Okay, for anyone reading this, this IS the last chapter. I hope the S+S is
sufficient!
The soldiers outside the Kinimoto castle were few. Monasho's soldiers came one wave after another, no rest in between. For days they had been fighting, and they no longer had heart to take it. They were hardly holding out, although any of the soldiers that had entered the castle had been disposed of. Despair was in the hearts of the soldiers that faithful guarded their king, the soldiers that fought a hopeless battle.
But suddenly, all of the soldiers of both kingdoms raised their eyes to the sky. Silhouetted in the sun were to winged figures. One had the body of a man, and the other of a lion. A roar sounded in the air, and all of the men of the Kinimoto Kingdom ran inside the safety of the walls of the castle. Once inside, none dared to gaze outside.
A wordless song began, striking fear in the hearts of everyone present, save for one servant. Inside his room, Eriol smiled contentedly to himself. Explosions and screams were heard from outside, but only for moments before all became silent. Minutes after, the bravest of the soldiers ventured outside. What met their eyes were the two creatures that had driven them to hide. Across the field and gardens lay nothing, neither dead nor alive; no man except those coming out from the castle was present.
The lion raised his head to the sun and roared. As he roared, a blinding light surrounded him, and as his call ceased, the light covered everything in sight. Everything that was ruined or destroyed by the battle was repaired, the wounded were healed, and every trace except for the dead Kinimoto soldiers was erased. As the light disappeared from the castle's area, it spread in other directions, moving in every direction the eye could see.
~ ~ ~
Sakura closed her eyes as a shrill scream erupted around her. As she opened her eyes, she became dizzy, and found herself on the ground. In front of her lay her staff, but the room around her began to dissolve. She felt Syaoran's aura and was relieved, but Monasho's dark aura was fading. The room became deathly silent. The very last trace of Monasho's aura disappeared, and Sakura gave in to the darkness.
Sakura awoke as a bright light entered her dreams and she found herself in soft grass. She was exhausted. She was very sore and her limbs were almost too heavy for her lift. She collected her thoughts and eventually she remembered everything. The spell. . . she had felt it coursing through her for a moment. . . and then. . . a scream. . . yes, a scream. Then. . .
She opened her eyes and somehow managed to halfway sit up. She looked around her, but the castle was gone and nothing was in sight save for the lone figure of Syaoran a few feet away. She felt panic arising in her for a moment, but she noticed his chest rise and fall as he breathed, and sighed in relief. For the first time she noticed something in her hand. It was the stack of cards, but no longer did they bear the symbol of Clow. They were pink, as was their book lying near, and instead of Clow's Circle, on it's cover was a similar pattern, but based around a star. She smiled. She had finally earned the cards for herself. Now they and the book matched her own key, and she needn't release the seal anymore, for the seal was her own.
Everything was worth it. Not just the Clow Cards, no defanately not. She realized now that that hadn't been the purpose of her quest or her efforts at all, as it had not been the purpose of her spell. She had never felt so much magic, not in herself nor in anyone else. This magic had not come from her key, nor from the cards. It was neither of these, she realized, but her heart. She had reached her heart out, poured it into her chant; into her spell. No such magic could have been performed with any less love than the pure and unconditional love that she held in her heart.
Weariness began again to flood her senses, and she half-consciously scooted closer to Syaoran. She smiled at his sleeping form and held the cards that she now fully possessed close to her heart.
~ ~ ~
"Come! They must not be far!" The horse Toya was riding, which (coincidentally) was Sakura's, was becoming restless and impatient. Toya knew that Sakura must be near, for her horse surely had caught her scent. He had been riding for days with his company of soldiers with hardly any rest. As soon as Sakura's absence was noticed in the battle, and no body was found, Toya had immediately set out to find her. He was sure that she hadn't gone by will, for it was not her nature to leave her country in a time of war.
"My lord, over the hill!" one of the soldiers took Toya's attention and pointed off into the grassy plain that stretched below them. "That must be the princess!" Toya's heart leapt. He was sure it was her; he could recognize her frilly dresses from leagues away.
~ ~ ~
Sakura awoke to the soft glow of a fire in the darkness. "Syaoran?" she asked fearfully. Immediately the brown-eyed boy was by her side.
"You're awake!" he said triumphantly. In the dim light Sakura could see that he was well. His shoulder was bandaged and his face now had regained its color. "Monasho is completely gone! You did it!" he said excitedly. "I've been waiting for you to come to all evening."
Sakura smiled and dizzily sat up. "Really? He's gone?"
