Author's Notes: I don't have much to say about this chapter, only that I'm sure you'll like it…Still, don't think the story ends here! There are some things due to happen later…but enjoy this for now.
This chapter is definitely dedicated to Stargirl-rebels. You'll know why soon enough ^_^.
I want to take a moment to thank all of my reviewers for their unconditional support. Many of you also demanded more explanations about what really happened to Sakura. I know you must be sick of this response, but trust me, you'll find out later. I can promise clear explanations will be given.

That's all for now! Sorry for the wait, you guys!

"I'll Say Goodbye for the Two of Us: When the Truth Breaks the Silence"

Chapter Twenty: "Blossom"

By cherry blossom

"…yes, I see…that's fine…you may go…"
Sakura heard the young man in a white coat talking to Eriol. Whatever he was agreeing on with her friend, she didn't know, for the blue haired man conveniently kept his voice down. Not that it really mattered. Eriol was probably making up some tale to explain all those things common sense couldn't. She didn't really care what he told the doctor, as long as she got to see Syaoran as soon as possible. Sakura sighed.

It was really painful to see him lying immobile in that bed, so near death. And it was even more unnerving to watch him knowing it was her fault. Sakura felt so ashamed…she had let everyone down again. She had failed Syaoran, she had failed her friends…and she had failed herself. It all came down to her own weakness, her own stupidity that kept bringing negative consequences for everyone that was around her… How could they ever forgive her? And even if they did, would she ever be able to forgive herself? Sakura shook her head sadly, quietly answering her own questions.

Before she could think further, she was snapped out of her reflections by a warm pressure on her shoulder. She looked up.

"We can go in now, little Sakura," said Eriol softly. "Would you rather see him alone or should we enter with you?" The Card Captor sighed once again. Eriol's gentleness was touching but it made her feel worse, knowing she didn't deserve it.

"I'd…I'd rather go in alone if that's ok with you," she said timidly. She actually would have liked to have their support while she faced him, but she knew she had to fix her mistakes by herself.

Eriol nodded understandingly. "Of course," he said, as if that was the answer he had been expecting all along. Sakura, however, had the vague feeling that, for once, her know-it-all friend didn't have the slightest idea of what was going inside her head. "Tomoyo and I will be in the cafeteria if you need us," he added, and without further explanations, took Tomoyo's arm lightly and led her down the hall. Sakura watched them disappear when they turned around the corner. She took a deep breath.

"You will find the way to help him," she told herself firmly. "If you could do this to him, then you have to be able to reverse it."

She didn't know exactly what she was going to do, but if there was one thing she was sure of, it was that she had to bring Syaoran back somehow. Even if it was the last thing she did, she had to.

She just had to…

***

Once Sakura had closed the door behind her, she felt the resolution she had experienced outside slowly melt away. The truth was, unavoidably, that she had no idea whatsoever on how to make Syaoran come back. Sure, she could try and talk, cast a spell even…but would all her efforts be enough? She bit her lip nervously, and slowly approached the bed.

Her beloved Syaoran looked exactly as he had a few hours ago, when she had last saw him. And his appearance now and then was in such a deep contrast with the strong man she remembered…

Sakura shook her head, as if trying to shake these thoughts as well. That was about enough mourning. It was time to solve the problem now.

She sat down on the chair beside her beloved's bed. Trying to ignore the scary looking machines attached to Syaoran's body, she lowered her hand to his forehead. The touch of his cold skin made her flinch, but she didn't remove her hand. On the contrary, she began caressing Syaoran's face lovingly, moving her fingers down his cheek, tracing the line of his jaw…

"Syaoran…" she whispered. At the sound of his name, the man's eyelids fluttered subtly, but that was it. Encouraged by this almost insignificant fact, Sakura began speaking softly in his ear.

"Syaoran, I will never be able to express the guilt and regret I'm feeling right now. I know this is my entire fault, and the first thing I want to make clear is that you don't have to forgive me…" Sakura paused as tears began falling down her cheeks. She took several deep breaths, as she pleaded for her voice not to fail her. If she started crying she wouldn't be able to stop. And it was imperative she told Syaoran her feelings. She needed him to know this. Just like she had a long time ago, before she made that terrible decision...

