Author's Note: ~bangs head into keyboard~ Remember last author's note? The one where I was tired and writing at hours past my bed time and said there would be "One more chapter after this, then maybe a prologue."? Can I tell you now that I meant epilogue, but I was too tired to say what I meant? Ugh, I hate it when I make stupid mistakes like that. I know better! ~bangs head into keyboard some more~

Oh well, in the long run it doesn't matter. What matters is that I got reviews! ~giggles~ Thank you Babybattlefaerie and L-chan! We're almost done and I'll be sad to see this go. I'll also be more relieved than I can express in words. I had no CLUE when I wrote those first words about Yue drifting to meet Sakura in the middle of the night so that she could give her warning that things would end like this. No clue at all. It just unfolded this way. Don't let that fool you though. I've put more thought and planning into this story than almost anything else I've written. The only thing that comes close is Moon's Dance and Shadow. Gee, it's my second darkest fic next to this one. Hmmm...coincidence? I think not.

Thank you for sticking with this story and reading it to the end. For all intents and purposes this is the end of the story, though a few loose ends will be tied in the epilogue to come. That is all. Thank you.

Silent Eyes

Sakura's Spell

Sakura looked stubborn. Yue and Yukito looked despondent. Syaoran and Yelan looked weary and resigned. Touya looked determined. Sonomi and Tomoyo looked worried. Fujitaka and Eriol exchanged a glance after taking all this in and nodded. Surprisingly, neither one looked particularly concerned.

Sakura was the first one to notice how calm the two looked. Hope brightened her face as they walked over to her. "You two can cast the spell?"

Another look was exchanged between them, then her father shook his head. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Even if I had spent my life learning magic like Eriol had, he and I could not cast this spell together."

"But, nobody else knows the spell."

"Right now, Eriol is the only one who knows it and can cast it...and he can't cast it alone. The spell will not be cast tonight."

"Then, what happens next? We can't give up hope. Not right now."

Eriol stepped closer then, as if that was his cue. "That is the key. When you created your first card, Sakura-chan, how did you do it?"

"I-I'm not entirely sure. I knew I would miss Syaoran a lot, and it was just before he left to go back home, and I was scared I'd never see him again. I was crying, and that's how the card formed, from my tears."

"No, the card was formed from your genuine emotion. Every other card, each one that I created as Clow Reed, had to be drawn by hand and then infused with magical energy and a spirit with a long process of complex spells. That was the only way...until you became Mistress of the Cards. You have your own magic. You don't have to rely on the same complex and exacting spells. Your heart holds the magic you need."

"I can't do it on my own. If I could, none of this would have happened like this. Besides, I just know that I can't do this by myself. I need help."

"You've always had help when you need it."

Everyone in the room nodded in agreement, forming a rough circle around Sakura. Even Syaoran's sisters and mother were moved to add their unspoken support. Touched beyond words, tears sprang to Sakura's eyes as she looked upon her moon guardian and his other form. They gave her identical smiles, showing her nothing but trust and confidence in her ability.

"You really think I can do it?" Sakura looked into Yue's eyes, needing to hear for the first time that he believed in her. That he had faith in her. She had always felt unworthy of him, since that first time when she needed help from Clow's bell to convince him in the final judgment.

The trust and confidence in her did not waver as she looked at him.

"Yes, Sakura. You can do this." His response was not formal, was not stiff, and was not distant. The hug he wrapped her in suddenly was not the gesture of a servant for a master, but of a friend. "Thank you."

She returned his hug enthusiastically, remembering fondly the first time she had surprised him with a hug all those years ago. For a moment she indulged in regret for letting him grow distant after that, but something told her that it wouldn't be a problem ever again. Whatever bitterness had held him away from everyone no longer kept him prisoner from everyone around him. "I should be the one thanking you, Yue."

The moment held, lasting as long as they could make it. Then Sakura turned to Yukito.

No words were necessary. Sakura found herself in the middle of another hug, but this one was a bit sadder than the first. Each knew without words that they were saying goodbye...but they both knew that it wasn't quite a goodbye. He would live on in Yue, though he would never be himself as he was now again. Tears fell, but smiles were exchanged when they pulled away.