"Yes!!" Syaoran replied, "Everything, the castle and all are gone."
"I saw that," Sakura said thoughtfully, remembering her previous waking in the empty field. "But," she said, looking around her at the soldier's camp. "How. . ."
"Kaiju!" Sakura looked to her other side.
"Oniichan?" Sakura asked in wonder. Toya came up and sat beside her, ruffling her hair a bit as he did so.
"How are you feeling?"
"Just fine!" Sakura said. "You found us?" Toya nodded.
"I was so worried. I'm glad you're found." He smiled at her. "Ready to go home?" Sakura looked down, but at length she slowly nodded. Toya, noticing Sakura's distress, changed the subject. "How are you?" he gestured to Syaoran.
"Great," Syaoran said, his face bright, but no smile appeared on his face. He had yet to break that habit.
It was the afternoon of the next day, and they had set out for their castle. Syaoran rode behind Sakura again, still holding tightly to her waist. He seemed dazed, but managed a cheerful nature that amazed Sakura. He seemed to space out often, and Sakura was worried for him. Not for his actions, but something else. At that moment, Toya expressed her fear for her.
"Father thinks that the boy is the one who took you away." Toya stated simply. Sakura nodded. "He will not be lenient on him," continued Toya.
Sakura remained looking ahead and replied, "I will tell him the truth. I will let no harm befall him."
"You know as well as I that Father will accept no other conclusion than the one that he first thought of," Toya looked at her, "Nothing you say will soften his anger. He loves you too much for that."
Sakura said nothing. Tears stung in her eyes. She knew Toya was right. There was nothing she could do.
"Naanji-Yen is not far," Toya said, "That was your original destination, correct?" Sakura nodded absently. "It may serve your friend a better fate. Maybe we could spare to drop him off there?"
Sakura looked quickly in his direction and Syaoran broke out of one of his dazes to stare at Sakura's brother. Did he say what he thought he just said? "You truly would do so?" asked Sakura. Toya only smiled slyly and didn't take his eyes off the road ahead. "We will rest this afternoon near Naanji-Yen," he yelled to his men, "It is an hour or so away from this place. Follow me." Toya sped his horse and left Sakura behind to take his place at the front.
"Thank you Oniichan," Sakura whispered. Syaoran remained silent. He was staring ahead with an implacable expression.
~ ~ ~
Sakura lie in the soft blankets that surrounded her. Not as good as her bed at home, but certainly an improvement after the past days. Her arms were crossed under her head and she stared solemnly at the stars.
'This,' Sakura thought, 'Will be the last time I see him.' She blinked back a few tears and let out a soft sigh. Syaoran would leave the camp just before sunrise and go into the town of Naanji-Yen which they believed would offer him more than what he would be allowed in his former home. Sakura digressed from her former thoughts for a moment; reminiscing of their past journey.
She followed their journey in her thoughts from their first time together in the forest to the present. But as she finished, her stomach lurched as she remembered her former worry. What was the point of anything after he was gone? He was her purpose; nothing had purpose or meaning unless Syaoran was in it. Unfortunately, he was nowhere in her future.
She heard the sounds of someone sitting down beside her. "It's beautiful," Syaoran commented softly. He looked down at her slender, relaxed figure before leaning his head back once again to look at the sky. Sakura sat up to be on the same level as him and nodded, an action that Syaoran didn't see.
"Only a few more hours 'till sunrise," Syaoran spoke again, "See, the stars are fading." He turned toward her, but he couldn't see her face until she turned to him.
"I know," she whispered shakily, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Fifteen years," she was beginning to cry, "It took me this long to love you," Sakura covered her face with her hands as tears began flooding freely down her cheeks.
"How long will it take for me to forget you?"
The words were sudden and unexpected, but Syaoran gently put his arm around her back and pulled her a bit closer to himself. He was fully aware of the words she had just used. The words that unmistakably said 'I love you'. Hardly consciously, he put his other arm around her and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Why forget?" Syaoran said softly, "When I am still loving you?"
Sakura removed her hands from her face and gently pulled away. After wiping the tears from her face, she stared intently into Syaoran's eyes, which were hardly distinguishable from black in the dim starlight. Slowly, she turned away and looked at the stars. She leaned her head on his shoulder and gazed above her at the vast depths of the heavens, that no matter how hard she tried, she could not understand.
How long they remained like that Sakura never knew, but soon she felt herself being awakened from a light sleep. Syaoran was above her, clad in traveler's attire, with a bag of his few provisions slung over his back. Sakura looked at him for a moment before closing her eyes and drawing a deep breath. "Already?" she whispered. When she opened her eyes, he slightly nodded.
