now that was accomplished. Tomoyo thought she should return to her family, as much as she didn't want to. "I've had more fun with you guys in the past month than I did in seventeen years at home," she said. But, she also admitted to missing the warm soft bed and guaranteed meals. Having run out of money, they had taken to doing odd jobs in farms around the city of Maghin, where the labor they did for a day barely earned enough for a meal. After a good deal of thought, weighing the creature comforts of home with the infinitely more interesting life Sakura and Syaoran led, Tomoyo decided that she did not want to return home quite yet.
It turned out that her decision really didn't matter. Two searchers working for the Daidouji rulers found her working in a farm they passed while on their way into Maghin. Recognizing her face from the picture they were given, despite the bandana wrapped around her head to keep the hair out of her face and the dirty cloth garments she wore while working, they informed her she was to return to her mother at once. Tomoyo refused, but the searchers were armed and then informed her of the rather substanial reward offered to any who returned Tomoyo to the Daidoujis, and she knew that they would not let her go.
The bigger problem arose when the searchers noticed Syaoran. Without explanation, they grabbed him unexpectedly and tied his wrists and ankles, then tossed him into their cart. Both Tomoyo and Sakura demanded to know why, as did Syaoran, and they did the same to Sakura as they had to Syaoran. With Tomoyo sitting between them, the searchers took all three of them to begin their journey to Rufley.
The night of the first day of that journey, Tomoyo waited until the two searchers were asleep before venturing to the cart. "Are you guys okay?"
"Why did they make us their prisoners?" said Sakura.
"I think that they think that you kidnapped me."
"But we didn't!" sputtered Sakura.
"I know, but I can't convince them otherwise! We'll just have to hope my mother will listen to me if these dolts do not."
"Kero will wonder what happened to us and come find us."
Syaoran struggled mightily to lift himself into a sitting position. "We shouldn't run away from this, it would look bad."
"I can't stay like this the whole trip," complained Sakura. "I'm already feeling cramped up."
The searchers would not allow them to be untied, however, much to Sakura's dismay. The trip by horse and cart went more quickly than they had while walking, but it was still too long. When they finally arrived in Rufley, Sakura was almost glad to be tossed into a dungeon cell in the Daidouji castle, as that meant they could remove her ropes. Rubbing her raw wrists, she wondered how many more times she could get herself thrown in prison before she reached eighteen.
*******************
"Are you thinking about anything, Sakura?" said Syaoran that night.
"Only about Clow."
"Do you remember at the Li castle, when we were escaping and you got hit with the fireball?" Sakura nodded. "I still haven't figured out why it didn't even cause a scratch on you. No marks, nothing. Not even your dress showed any sign of it. The best I can think of is your own magic defense, but it can't have gotten that high yet..."
"Clow."
"Huh?"
"It must be Clow!" Sakura leaped to her feet. "He's been protecting me, watching over me! This whole time!"
"I know he paid you a visit, but..."
"That disease. Kero himself said Clow was probably the only person who could have survived it."
"Yes, but..."
"So he was there, keeping the virus from killing me!"
"Well..."
"And the fireball. He didn't let it harm me, it didn't cause any permanent damage. It felt like I was hit by a rock, but it held no magic!" Syaoran decided it wasn't worth trying to interrupt anymore. "When I was trying to think of a way to stop Eriol, the idea to use Mirror just came to me! Do you think Clow put it there?"
"I don't know..."
"Clow has been so nice to me."
"If he did all that, than yes. But don't you think you should get some of the credit for those things?"
Sakura shook her head. "I don't think I could have done those things without a little help."
******************
It was when Syaoran finally fell asleep that Clow paid a second and final visit to Sakura.
"Clow!" she said, recognizing the pitch-black environment and the man.
"Sakura, you seem to have stumbled upon a secret."
"Thank you so much for helping me survive! You are so kind..."
"Before you laud me anymore, I think you should know that it wasn't quite me who was doing all that to you."
"What?"
"Oh, I would have, but someone else wanted to be your guardian."
"Who?"
"Your father."
"Father...Can I see him, please?"
Clow took on a look of empathy. "I'm afraid not. You see, as your guardian, he cannot exist as I can. He exists in a different way. His spirit is inside of you, guiding you when you need it. You see, people can die, but it is never the end of them."
"I...I still miss him."
"Of course you do. But remember, and he wanted me to tell you this. Your father will always be with you."
"That makes me feel better."
