Dedicated to Cronocat again. Purely because your review amused me so much! Yes, unfortunately, Yolei will die. It was pretty obvious from the beginning, but I fully intend to keep progressing the story. I haven't been able to find a story where they aren't kissing by the end of the second chapter, or where the characters, if given new personalities, stick to them. Thankyou for all the praise, it really does mean a lot to me! I read every single review and each one brings me joy!

I don't know if the park is called 'Penguin Park' in Card Captor Sakura, so I used the Cardcaptor name.

Chapter 9: Full of Grace

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

If all of your strength

And all of your courage

Can lift me from this place

I know I can love you

Much better than this

Full of Grace

Full of Grace

My love

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Monday afternoon, Sakura came down the stairs, wearing some pink trousers that Tomoyo had made for her and a sun top. The weather was wonderfully hot, and Sakura was in a good mood. She was about to go to the hospital. Syaoran was reading the newspaper when she went into the kitchen. He stood up and asked,

"Can I come?"

"It's a free country." She muttered, taking a bottle of water from the fridge and drinking some. Touya came in and asked,

"Are you coming home for dinner, or are you going to buy something?"

"I'll buy something. I'll see you later."

"Remember that Dad's away for a couple of days, fro the conference."

"I know! I did remember!"

She went outside and climbed onto her bike. Syaoran mounted Yue and they sped down the road.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Tomoyo and Eriol were waiting outside the hospital. They both grinned at the pair and Tomoyo said,

"Do you want to get a burger afterwards?"

"Sure. Are you two coming?" she said to the guys, but looking at Eriol. They both confirmed it and they started to walk up to the children's ward. Sakura smiled.

"I can't wait to see Yolei. I want to try and spend as much time as I can with her."

As they entered the children's ward Sakura headed straight for the corner bed but stopped halfway across the room. The other joined her to look at what had halted her.

The bed was empty.

They all looked quickly at Sakura. She was staring, wide-eyed at the neatly made bed. The nurse came in, and hurried over.

"I'm sorry Sakura. She died this morning. It was painless, in her sleep." Sakura didn't seem to have heard a word of this. She walked, almost trance-like, over to the bed and touched the sheets. Then something on the bedside table caught her eye.

It was Sakura-Bunny. Sakura picked it up and hugged it tightly to her chest. Tears pricked her eyes. The nurse put an arm on her shoulder and handed her an envelope.

"Yolei asked me to give it to you. I don't know what it is."

Sakura let out a stifled sob. Taking the paper and Sakura-bunny she turned and ran from the room. Syaoran started after her but Tomoyo stopped him.

"She has to be alone now."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sakura didn't know where she was running. She just kept going, until she arrived in Penguin Park. There she collapsed onto a bench and let the sobs come. Tears splashed down onto Sakura-bunny. The sky was darkening and thunder could be heard, but she ignored it. Instead she tenderly opened the sticky envelope and pulled out the folded piece of paper. Inside was a child's drawing, all angles and scribbles. Yolei had labelled it with bad spellings. There were three figures on a wobbly grass floor. The first was labelled as 'Sakorua-Chan'. The one on the other side was 'Sayaooraan-kun.' In between was a small figure with a smiley face, labelled with the only two words that were recognisable. 'Baby Yolei.' And above these figures was a scribbled figure, recognisable as an angel. This was labelled 'Yolei'.

Sakura turned over the paper and saw a badly written note.

Sakorua-Chan

Rememember baby Yolei. I will mis yoo.

Love Yolei.

Sakura collapsed into more sobs. Her hear felt like it was tearing in two. She didn't even notice when Syaoran sat beside her until her put his arm around her and she cried into his jacket. As she calmed down he said,

"It's ok. Sakura, she was a brave girl and she was ready. She's happy now. You should be too."

"It's so hard… I hate it. I hate feeling like this!"

"I know. But you have to get home. The storm is getting worse."

"She's dead…"

"Sakura, listen to me! We have to get home! It's too dangerous here! Yolei wanted you to live, to do everything she never could! Are you going to throw that away now?" Syaoran said angrily, shaking her. Sakura stared at him, green eyes wide. He sighed and said,

"Sakura, please. Let's get somewhere safe. There is a time to mourn Yolei, and it's not here or now."

 Lightening bolts were striking now. Syaoran took Sakura's arm and pulled her towards Touya's car, which he had obviously borrowed.

As they drove home Syaoran gave Sakura a glance through the corner of his eye. She was staring straight ahead, eyes wide, and she was shaking violently. He didn't know if it was through cold or shock.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Sakura!" Touya cried, pulling his sister into the warmth. She hardly seemed to hear him. Eriol and Tomoyo jumped to their feet.

"Sakura!"

After they had arrived home and found that Sakura was not back, they had wanted to wait until Syaoran found her. Now Touya turned to Tomoyo.

"Can you get her into some dry clothes, and put her into bed? I'll make her a hot drink."

"Sure." Tomoyo took Sakura's hand and led her gently upstairs. Touya looked at Syaoran.

"Where was she?"

"Penguin Park. She wouldn't listen to a word I was saying. I had to drag her to the car." He turned to change into some dry clothes. Touya cleared his throat and said gruffly,

"Um… thanks… Sakura means the world to me, and you helped her tonight… so thanks."

"No problem. You'd do the same."

"Yeah… probably. D'you want a hot drink?"

"Yeah. I'll got to Sakura's room and check on her once I'm changed."

"Ok."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sakura was lying in bed when Syaoran arrived, but her eyes were wide open. Tomoyo was tearful.