"Goodbye," Syaoran said quietly.
"No!" Sakura said firmly, "You make it sound so final!" Sakura tried to think of something else to say as tears spilled onto her cheeks. She shook her head in frustration and looked up. "Goodbye," she said, in defeat, giving him a last hug.
"Hurry!" Toya hissed, "They are beginning to stir! This will never work if they find out!" Toya grabbed Syaoran's upper arm and proceeded to pull him away.
Syaoran smiled sadly at Sakura, but hurried and followed Toya away.
"Thank you," Toya said quietly to Syaoran, so that Sakura couldn't hear, "She was in good hands, I am in your debt." Syaoran nodded before swiftly disappearing into the wood that shallowly lined the borders of Naanji-Yen.
Sakura watched in stunned silence. It couldn't be over. Not that fast. Not this soon! "Toya," she whispered, utter horror painting her tone, "Let me go say a final goodbye!"
Toya looked dismally into the woods that concealed the boy. "Go," he said in an undertone.
Sakura smiled slightly and stood quickly, "I will be only a minute."
Toya suddenly embraced her and whispered, "I love you Sakura. You are my precious little sister. Remember that!" Sakura, confused, pulled away.
Sakura took a few hurried steps toward the wood. "I must hurry! I will miss him!" Toya gazed at her for a moment thoughtfully. Sakura was becoming impatient.
"I must hurry!" she cried, "I will be back in a minute! Can't this wait?"
"It has waited too long," Toya said, "Go. Hurry or you will not find him." He pushed her bag into her hands and smiled sadly at her, "If you do not return in five minutes, you have both fled north for the river." Sakura stood, puzzled. Syaoran was heading south for Naanji-Yen.
Sakura suddenly knew and felt a jerk in her heart. "Thank you," she whispered. Her eyes filled with tears, but she sent him one of her traditional smiles before fleeing into the wood.
"Up! Everyone, UP!!!" Toya yelled to the sleeping soldiers. The soldiers groggily sat up and rubbed their eyes. "On your horses! They fled north, I saw them heading for the river!" Quickly, the soldiers began gathering their things and jumping on horses. Yukito, the general of the particular group Toya was leading, mounted his horse and went over to where Toya sat upon his own steed.
"This will be hard to explain to His Majesty," he said quietly. Yukito had known Toya too long to fall for his trick
Toya gave him a frustrated look, and Yukito smiled slyly. "It will be difficult," Toya answered, "But I'll wriggle myself out of this somehow." Toya sighed and Yukito chuckled before galloping off to the north after a few of the others who were ahead. Toya shook his head before following. Once, he looked over his shoulder and smiled. "I hope you will consider my debt settled."
~ ~ ~
"SYAORAN!" Sakura yelled, running madly through the trees and brush, frantically searching for Syaoran. She heard a rustling up ahead and quickened her pace.
"Wha?" Syaoran cried as Sakura burst out of the bramble behind him. He caught her as she tripped and almost fell at his feet. He grabbed her upper arms and steadied her to stand. "What are you DOING here?" he asked, somewhat frightened that something serious had happened.
Once Sakura had gained her feet, she threw her arms around Syaoran's neck and pulled him close. "I'm coming with you," she said, fighting back a few tears. Syaoran stood unmoving for a moment, and then returned the embrace.
"Never," he said, "NEVER make me do that again!"
"What?" prodded Sakura, pulling away and eying him impishly in her usual manner. She felt immeasurable joy, and the sick feeling in her stomach was gone.
Syaoran was bursting with happiness and surprise that he had never, in his entire life imagined. "Never make me leave you again," Syaoran whispered, pulling her close once more. Sakura balked, having been caught by surprise, but wrapped her arms around his neck once more.
Sakura knew that finally she was happy. The runaway wolf was now hers, for as long as time would allow. "I love you," Sakura whispered in his ear, knowing that she would never let him go. The fear she felt a moment ago was something past and something she vowed to never feel again. She vowed that the loss that she experienced only a moment previous would never again pull at her heart.
"Shall we confirm that?" Syaoran asked, pushing her gently away and holding her at arm's length. Sakura scanned his face, confused.
Realization flashed across her face and Sakura smiled. She grabbed his hands and squeezed them. "Yes," she replied, her eyes sparkled and the soft breeze that pushed through the forest danced with loose strands of hair across her beaming features. She dropped his hands and took a step closer to him. "Seal it with a kiss."