"Are you ready?"

Yukito nodded solemnly. "As ready as I could ever be."

Without words everyone in the room knew to circle around the Card Mistress and her guardian's two forms. The circle became complete around the three of them when everyone joined hands, and then Sakura, Yue, and Yukito joined hands. Sakura's eyes slipped closed and she concentrated with everything she had, shaping reality to her will.

~~~~~@~~~~~

A brilliant white light bathed the three figures in the center of the circle, blinding the onlookers. Touya tried to blink away the effect, but it was impenetrable. All he felt, all he knew, was that his sister needed him. Within the confines of his skull he could almost picture himself pacing with worry and anticipation. Yes, everything between himself and his loves...or...love, had been resolved before they had fallen under the influence of Yaku. Still, they had missed out on so much time while their wills had been captive and he didn't have the chance to...to...to do and say so many of the things he had wanted.

And now the time was here and he had been robbed of all his chances.

Growling away his distraction he dismissed all negative thoughts. He returned to trying to concentrate on the figures bathed in light....

~~~~~@~~~~~

Sonomi wondered idly what her daughter must feel as she felt a drain on her magical energy. Tomoyo really was the only one without magic here. The fact that Sonomi might as well not have it was irrelevant. It was like the difference between being born blind and being "legally blind". A person who might as well be blind still had access to a sense that someone born blind had no concept of, no matter how useless that sense was in a practical sense.

Her daughter's heart though...her daughter's heart was just as strong and pure as anyone else here. She had strength of will to match anyone else here. She had absolute faith in her best friend.

Sonomi could do no less for her best friend's daughter.

~~~~~@~~~~~

Fujitaka beamed proudly in the direction of his daughter as the magical energy gathered. It was more than he could comprehend really, even with the shadowy memories he had now of his past life. The memories may have grown stronger recently with Eriol's proximity, but they still didn't feel like himself. He lived a normal life, and was happy for it.

Still, as much as he was attached to his normal life and way of living it, the touch of magic in his life gave him something indescribable. He didn't want it for himself, but the swelling pride within him as his daughter found her own magical strengths was more important to him than anything. He knew that Clow Reed would not have been more proud of his protégée at this moment than Fujitaka was of his daughter.

~~~~~@~~~~~

Syaoran was awash in awed adoration. He was tired, weak, and drained almost to the point of passing out again, but he smiled and gave Sakura all the support he could manage. She was incredible. He was lucky to have her.

And with all his heart he hoped he'd have her for a long time to come.

~~~~~@~~~~~

It was done. Sakura had poured her all into it, every wish and hope she had made before turning inconsequential next to this one effort. Even converting the Light and Dark cards paled next to what she put into this one spell. She tried to open her eyes, to double check the result and make sure that one person stood before her instead of two, but it proved suddenly to be too much effort.

She collapsed, falling into comforting arms as the world buzzed around her. Were the voices loud with shock and dismay or with relief and happiness? It was too much effort to even try to understand their words. As much as she had put on a brave front at the final showdown and the events that followed, she really wasn't as strong as she should be. The gnawing emptiness that had haunted her since the kidnapping had drained her more than anyone would guess.

Finally, strong arms carried her somewhere. The noises were further away and the light was different, so it must have been a different room. She willed herself to smile and felt a bit of tension go out of whoever was carrying her. She was placed on what felt like a couch where she decided to do nothing more strenuous than concentrate on breathing.

When she could open her eyes she saw the warm eyes of her true love gazing anxiously into her own. "Sakura, you're all right!"

He looked wiped out. Almost as exhausted as she felt. "I'll be fine. See, I'm awake and everything!"

Speaking made her feel a little dizzy though. The words echoed around in her skull, rattling things that shouldn't rattle and making her aware of a headache she could do without.

"Okay, love. You'll be fine, yes, but now you should get some sleep. You need your rest."

She felt him stroke her hair out of her face with gentle care and concern. "Syaoran."

Her breath came out in short gasps now as she fought to stay on this side of the encroaching darkness.

"Yes Sakura?"

"I love you."

The darkness claimed her as she heard him respond in kind.