"Good." Clow smiled. "I think your current situation will change for the better soon. I'm very sorry, but I must leave."
"Good-bye, Clow," said Sakura. The black seemed to give way to light, and Sakura could see the prison cell again, and Syaoran's sleeping form, rhythmically breathing. She suddenly decided it was cold. Without any blankets, she knew she'd need some warmth, and so huddled closely to Syaoran. That was the only reason she did it, she told herself, warmth, although she knew that was a lie. Syaoran was very warm. She realized that she could see spending the rest of her life like this, close to Syaoran.
******************
It took four days, but Tomoyo finally cleared Sakura and Syaoran. Once released, they were invited to an apology dinner hosted by the Duchess Sonomi Daidouji herself. Termed insolent, Tomoyo had been locked in her room since she had arrived back at the castle, but she was allowed to join the dinner, as were most of the wealthiest nobles.
"I'm so very sorry for what happened," said the Duchess. "Those searchers do well at what they do, but they are also lacking in the judgement department."
Sakura curtsied, showing off the dress provided by Tomoyo for the dinner. "It's not your fault."
"Please accept this dinner as my apology. And I do thank you for taking care of my daughter while she ran away from the castle, although I do wish you would have returned her to me."
Syaoran looked up from where he had been staring at all the food. "Under the circumstances, we could not. As it turned out, she helped us out quite a bit."
"I suppose I understand," said Sonomi, fingering one of her many rings. "She seems to have inherited the running away idea from her father, but that's another issue." She cleared her throat. "Anyway, Tomoyo tells me you have nowhere to go after this, am I correct?"
"Yes, that is true," said Sakura carefully.
"Well, I believe she has taken to traveling with you. So to prevent that, I wish to offer you positions here in the castle."
"I will not be a servant!" said Sakura, a little more forcefully than she meant to in the audience of the Duchess. Sonomi raised an eyebrow, but did not chastise.
"No, I don't want you to be one. Since Clow, or Eriol, or whatever his name was, no one seems to know anymore, anyway, since he's gone, Maghin has decided to cut back its empire and make us completely independant. That means that not only am I going to be a queen, but we are going to need a better military than the one we have."
"Well I don't think we know much about raising an army," said Sakura.
"No, but you do know about magical abilities, am I wrong?"
"No."
"Good. Then you two can be in charge of testing our town for magical talents, and helping us raise our own sorcerers! We've never had any, as most in the city have historically feared magic, but I think that it is well past time to have some."
"But..."
"Before you say no, remember that magic is useful in other ways than war. You two can head a state-funded magic school, that will teach the art to those who wish to learn. You will be paid quite well, of course." Sonomi smiled. "I get goosebumps just thinking about how much improved the city of Rufley would be. Healing magic, war magic, even human enhancing magic!"
"I want to discuss it with Syaoran," said Sakura, noncommittal.
"Very well," said Sonomi. "I shall give you two days to think it over. I do hope you'll accept my offer, though."
***********************
"Should we?" said Sakura, cutting straight to the chase. She and Syaoran were alone in a small part of the Daidouji's library. "I don't know how to train anyone in magic! And I can't use magic without the cards. I'm afraid I'm not very qualified for this."
"I bet I could wing it, but it would be tough going at the start," admitted Syaoran. "Where's that stuffed animal, anyway? We could use his help in this. The way Duchess Sonomi was talking, I'm not sure she would take 'no' as an answer very well." Sakura groaned.
It was one and a half days before Kero finally showed up. He was very angry. "You guys abandoned me!" he said indignantly.
"We were taken prisoner by the men Tomoyo's mother hired to find her. They thought we were her kidnappers," explained Sakura, calming Kero, who had returned to his smaller stuffed animal form, although reluctantly.
Kero looked around her room, which was decorated with the finest silks and tapestries, and had a bed the size of a room at most inns. "Yes, you being a prisoner here would explain these posh living conditions," he said dryly.
"Tomoyo explained it all!" said Sakura defensively. "Anyway, I'm glad you tracked us down. We need your help." Kero looked pleased. Sakura knew he liked to be needed. "Tomoyo's mother wants Syaoran and I to open a magic school, to train people in Rufley in magic. But...well, neither Syaoran nor I are really equipped to do such a thing, so..."
"You want me to advise you in how to go about it."
"Yes. Please?"
"Of course, Sakura!" he said. "Besides, I'm not done with your training."
"M...mine?"