At that moment, there was no one else in the world except them and each other, nothing else in the world but longing. Both of them leaned forward, one bending down a bit, and the other up on her tiptoes. Ever so gently, their hands touched, and their lips brushed against each other. The sun peeked up over the horizon, beaming down upon them; all became still and watched with awe the pure love between the two. Even after they pulled apart, the kiss, for a moment, dared to linger in their hearts.
Most stories end where the princess and the prince share the most beautiful gift that exists; a kiss, but this story is an exception. Though Syaoran was in every way a prince, and alas, this is the end of the tale, their kiss was much more than such a gift as described. Such a gift could not be described in any tale; nor in any words. The story, mind you, though the tale may be, is not finished, and only in your mind will it live on, if you let it. This is, traditionally, 'The End', but to Sakura and Syaoran it could only be the beginning.
Author's Corner:
This is SOOO sad! I never dreamed of writing the VERY LAST Author's Corner for this story. Thank you so much for your reviews and encouraging words. I can honestly say to you that this story would not even have made it past the first chapter.
I especially want to thank:
IwillmarryJustinTimberlake for reviewing EVERY chapter, and
Julia and Tania for their WONDERFUL long reviews that they've given me since chapter 4
Now, to all of the reviewers for chapters ten and eleven,
Julia and Tania, I'm glad you liked chapter ten. I tried to put more emotion in that one; less action. And I've also had a certain fondness of stars. (mainly because Orlando bloom plays Legolas Greenleaf in LOTR, and Legolas Greenleaf is and Elf, and Elves love the stars. But that's not the point.) I did stress Monasho's look in chapter 11, he was an important character that would only show up that once, so I needed to portray his look correctly. It's not like that with other main characters like Sakura and Syaoran, because *hopefully* all of you have seen what they look like! You don't know how much I loved your reviews! They were always uplifting and I would literally sit by the computer and wait for the email to come saying that I had gotten a review from you! I would really like you to write a CCS or LOTR fic that was rated G. I would definitely read it. Thank you SOOOO much, and unless I see you in another story, goodbye! (oh, if you go to Fictionpress.com, my pen name is Forever a Jesus Freak. Really, I have a nice story starting and some really good poems.)
Thanks to Onigiri Momoko, Yes, I seem to like to make long Author's notes, huh? I'm such a chatterbox. Just ask the teachers at my school. Ja!
Thanks to Chibi Maylan, well, you never quite got to know what exactly the spell was, but I hope you liked it!
Thanks to AnimeObsessionFantasy, I really liked all of your reviews. I'm so glad you liked my story!
Thanks to IwillMarryJustinTimberlake, I hope your dream of marrying Justin Timberlake comes true. Thanks for reviewing! Yes, being a hopeless romantic has endless benefits. Especially when you have other hopeless romantics to ramble with! I really thank you for faithfully reviewing every chapter. You have my endless gratitude!!! (oh, can't forget the cherries! I still have a big hoard of them from you!)
Thanks to Hikaru Ayumi, I really like the name! I'm really happy you reviewed, thanks! I love enthusiastic reviews, and I'd take you "all capitals theme" as one!
Thanks to DarkJadedEyes, Thank you for saying I am a good writer. It is such a simple phrase, but It means so much to me!
Thanks (finally) to Filia Regalis, for FINALLY reading my story! It took me FOREVER to get you to read it! Thank you SOOO much and you totally deserve everything good that happens to you for the rest of your life! (wait. never mind.) Well, I'll give you a big hug next time I see you. THANKS!!!
Thank you so much! You can not imagine the feeling of joy and triumph at finishing a WHOLE story! Whew! It's really nice to have it out of the way, though, because I stressed a lot over it: "Aaaaah! I still haven't written that next chapter and it's been. . . WHAT?! THREE WEEKS! Oh no, I'm gonna lose ALL of my reviewers! NO MOM! YOUY CAN'T GROUND ME! I GOTTA UPDATE MY STORY! ANYONE THAT'S REVIEWED ME WILL THINK I'VE GIVEN UP AND I'LL NEVER GET A REVIEW EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!" This is but one example of many similar scenes. Well, you can't IMAGINE how happy I am right now, and all because of you. I mean, if I had never gotten a review, what's happy about finishing the story? But that's not an accurate thought, 'cause if I hadn't gotten any reviews I never WOULD have finished it! You will never know the extent of my gratude right now, and thank you so incredibly much. This is such a bittersweet moment! I'm so happy that I finished it, but I'm SO sad that it's all over!
Arigatou, ALL!
Ja ne!
