Hi everyone! I'm sorry to keep you waiting, but here it is! The finally chapter! I hope you like it! I'm not very good at endings, since they are too sad to write, but I feel this had done its justice. Please Review once you finish!
P.S. Thank you for all your reviews, I really appreciate your kindness! Also, look forward to my next CCS fic! It's called That Summer .
The day has arrived, spreading sunshine all over the city. Sakura woke up to the warm light stretching across her face. Her eyes fluttered open, welcoming the bright light before her. She sat up and stretched her arms to the ceiling. She felt an overwhelming happiness circulating her body, which made her smile unwavering. It has been a while since she has felt this good, especially in the morning. The upcoming events of the day made her so excited and full of jollity. She never wanted the feeling to end, but the only way that is possible is if she has Syaoran by her side, holding her hand.
She jumped out of bed and hurried into the bathroom to take a shower. The warm water swept over her washing away the past few days. She felt refreshed, almost like a new person. It was a feeling of relief, being rid of what had weighed her down for so long. No longer did she have to be depressed about how her life turned out or feel sorry for the way she let people walk all over her. She is the new Sakura. A bolder, more confident, and stronger person. Thanks to Tomoyo and Eriol's sly tricks, and to Syaoran's consistency, she has become a new self.
After the shower, she quickly put on clean clothes and make-up. She stared at herself in the mirror. Her reflection glowed like it had never before. I can do this. I can finally allow myself to like someone and be liked in return, maybe even love. I have to do this for Syaoran and most importantly, for myself. I truly believe in myself… for once.
She gave her reflection a wink and then a thumbs up. She took one big breath and looked at the clock hanging on her wall. It was 11:00. She had one hour to get to the airport. She knew she could make it.
After calling for a taxi, Sakura waited by her window. She could hardly hold back her elation. The words she wanted to say were anxious to be said and her arms were earnest to be around him. Every minute passed by so slowly, making it seem like torture; however this torment is worth enduring. As soon as the taxi came, she raced down the stairs and hopped inside the car. It sped off, along with Sakura's heart.
Once the car got to the center of the city, it stopped suddenly. Sakura quickly jerked her eyes to the front window, wondering what was going on. For miles all she could see were cars at a standstill. Not a single one looked as if it was going to move. Her heart wanted to shatter, but she wouldn't let. She already got so far, she was certainly not going to allow traffic to stop her.
An impulse was telling her to jump out of the car, but the airport is at least five miles away. It would take her longer than an hour to reach it by foot, and how the cars are, it would take hours until they got to the airport. Syaoran's plane would have left by then.
"Excuse me, driver?" Sakura said, leaning toward the front seat.
His head moved backward slightly, and said, "What is it, miss?"
"Do know the reason for the back up of traffic?" she asked, eagerly wanting to know the answer. "Because I really need to get to the airport at noon."
He shrugged his shoulders. "How am I supposed to know? I only drive a taxi, I don't come with a crystal ball," he replied, and looked at his watch. "It doesn't look like you're going to make the airport by noon."
She huffed at slammed her back against the seat. She could not believe it. It took her so long to get to where she is and now she has to step back. Not a single ounce of her wanted to accept that notion. She did not want her fate to take a downward spiral back to where she was months ago. That's not what she had planned.
"Damn it!" she exclaimed, holding back her tears.
The driver watched her in the rearview mirror in sympathy. Although he didn't know why she needed to go to the airport so badly, he felt sorry for her. Nothing is more sad than a girl about to cry. He didn't want to see her so upset. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a coupon.
"Hey, miss," he said, turning to face her. "I think this may help." He handed her a coupon for a free bicycle rental at Shiro's Bike-o-rama. "I was going to use it, since I need the exercise, but it looks like it more than me." He quickly coughed, realizing how he had put his words together. "I meant that you need the bike more than me."
She took her coupon in her hand. Her eyes quickly scanned over it, searching for the address. She couldn't find it, either it wasn't there or she was too upset to see correctly. "What's the address?" she asked after no luck in finding it.
"It's around the corner," he said, pointing to the corner in front of them. "They should be open, since it's a beautiful day and all."
"Thank you," she said, and smiled. "I really appreciate it." She paid him for the ride and quickly got out of the car. She ran down the street and turned the corner. There it was, the bike shop. Fortunately it was open like the driver had speculated. She tightly gripped the coupon and went inside.
A man stood at the front desk. His hair was stringy and his clothes looked disheveled. Normally she would be hesitant to enter a store like this, since people are strange and scary sometimes, but she felt no fear. She had her want for Syaoran to guide and protect her.
"What can I do you for?" the man asked, scratching his head.
She swallowed hard and placed the coupon on the counter. "I need a bike," she replied.
"Hmmm…" he said, and looked in a log book. "Fortunately we have one bike left for rental, but it's brakes are a little tricky. I can let you take it, although you have to be very careful. I can't afford a lawsuit."
Sakura knew this was her only way of getting to the airport on time. She didn't have enough for the subway, so she has to take this chance. Yet she doesn't exactly want to kill herself getting there either with faulty brakes.
"What'll it be, miss?" he asked, nervously looking at the clock. "You have to make a decision, because my lunch break is soon."
She wanted to turn away, but her feet were glued to the floor. Her body didn't want her to keep running whenever an obstacle is put before her. So she nodded, putting on a weary smile. "I'll take it, sir."
"I'm glad. Just bring it back when you're done with it," he said, and handed her a key to a lock. "This is the key to the bike lock. It's the blue one in the corner. And remember, be careful."