"You think I'm going to just leave you hanging? There's still much to learn, much to improve in!"
"Oh boy."
"Don't get too excited now. You'll be running a magic school around here. That will be tough work for you and the kid." Sakura didn't feel like she would enjoy this magic training very much.
*********************
The sign was the last part to go up on the building near the castle where Sakura and Syaoran would be holding their training sessions. It said, very simply, "Magic School". Kero said simple was best.
Tomoyo readjusted to live in the castle, and was glad to see that Sakura would be remaining close by. She liked to visit Sakura, and Sakura liked to have her visit. Sonomi was glad that Tomoyo had more reason to stay than go. One day, she knew Tomoyo would be Queen. She just hoped Tomoyo made better decisions regarding men than she did.
Kero told Sakura he could stay for awhile, to help things get started with the training in Rufley, but also that he had to find Yue. It was hard for him to explain why, just that something tugged at him and told him to find the other guardian Clow had created. He had no idea how long it would take to find Yue, once he started looking, but he promised Sakura he would return when he did.
Meanwhile, Syaoran and Sakura lived alone together in the upper floor of their magic school. At first, Sakura did not want to, as being very prim and proper about everything was a mood she sometimes went into. Still, she decided she would rather live with Syaoran than alone.
The night before their school opened for the first time, Syaoran convinced Sakura to join him on the roof to stargaze. There he turned to her, the breeze in the air causing both of them to shiver, and said, after working up the nerve, "I love you, Sakura."
She gave him an odd look he didn't know how to read. Then she smiled, pecking him lightly on the cheek. "I love you too." Both were surprised at how easily they had said it. They had expected it to be difficult, but it wasn't.
"It's about damn time," muttered Kero, watching them from the window where they could climb onto the roof. They watched the stars for a long time, and Sakura was convinced that good things did happen to her, that she was very grateful for everything she had gained through her journey, and that she prayed she could keep her new friends forever.
The End
********************************************
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed and/or read this story. I enjoy writing, but it is also nice to know other people like to read what I write. I hope you liked this story! ~ Gihyou
When Sakura recovered from receiving the magic, she was distressed to learn that Eriol was gone. Kero explained that he was a menace to the world as long as he lived, as the evil side of Clow would eventually retake control, and that his death was his own choice and a necessary one for the good of everyone, although he didn't sound like he believed it much himself.
None of them had any idea of what to do next. Removing Eriol from power had been their goal, and now that was accomplished. Tomoyo thought she should return to her family, as much as she didn't want to. "I've had more fun with you guys in the past month than I did in seventeen years at home," she said. But, she also admitted to missing the warm soft bed and guaranteed meals. Having run out of money, they had taken to doing odd jobs in farms around the city of Maghin, where the labor they did for a day barely earned enough for a meal. After a good deal of thought, weighing the creature comforts of home with the infinitely more interesting life Sakura and Syaoran led, Tomoyo decided that she did not want to return home quite yet.
It turned out that her decision really didn't matter. Two searchers working for the Daidouji rulers found her working in a farm they passed while on their way into Maghin. Recognizing her face from the picture they were given, despite the bandana wrapped around her head to keep the hair out of her face and the dirty cloth garments she wore while working, they informed her she was to return to her mother at once. Tomoyo refused, but the searchers were armed and then informed her of the rather substanial reward offered to any who returned Tomoyo to the Daidoujis, and she knew that they would not let her go.
The bigger problem arose when the searchers noticed Syaoran. Without explanation, they grabbed him unexpectedly and tied his wrists and ankles, then tossed him into their cart. Both Tomoyo and Sakura demanded to know why, as did Syaoran, and they did the same to Sakura as they had to Syaoran. With Tomoyo sitting between them, the searchers took all three of them to begin their journey to Rufley.
The night of the first day of that journey, Tomoyo waited until the two searchers were asleep before venturing to the cart. "Are you guys okay?"
"Why did they make us their prisoners?" said Sakura.
"I think that they think that you kidnapped me."
"But we didn't!" sputtered Sakura.
"I know, but I can't convince them otherwise! We'll just have to hope my mother will listen to me if these dolts do not."
"Kero will wonder what happened to us and come find us."
Syaoran struggled mightily to lift himself into a sitting position. "We shouldn't run away from this, it would look bad."
"I can't stay like this the whole trip," complained Sakura. "I'm already feeling cramped up."