Signed, DDG
~Servant of the Sea~
The soldiers outside the Kinimoto castle were few. Monasho's soldiers came one wave after another, no rest in between. For days they had been fighting, and they no longer had heart to take it. They were hardly holding out, although any of the soldiers that had entered the castle had been disposed of. Despair was in the hearts of the soldiers that faithful guarded their king, the soldiers that fought a hopeless battle.
But suddenly, all of the soldiers of both kingdoms raised their eyes to the sky. Silhouetted in the sun were to winged figures. One had the body of a man, and the other of a lion. A roar sounded in the air, and all of the men of the Kinimoto Kingdom ran inside the safety of the walls of the castle. Once inside, none dared to gaze outside.
A wordless song began, striking fear in the hearts of everyone present, save for one servant. Inside his room, Eriol smiled contentedly to himself. Explosions and screams were heard from outside, but only for moments before all became silent. Minutes after, the bravest of the soldiers ventured outside. What met their eyes were the two creatures that had driven them to hide. Across the field and gardens lay nothing, neither dead nor alive; no man except those coming out from the castle was present.
The lion raised his head to the sun and roared. As he roared, a blinding light surrounded him, and as his call ceased, the light covered everything in sight. Everything that was ruined or destroyed by the battle was repaired, the wounded were healed, and every trace except for the dead Kinimoto soldiers was erased. As the light disappeared from the castle's area, it spread in other directions, moving in every direction the eye could see.
~ ~ ~
Sakura closed her eyes as a shrill scream erupted around her. As she opened her eyes, she became dizzy, and found herself on the ground. In front of her lay her staff, but the room around her began to dissolve. She felt Syaoran's aura and was relieved, but Monasho's dark aura was fading. The room became deathly silent. The very last trace of Monasho's aura disappeared, and Sakura gave in to the darkness.
Sakura awoke as a bright light entered her dreams and she found herself in soft grass. She was exhausted. She was very sore and her limbs were almost too heavy for her lift. She collected her thoughts and eventually she remembered everything. The spell. . . she had felt it coursing through her for a moment. . . and then. . . a scream. . . yes, a scream. Then. . .
She opened her eyes and somehow managed to halfway sit up. She looked around her, but the castle was gone and nothing was in sight save for the lone figure of Syaoran a few feet away. She felt panic arising in her for a moment, but she noticed his chest rise and fall as he breathed, and sighed in relief. For the first time she noticed something in her hand. It was the stack of cards, but no longer did they bear the symbol of Clow. They were pink, as was their book lying near, and instead of Clow's Circle, on it's cover was a similar pattern, but based around a star. She smiled. She had finally earned the cards for herself. Now they and the book matched her own key, and she needn't release the seal anymore, for the seal was her own.
Everything was worth it. Not just the Clow Cards, no defanately not. She realized now that that hadn't been the purpose of her quest or her efforts at all, as it had not been the purpose of her spell. She had never felt so much magic, not in herself nor in anyone else. This magic had not come from her key, nor from the cards. It was neither of these, she realized, but her heart. She had reached her heart out, poured it into her chant; into her spell. No such magic could have been performed with any less love than the pure and unconditional love that she held in her heart.
Weariness began again to flood her senses, and she half-consciously scooted closer to Syaoran. She smiled at his sleeping form and held the cards that she now fully possessed close to her heart.
~ ~ ~
"Come! They must not be far!" The horse Toya was riding, which (coincidentally) was Sakura's, was becoming restless and impatient. Toya knew that Sakura must be near, for her horse surely had caught her scent. He had been riding for days with his company of soldiers with hardly any rest. As soon as Sakura's absence was noticed in the battle, and no body was found, Toya had immediately set out to find her. He was sure that she hadn't gone by will, for it was not her nature to leave her country in a time of war.
"My lord, over the hill!" one of the soldiers took Toya's attention and pointed off into the grassy plain that stretched below them. "That must be the princess!" Toya's heart leapt. He was sure it was her; he could recognize her frilly dresses from leagues away.
~ ~ ~
Sakura awoke to the soft glow of a fire in the darkness. "Syaoran?" she asked fearfully. Immediately the brown-eyed boy was by her side.
"You're awake!" he said triumphantly. In the dim light Sakura could see that he was well. His shoulder was bandaged and his face now had regained its color. "Monasho is completely gone! You did it!" he said excitedly. "I've been waiting for you to come to all evening."
Sakura smiled and dizzily sat up. "Really? He's gone?"
"Yes!!" Syaoran replied, "Everything, the castle and all are gone."