"She won't talk to me! She's just lying there!"

"She's in shock. She'll probably be better in the morning." Syaoran told her. Tomoyo nodded.

"I'll come back tomorrow morning. Bye."

"Bye." Syaoran sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at her. Her eyes were fixed on the wall.

"Sakura? Sakura, you have to listen to me. I'm sorry Yolei's dead, but in the short time that I met her, I know that she would hate to see you like this." Sakura didn't speak, or move.

Syaoran bumped into Touya outside the door.

"She won't listen to me. Or maybe she can't even hear me, I dunno."

"We'll see how she is in the morning. Maybe when Dad gets back, the day after tomorrow, she'll get better."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

She didn't get better. Syaoran woke in the middle of the night, because Touya was banging on the door.

"Syaoran! Phone an ambulance, she needs to go to hospital. I can't even wake her up." Syaoran ran into Sakura's room and his breath caught in his throat as he saw her.

Her skin was deathly pale and glistening with cold sweat. Her eyes were shut and he could see she was struggling to breathe, the breaths coming out in wheezing, rasping gasps.

"Syaoran! The Ambulance, quickly!"

"Right." He ran down the steps, two at a time and seized the phone, dialling the emergency number. (A/N: I don't know what it is for Japan. It's 999 for Britain, 911 for America… who knows what it is over there!)

"Police, Fire Brigade or Ambulance?" Said a female voice.

"A-Ambulance please."

"Address?" He gave it quickly and the woman asked,

"Who is it who needs the ambulance?"

"Sakura Kinomoto."

"Symptoms?"

"She can't breathe very well, and she won't wake up."

"Wrap her up warmly, the ambulance is on its way. Are you her guardian or parent?"

"Neither… but her older brothers here. He's looking after her."

"The ambulance should arrive in five to ten minutes."

"Thanks."

He hung up the phone and ran into the hallway. Touya was holding Sakura. She was bundled in blankets and sweaters.

"Go and wait on the pavement. Call me when they get here." Touya said. Syaoran went to stand on the pavement, cool night air blowing his hair back. His mind was completely numb. He couldn't think about anything but Sakura.

Flashing lights appeared at the end of the street. Syaoran waved frantically, and shouted,

"Touya! They're here!" The ambulance stopped and two men jumped out, holding a stretcher.

"Where is she?" One asked. Syaoran pointed to where Touya was running down towards them, the bundle in his arms. The men pulled her into the back of the ambulance. Touya and Syaoran jumped in and sat, watching as they took her temperature. The ambulance was moving again.

"Oxygen mask." One man said and they placed the plastic mask over Sakura's mouth and nose. Touya asked frantically,

"What's wrong with her?"

"Possibly Pneumonia. Has she been outside a lot?"

"Today… the storm…" Syaoran muttered. The men gave him a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry. You can tell us later. In the mean time we need all of her details." Touya started to fill in the long form. Syaoran clutched Sakura's ice-cold hand in his, rubbing it, trying to pour his warmth into her.

"She's so cold."

"That's shock. Have there been any unusual events in her life recently? She won't respond to anything. That's not a usual symptom."

"Kinda."

"We'll have to ask you inside. We're there now."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Touya paced the waiting room, anxious for news. Syaoran was watching him. Touya groaned and flung himself into a chair.

"What is taking so long?"

"I don't know. Are you going to call Fujitaka?"

"Yeah… what time is it?"

"5:30."

They had been waiting for two hours already. Touya stood up.

"I'll ring him now."

"I'll find you if we hear anything."

"No, go straight to her if possible."

After fifteen minutes, Touya was still not back. Syaoran didn't bother to look up when a doctor came into the waiting room. They were constantly coming and going and he had been leaping up so much he was aching.

"Sakura Kinomoto." The doctor called. Syaoran's head snapped up and he stood. The doctor came over.

"Are you her brother?"

"No, he's calling her dad. Is she ok?"

"She's very ill. She had pneumonia and the recent event sin her life have sent her into shock. She's had a mental breakdown, that's why she wouldn't respond."

"Can… can I see her?"

"Are you a relative?"

"Sort of. We're supposed to be getting married, but- it's really confusing."

"I'll let you see her anyway." The doctor said, amused. He led Syaoran to a room where Sakura was lying on a bed. She was hooked up to several machines, the oxygen mask still over her face. Syaoran sat on the chair and the doctor said,

"It's unlikely, but if you can get her to respond, that would be fantastic."

"OK. I'll try."

"I'll go and find her brother."

Syaoran heard the door shut and he looked at Sakura. She looked so innocent and small. He held her hand gingerly.

"Sakura? Can you hear me?" Her eyes were closed and she didn't move. He kept talking anyway.

"Sakura, I'm so sorry. God… you have to get better, you hear me? I don't know what I'm going to do without you around. You just have to get well again. Who am I going to argue with? Who's going to help me with Noriko and Leon? Who am I going to listen to on karaoke night?"

The door opened and Touya came in.

"Dad's on his way. He'll be here in a couple of hours. Syaoran, I think you should go home. Get some sleep, and go to school, then come back tomorrow afternoon. Don't argue, just do it. I'll call you if anything happens."

Syaoran was too exhausted, physically and emotionally to argue.

As he stood up her bent over and pressed his lips against Sakura's forehead. She didn't move a muscle. And as he left the hospital, there were tears in his eye.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Another chapter is over! There will be no posts next week, because I'm going on a school trip to Germany for the week. It's gonna be great! But I promise you more Card Captor Sakura goodness when I get back, OK?

Lotsa luv 'n' huggles

Katie.