The searchers would not allow them to be untied, however, much to Sakura's dismay. The trip by horse and cart went more quickly than they had while walking, but it was still too long. When they finally arrived in Rufley, Sakura was almost glad to be tossed into a dungeon cell in the Daidouji castle, as that meant they could remove her ropes. Rubbing her raw wrists, she wondered how many more times she could get herself thrown in prison before she reached eighteen.
*******************
"Are you thinking about anything, Sakura?" said Syaoran that night.
"Only about Clow."
"Do you remember at the Li castle, when we were escaping and you got hit with the fireball?" Sakura nodded. "I still haven't figured out why it didn't even cause a scratch on you. No marks, nothing. Not even your dress showed any sign of it. The best I can think of is your own magic defense, but it can't have gotten that high yet..."
"Clow."
"Huh?"
"It must be Clow!" Sakura leaped to her feet. "He's been protecting me, watching over me! This whole time!"
"I know he paid you a visit, but..."
"That disease. Kero himself said Clow was probably the only person who could have survived it."
"Yes, but..."
"So he was there, keeping the virus from killing me!"
"Well..."
"And the fireball. He didn't let it harm me, it didn't cause any permanent damage. It felt like I was hit by a rock, but it held no magic!" Syaoran decided it wasn't worth trying to interrupt anymore. "When I was trying to think of a way to stop Eriol, the idea to use Mirror just came to me! Do you think Clow put it there?"
"I don't know..."
"Clow has been so nice to me."
"If he did all that, than yes. But don't you think you should get some of the credit for those things?"
Sakura shook her head. "I don't think I could have done those things without a little help."
******************
It was when Syaoran finally fell asleep that Clow paid a second and final visit to Sakura.
"Clow!" she said, recognizing the pitch-black environment and the man.
"Sakura, you seem to have stumbled upon a secret."
"Thank you so much for helping me survive! You are so kind..."
"Before you laud me anymore, I think you should know that it wasn't quite me who was doing all that to you."
"What?"
"Oh, I would have, but someone else wanted to be your guardian."
"Who?"
"Your father."
"Father...Can I see him, please?"
Clow took on a look of empathy. "I'm afraid not. You see, as your guardian, he cannot exist as I can. He exists in a different way. His spirit is inside of you, guiding you when you need it. You see, people can die, but it is never the end of them."
"I...I still miss him."
"Of course you do. But remember, and he wanted me to tell you this. Your father will always be with you."
"That makes me feel better."
"Good." Clow smiled. "I think your current situation will change for the better soon. I'm very sorry, but I must leave."
"Good-bye, Clow," said Sakura. The black seemed to give way to light, and Sakura could see the prison cell again, and Syaoran's sleeping form, rhythmically breathing. She suddenly decided it was cold. Without any blankets, she knew she'd need some warmth, and so huddled closely to Syaoran. That was the only reason she did it, she told herself, warmth, although she knew that was a lie. Syaoran was very warm. She realized that she could see spending the rest of her life like this, close to Syaoran.
******************
It took four days, but Tomoyo finally cleared Sakura and Syaoran. Once released, they were invited to an apology dinner hosted by the Duchess Sonomi Daidouji herself. Termed insolent, Tomoyo had been locked in her room since she had arrived back at the castle, but she was allowed to join the dinner, as were most of the wealthiest nobles.
"I'm so very sorry for what happened," said the Duchess. "Those searchers do well at what they do, but they are also lacking in the judgement department."
Sakura curtsied, showing off the dress provided by Tomoyo for the dinner. "It's not your fault."
"Please accept this dinner as my apology. And I do thank you for taking care of my daughter while she ran away from the castle, although I do wish you would have returned her to me."
Syaoran looked up from where he had been staring at all the food. "Under the circumstances, we could not. As it turned out, she helped us out quite a bit."
"I suppose I understand," said Sonomi, fingering one of her many rings. "She seems to have inherited the running away idea from her father, but that's another issue." She cleared her throat. "Anyway, Tomoyo tells me you have nowhere to go after this, am I correct?"
"Yes, that is true," said Sakura carefully.
"Well, I believe she has taken to traveling with you. So to prevent that, I wish to offer you positions here in the castle."
"I will not be a servant!" said Sakura, a little more forcefully than she meant to in the audience of the Duchess. Sonomi raised an eyebrow, but did not chastise.
"No, I don't want you to be one. Since Clow, or Eriol, or whatever his name was, no one seems to know anymore, anyway, since he's gone, Maghin has decided to cut back its empire and make us completely independant. That means that not only am I going to be a queen, but we are going to need a better military than the one we have."