"I saw that," Sakura said thoughtfully, remembering her previous waking in the empty field. "But," she said, looking around her at the soldier's camp. "How. . ."
"Kaiju!" Sakura looked to her other side.
"Oniichan?" Sakura asked in wonder. Toya came up and sat beside her, ruffling her hair a bit as he did so.
"How are you feeling?"
"Just fine!" Sakura said. "You found us?" Toya nodded.
"I was so worried. I'm glad you're found." He smiled at her. "Ready to go home?" Sakura looked down, but at length she slowly nodded. Toya, noticing Sakura's distress, changed the subject. "How are you?" he gestured to Syaoran.
"Great," Syaoran said, his face bright, but no smile appeared on his face. He had yet to break that habit.
It was the afternoon of the next day, and they had set out for their castle. Syaoran rode behind Sakura again, still holding tightly to her waist. He seemed dazed, but managed a cheerful nature that amazed Sakura. He seemed to space out often, and Sakura was worried for him. Not for his actions, but something else. At that moment, Toya expressed her fear for her.
"Father thinks that the boy is the one who took you away." Toya stated simply. Sakura nodded. "He will not be lenient on him," continued Toya.
Sakura remained looking ahead and replied, "I will tell him the truth. I will let no harm befall him."
"You know as well as I that Father will accept no other conclusion than the one that he first thought of," Toya looked at her, "Nothing you say will soften his anger. He loves you too much for that."
Sakura said nothing. Tears stung in her eyes. She knew Toya was right. There was nothing she could do.
"Naanji-Yen is not far," Toya said, "That was your original destination, correct?" Sakura nodded absently. "It may serve your friend a better fate. Maybe we could spare to drop him off there?"
Sakura looked quickly in his direction and Syaoran broke out of one of his dazes to stare at Sakura's brother. Did he say what he thought he just said? "You truly would do so?" asked Sakura. Toya only smiled slyly and didn't take his eyes off the road ahead. "We will rest this afternoon near Naanji-Yen," he yelled to his men, "It is an hour or so away from this place. Follow me." Toya sped his horse and left Sakura behind to take his place at the front.
"Thank you Oniichan," Sakura whispered. Syaoran remained silent. He was staring ahead with an implacable expression.
~ ~ ~
Sakura lie in the soft blankets that surrounded her. Not as good as her bed at home, but certainly an improvement after the past days. Her arms were crossed under her head and she stared solemnly at the stars.
'This,' Sakura thought, 'Will be the last time I see him.' She blinked back a few tears and let out a soft sigh. Syaoran would leave the camp just before sunrise and go into the town of Naanji-Yen which they believed would offer him more than what he would be allowed in his former home. Sakura digressed from her former thoughts for a moment; reminiscing of their past journey.
She followed their journey in her thoughts from their first time together in the forest to the present. But as she finished, her stomach lurched as she remembered her former worry. What was the point of anything after he was gone? He was her purpose; nothing had purpose or meaning unless Syaoran was in it. Unfortunately, he was nowhere in her future.
She heard the sounds of someone sitting down beside her. "It's beautiful," Syaoran commented softly. He looked down at her slender, relaxed figure before leaning his head back once again to look at the sky. Sakura sat up to be on the same level as him and nodded, an action that Syaoran didn't see.
"Only a few more hours 'till sunrise," Syaoran spoke again, "See, the stars are fading." He turned toward her, but he couldn't see her face until she turned to him.
"I know," she whispered shakily, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Fifteen years," she was beginning to cry, "It took me this long to love you," Sakura covered her face with her hands as tears began flooding freely down her cheeks.
"How long will it take for me to forget you?"
The words were sudden and unexpected, but Syaoran gently put his arm around her back and pulled her a bit closer to himself. He was fully aware of the words she had just used. The words that unmistakably said 'I love you'. Hardly consciously, he put his other arm around her and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Why forget?" Syaoran said softly, "When I am still loving you?"
Sakura removed her hands from her face and gently pulled away. After wiping the tears from her face, she stared intently into Syaoran's eyes, which were hardly distinguishable from black in the dim starlight. Slowly, she turned away and looked at the stars. She leaned her head on his shoulder and gazed above her at the vast depths of the heavens, that no matter how hard she tried, she could not understand.
How long they remained like that Sakura never knew, but soon she felt herself being awakened from a light sleep. Syaoran was above her, clad in traveler's attire, with a bag of his few provisions slung over his back. Sakura looked at him for a moment before closing her eyes and drawing a deep breath. "Already?" she whispered. When she opened her eyes, he slightly nodded.