"I will," she said, and unlocked the bike from its chain. She put on the helmet that was hanging from the handlebar and tightened it to her head. She hopped on the seat and peddled away.
On her way down the street, she nervously practiced what she was going to say to Syaoran when she sees him.
Syaoran, I love you. You make my heart beat so fast, it gets to the point where I can't think straight. No! That sounds utterly cheesy… What am I going to say to him? Why does it have to be so hard to express my feelings him?
The only time it became hard for Sakura to control the bike is when she is going down a hill. This is Japan, so hills are common things. When she went to squeeze the brakes, the tires would skid and the bike would wobble back and forth. She actually feared for her life. She never thought she would almost kill herself on a bike, of all things. Sometimes it's crazy what you'll do for love.
The airport finally came insight. She sighed and peddled faster, weaving in out of cars. Her heart already began to pound against her chest and her palms began to sweat. She was so nervous, but it felt good.
She pulled up into the carport and carelessly slammed on the brakes, forgetting about the tetchiness of it. The bike didn't want to stop. It kept going, taking Sakura with it. She couldn't let herself get hit by an oncoming car, so she held her breath and swerved into a cart of luggage. She flipped over the handlebars and landed in the cart, safely. The bike however didn't have any such luck. It ended up in a dumpster that was just behind the luggage cart.
Sakura sat up, her back aching in pain. She didn't care, though. She was too thankful for making it to the airport alive to even notice it after awhile. As she made her way out of the cart, an announcement went over the loudspeaker.
"Flight leaving for Hong Kong, final boarding. Please come to exit ten. Thank you."
Once she realized it was Syaoran's flight, her whole body jolted from the cart. She met the concrete with her feet and hurried to the entrance. Swarms of people crowded around her. It was hard for her to take one step let alone getting to the exit terminal.
She needed to find a way to get through the crowd somehow, which is why she did what she did. "Oh my, God! It's Ayu!" she shouted. Everyone stopped and then turned around. They instantly ran screaming toward the entrance of the airport. She managed to slither through the hordes of people and tried to make her way to gate ten.
As she walked she noticed that outside had gotten dark and cloudy. It looked as if it was about to rain. Before, it was so sunny and now, it's gloomy. She took the dramatic change in weather as an bad omen. However she still ran, hoping she would catch Syaoran before he left for Hong Kong.
Gate ten finally came after a few minutes, but when she finally got there, the line to get on the plane was gone. She couldn't seen anyone, and the plane wasn't there. She wanted to break down and cry right at that moment. She had lost the only chance of finding true happiness. She knew she could find someone else, but nobody like Syaoran.
"I'm too late," she muttered, earnestly looking around the room for Syaoran. He was gone, and she couldn't get him back.
She turned around and made her way out of the airport. There is no use in staying there. It's over, final curtain. She screwed up, but in a sense it was not her fault. Too many things got in her way, no matter how badly she wanted to see him. That thought only comforted her slightly, but it could not take the place of the huge hole in her heart.
Outside it began to rain. She stood in the carport, getting soaked. She didn't feel it, though. Her body was numbed by her sadness and pain. She felt nothing. After a while her thoughts made her want to run away and never return. They shouted at her constantly, needing her to start running. She stood still, not taking a single step. She was too tired to run. Her body was too weak. She crouched down, holding her bent legs to her chest. That is when she began to cry.
"Syaoran…" she whispered. "Come back to me."
A few moments passed when abruptly, the rain had stopped, but she still heard it. She lifted her head, seeing the rain fall, but somehow, she wasn't getting wet. She looked above her to see an umbrella hovering over her and…
"Syaoran!" she exclaimed, and quickly stood up. She latched her arms around him. "I'm so glad your still here! I thought I missed you."
He laughed. "Didn't you here?"
"Hear what?" she said, wondering if all this was a dream or something her mind was making up. She pinched herself to check, but she was given the answer when it hurt her.
"The flight was canceled due to the sudden storm," he said, and placed his hand on her shoulders to back her away slightly. "Sakura, even if the flight wasn't canceled, I don't think I would've been able to leave you so easily."
Tears still flowed down her face, but in happiness. "Thank you for not leaving me," she said, and hugged him again. "I love you, Syaoran! I really do."
He closed his eyes, and held her closer. "I'm so happy to finally hear you say it."
It surprised her that she had just went and said it that way. She never thought she would be the type of girl to say it before the guy. Yet that only made her even more happier. It showed that she has changed for the better, or at least for the bolder.
"How about we get out of the rain?" he said, and began to walk her underneath the roof of the port. He looked her over, taking in her beauty, even if she was wet. He then noticed the bump on her head. "Why do you have a bump on your head?"
She felt the top of her head, and felt the large bump that felt more like Mount Everest. "Oh, this. Well I fell in the luggage cart on accident," she said, and noticed his confused stare. "Never mind. It's a long story."
He shrugged and reached for her hand. "Why don't I take you out to eat and you can tell me all about it?"
She smiled and shook her head. "Only after we go to my place," she said.
A grin slid across his face. "Are you serious? Or are you teasing me?"
She nudged his shoulder. "I'm just teasing, Syaoran! Just because you're my hero now, doesn't mean I'm going to let you sleep over," she said, and turned her back to him. "But… we'll see what happens once you get vulnerably drunk."
He laughed. "Very funny."
The two of them walked off, hand-in-hand. Their relationship may not be perfect other people, but to Sakura, it is. She knew that she would allow him to be with her like she had always dreamed about, but she wanted to keep him guessing. Since she wants him to wait just like he had made her.
"I love you, Sakura."
"I know, and I love you for it."
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The End
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