"Well I don't think we know much about raising an army," said Sakura.
"No, but you do know about magical abilities, am I wrong?"
"No."
"Good. Then you two can be in charge of testing our town for magical talents, and helping us raise our own sorcerers! We've never had any, as most in the city have historically feared magic, but I think that it is well past time to have some."
"But..."
"Before you say no, remember that magic is useful in other ways than war. You two can head a state-funded magic school, that will teach the art to those who wish to learn. You will be paid quite well, of course." Sonomi smiled. "I get goosebumps just thinking about how much improved the city of Rufley would be. Healing magic, war magic, even human enhancing magic!"
"I want to discuss it with Syaoran," said Sakura, noncommittal.
"Very well," said Sonomi. "I shall give you two days to think it over. I do hope you'll accept my offer, though."
***********************
"Should we?" said Sakura, cutting straight to the chase. She and Syaoran were alone in a small part of the Daidouji's library. "I don't know how to train anyone in magic! And I can't use magic without the cards. I'm afraid I'm not very qualified for this."
"I bet I could wing it, but it would be tough going at the start," admitted Syaoran. "Where's that stuffed animal, anyway? We could use his help in this. The way Duchess Sonomi was talking, I'm not sure she would take 'no' as an answer very well." Sakura groaned.
It was one and a half days before Kero finally showed up. He was very angry. "You guys abandoned me!" he said indignantly.
"We were taken prisoner by the men Tomoyo's mother hired to find her. They thought we were her kidnappers," explained Sakura, calming Kero, who had returned to his smaller stuffed animal form, although reluctantly.
Kero looked around her room, which was decorated with the finest silks and tapestries, and had a bed the size of a room at most inns. "Yes, you being a prisoner here would explain these posh living conditions," he said dryly.
"Tomoyo explained it all!" said Sakura defensively. "Anyway, I'm glad you tracked us down. We need your help." Kero looked pleased. Sakura knew he liked to be needed. "Tomoyo's mother wants Syaoran and I to open a magic school, to train people in Rufley in magic. But...well, neither Syaoran nor I are really equipped to do such a thing, so..."
"You want me to advise you in how to go about it."
"Yes. Please?"
"Of course, Sakura!" he said. "Besides, I'm not done with your training."
"M...mine?"
"You think I'm going to just leave you hanging? There's still much to learn, much to improve in!"
"Oh boy."
"Don't get too excited now. You'll be running a magic school around here. That will be tough work for you and the kid." Sakura didn't feel like she would enjoy this magic training very much.
*********************
The sign was the last part to go up on the building near the castle where Sakura and Syaoran would be holding their training sessions. It said, very simply, "Magic School". Kero said simple was best.
Tomoyo readjusted to live in the castle, and was glad to see that Sakura would be remaining close by. She liked to visit Sakura, and Sakura liked to have her visit. Sonomi was glad that Tomoyo had more reason to stay than go. One day, she knew Tomoyo would be Queen. She just hoped Tomoyo made better decisions regarding men than she did.
Kero told Sakura he could stay for awhile, to help things get started with the training in Rufley, but also that he had to find Yue. It was hard for him to explain why, just that something tugged at him and told him to find the other guardian Clow had created. He had no idea how long it would take to find Yue, once he started looking, but he promised Sakura he would return when he did.
Meanwhile, Syaoran and Sakura lived alone together in the upper floor of their magic school. At first, Sakura did not want to, as being very prim and proper about everything was a mood she sometimes went into. Still, she decided she would rather live with Syaoran than alone.
The night before their school opened for the first time, Syaoran convinced Sakura to join him on the roof to stargaze. There he turned to her, the breeze in the air causing both of them to shiver, and said, after working up the nerve, "I love you, Sakura."
She gave him an odd look he didn't know how to read. Then she smiled, pecking him lightly on the cheek. "I love you too." Both were surprised at how easily they had said it. They had expected it to be difficult, but it wasn't.
"It's about damn time," muttered Kero, watching them from the window where they could climb onto the roof. They watched the stars for a long time, and Sakura was convinced that good things did happen to her, that she was very grateful for everything she had gained through her journey, and that she prayed she could keep her new friends forever.
The End
********************************************
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed and/or read this story. I enjoy writing, but it is also nice to know other people like to read what I write. I hope you liked this story! ~ Gihyou