"Goodbye," Syaoran said quietly.
"No!" Sakura said firmly, "You make it sound so final!" Sakura tried to think of something else to say as tears spilled onto her cheeks. She shook her head in frustration and looked up. "Goodbye," she said, in defeat, giving him a last hug.
"Hurry!" Toya hissed, "They are beginning to stir! This will never work if they find out!" Toya grabbed Syaoran's upper arm and proceeded to pull him away.
Syaoran smiled sadly at Sakura, but hurried and followed Toya away.
"Thank you," Toya said quietly to Syaoran, so that Sakura couldn't hear, "She was in good hands, I am in your debt." Syaoran nodded before swiftly disappearing into the wood that shallowly lined the borders of Naanji-Yen.
Sakura watched in stunned silence. It couldn't be over. Not that fast. Not this soon! "Toya," she whispered, utter horror painting her tone, "Let me go say a final goodbye!"
Toya looked dismally into the woods that concealed the boy. "Go," he said in an undertone.
Sakura smiled slightly and stood quickly, "I will be only a minute."
Toya suddenly embraced her and whispered, "I love you Sakura. You are my precious little sister. Remember that!" Sakura, confused, pulled away.
Sakura took a few hurried steps toward the wood. "I must hurry! I will miss him!" Toya gazed at her for a moment thoughtfully. Sakura was becoming impatient.
"I must hurry!" she cried, "I will be back in a minute! Can't this wait?"
"It has waited too long," Toya said, "Go. Hurry or you will not find him." He pushed her bag into her hands and smiled sadly at her, "If you do not return in five minutes, you have both fled north for the river." Sakura stood, puzzled. Syaoran was heading south for Naanji-Yen.
Sakura suddenly knew and felt a jerk in her heart. "Thank you," she whispered. Her eyes filled with tears, but she sent him one of her traditional smiles before fleeing into the wood.
"Up! Everyone, UP!!!" Toya yelled to the sleeping soldiers. The soldiers groggily sat up and rubbed their eyes. "On your horses! They fled north, I saw them heading for the river!" Quickly, the soldiers began gathering their things and jumping on horses. Yukito, the general of the particular group Toya was leading, mounted his horse and went over to where Toya sat upon his own steed.
"This will be hard to explain to His Majesty," he said quietly. Yukito had known Toya too long to fall for his trick
Toya gave him a frustrated look, and Yukito smiled slyly. "It will be difficult," Toya answered, "But I'll wriggle myself out of this somehow." Toya sighed and Yukito chuckled before galloping off to the north after a few of the others who were ahead. Toya shook his head before following. Once, he looked over his shoulder and smiled. "I hope you will consider my debt settled."
~ ~ ~
"SYAORAN!" Sakura yelled, running madly through the trees and brush, frantically searching for Syaoran. She heard a rustling up ahead and quickened her pace.
"Wha?" Syaoran cried as Sakura burst out of the bramble behind him. He caught her as she tripped and almost fell at his feet. He grabbed her upper arms and steadied her to stand. "What are you DOING here?" he asked, somewhat frightened that something serious had happened.
Once Sakura had gained her feet, she threw her arms around Syaoran's neck and pulled him close. "I'm coming with you," she said, fighting back a few tears. Syaoran stood unmoving for a moment, and then returned the embrace.
"Never," he said, "NEVER make me do that again!"
"What?" prodded Sakura, pulling away and eying him impishly in her usual manner. She felt immeasurable joy, and the sick feeling in her stomach was gone.
Syaoran was bursting with happiness and surprise that he had never, in his entire life imagined. "Never make me leave you again," Syaoran whispered, pulling her close once more. Sakura balked, having been caught by surprise, but wrapped her arms around his neck once more.
Sakura knew that finally she was happy. The runaway wolf was now hers, for as long as time would allow. "I love you," Sakura whispered in his ear, knowing that she would never let him go. The fear she felt a moment ago was something past and something she vowed to never feel again. She vowed that the loss that she experienced only a moment previous would never again pull at her heart.
"Shall we confirm that?" Syaoran asked, pushing her gently away and holding her at arm's length. Sakura scanned his face, confused.
Realization flashed across her face and Sakura smiled. She grabbed his hands and squeezed them. "Yes," she replied, her eyes sparkled and the soft breeze that pushed through the forest danced with loose strands of hair across her beaming features. She dropped his hands and took a step closer to him. "Seal it with a kiss."
At that moment, there was no one else in the world except them and each other, nothing else in the world but longing. Both of them leaned forward, one bending down a bit, and the other up on her tiptoes. Ever so gently, their hands touched, and their lips brushed against each other. The sun peeked up over the horizon, beaming down upon them; all became still and watched with awe the pure love between the two. Even after they pulled apart, the kiss, for a moment, dared to linger in their hearts.
Most stories end where the princess and the prince share the most beautiful gift that exists; a kiss, but this story is an exception. Though Syaoran was in every way a prince, and alas, this is the end of the tale, their kiss was much more than such a gift as described. Such a gift could not be described in any tale; nor in any words. The story, mind you, though the tale may be, is not finished, and only in your mind will it live on, if you let it. This is, traditionally, 'The End', but to Sakura and Syaoran it could only be the beginning.
Author's Corner:
This is SOOO sad! I never dreamed of writing the VERY LAST Author's Corner for this story. Thank you so much for your reviews and encouraging words. I can honestly say to you that this story would not even have made it past the first chapter.
I especially want to thank:
IwillmarryJustinTimberlake for reviewing EVERY chapter, and
Julia and Tania for their WONDERFUL long reviews that they've given me since chapter 4
Now, to all of the reviewers for chapters ten and eleven,
Julia and Tania, I'm glad you liked chapter ten. I tried to put more emotion in that one; less action. And I've also had a certain fondness of stars. (mainly because Orlando bloom plays Legolas Greenleaf in LOTR, and Legolas Greenleaf is and Elf, and Elves love the stars. But that's not the point.) I did stress Monasho's look in chapter 11, he was an important character that would only show up that once, so I needed to portray his look correctly. It's not like that with other main characters like Sakura and Syaoran, because *hopefully* all of you have seen what they look like! You don't know how much I loved your reviews! They were always uplifting and I would literally sit by the computer and wait for the email to come saying that I had gotten a review from you! I would really like you to write a CCS or LOTR fic that was rated G. I would definitely read it. Thank you SOOOO much, and unless I see you in another story, goodbye! (oh, if you go to Fictionpress.com, my pen name is Forever a Jesus Freak. Really, I have a nice story starting and some really good poems.)
Thanks to Onigiri Momoko, Yes, I seem to like to make long Author's notes, huh? I'm such a chatterbox. Just ask the teachers at my school. Ja!
Thanks to Chibi Maylan, well, you never quite got to know what exactly the spell was, but I hope you liked it!
Thanks to AnimeObsessionFantasy, I really liked all of your reviews. I'm so glad you liked my story!
Thanks to IwillMarryJustinTimberlake, I hope your dream of marrying Justin Timberlake comes true. Thanks for reviewing! Yes, being a hopeless romantic has endless benefits. Especially when you have other hopeless romantics to ramble with! I really thank you for faithfully reviewing every chapter. You have my endless gratitude!!! (oh, can't forget the cherries! I still have a big hoard of them from you!)
Thanks to Hikaru Ayumi, I really like the name! I'm really happy you reviewed, thanks! I love enthusiastic reviews, and I'd take you "all capitals theme" as one!
Thanks to DarkJadedEyes, Thank you for saying I am a good writer. It is such a simple phrase, but It means so much to me!
Thanks (finally) to Filia Regalis, for FINALLY reading my story! It took me FOREVER to get you to read it! Thank you SOOO much and you totally deserve everything good that happens to you for the rest of your life! (wait. never mind.) Well, I'll give you a big hug next time I see you. THANKS!!!
Thank you so much! You can not imagine the feeling of joy and triumph at finishing a WHOLE story! Whew! It's really nice to have it out of the way, though, because I stressed a lot over it: "Aaaaah! I still haven't written that next chapter and it's been. . . WHAT?! THREE WEEKS! Oh no, I'm gonna lose ALL of my reviewers! NO MOM! YOUY CAN'T GROUND ME! I GOTTA UPDATE MY STORY! ANYONE THAT'S REVIEWED ME WILL THINK I'VE GIVEN UP AND I'LL NEVER GET A REVIEW EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!" This is but one example of many similar scenes. Well, you can't IMAGINE how happy I am right now, and all because of you. I mean, if I had never gotten a review, what's happy about finishing the story? But that's not an accurate thought, 'cause if I hadn't gotten any reviews I never WOULD have finished it! You will never know the extent of my gratude right now, and thank you so incredibly much. This is such a bittersweet moment! I'm so happy that I finished it, but I'm SO sad that it's all over!
Arigatou, ALL!
Ja ne!
Signed, DDG
~Servant of the Sea~