"My love, leaving you was the biggest mistake of my life. Not trusting you, keeping my problems to myself, thinking I could solve everything on my own was the most foolish, arrogant, self-centered act I have ever done. For it's clear now that I depend totally and entirely on you. I need you, Syaoran. I'm nothing without you. Only you make me real, make me the person I am…You saw what being away from you did to me! And yet it was me who unwisely chose to leave…" She unwillingly let out a pained cry. Every interrupted trail of anguishing thoughts, every sentence she had left unfinished in fear, all the events that had led them towards the place where they stood in now…It was all coming back to her, finally taking toll on her heart. Pain beyond pain…

"My dearest, I've hurt you in unimaginable ways, and for that I deserve no mercy, no forgiveness…But I can't stand to see you like this, trapped between life and death, in an obscure place, in a vast place of nothingness…" Sakura's weak voice adopted a painfully determined note then.

"Syaoran, I don't care for myself anymore. All that matters in the world to me now is you. Wake up, Syaoran. Wake up and hate me. Wake up and tell me all the horrible things you've never dared say to anyone. Wake up and tell me you despise me with every inch of your heart! But awake, my love…awake at last…" The words she spoke were slowly but surely taking up all of her energy, all of her strength. Sakura's sight was blurry with tears, weariness and pain. Her chest ached every time she drew in a breath and her head was pounding terribly. But there was no stopping now.

"Syaoran, if you recover I promise I will do whatever you ask me to. I will disappear from your life if that is your wish. But come back to me now, dear. Come back even if it is for a moment…a moment I will seize to tell you the most important thing of all…"

Sakura leaned over him and softly kissed him.

"I love you, Syaoran-kun…" she whispered. "Wholeheartedly."

The tension that had been increasing as she spoke, swiftly vanished with her last statement. The air around her felt lighter, warmer… Sakura's teary eyes looked around the room, expecting an explanation to the sudden change of atmosphere. Just then she heard a faint murmur. Her heart skipped a beat and she held her breath as she lowered her eyes to the bed.

Syaoran was murmuring something, and moving his eyelids lightly. Sakura opened her mouth, wanting to say a million things at a time, but not finding the words to do so. Her heart was thumping so hard it was almost threatening to explode. Her lower lip trembled incessantly as she held her breath. The whole world faded away, and it was only her and Syaoran in that moment…

And then he opened his eyes. And then he looked at her.

Amber met emerald, their gazes locked, and for a while nothing at all happened. The world remained still, as if gently waiting for them to react. Sakura couldn't take her eyes off his, and she didn't dare blink. The moment had been captured when their looks met, and its magic threatened to disappear if anything happened. Sakura began to feel light headed, and only then she realized she had been holding her breath. Unable to keep at it, she let it out quickly. And the stillness of the moment broke then.

For a second, Sakura thought she'd never reach him. It took almost forever to get to her feet and approach him. But the next thing she knew, she was leaning over him, hugging him fiercely, crying her heart out on his chest. Bittersweet release…She almost didn't notice his skin was of normal temperature again.

Syaoran, it appeared, was too shocked for words. For a while he did nothing but allow Sakura to drop tears on his chest. Then, he gently touched her back. Sakura lifted her head and stared at him, her eyes puffy and red.

Then he touched her face, slowly tracing her features with his finger. He looked deep into her eyes. "Is it really you, Sakura?" he whispered in a hopeful voice.

"Yes!" she cried. "I'm sorry…! I'm sorry for everything…" She had to stop speaking as her thin voice broke and sobs replaced words. Syaoran, however, didn't seem to notice what she had said as he watched her, amazed. Adoration shone in his eyes, which sparkled, filled with life again.

"Oh, Sakura-chan…" he said breathlessly. "You've finally come back to me…"

Sakura was startled at the love he was unconsciously pouring out to her. How could her love her after what she had done? No, he was probably just confused.

"I'm so sorry…"she said softly. "All I wanted was to look into your eyes one last time…I won't bother you again…" She made an attempt to leave, but Syaoran placed his hands on her waist, with a surprising strong grip for a man who had just been so ill.

"Are you going to leave me again?" he asked fearfully, in a slightly childish tone. Sakura's heart melted, but she commanded herself to be firm. She had sworn he would never be hurt by her weakness again, and she still meant it.

"I don't ever want to hurt you again, Syaoran-kun…" she whispered.

"Then don't leave!" he replied with total conviction. Sakura was stunned. There was no way in hell he'd take her back! And even if he was silly enough to do so she didn't deserve it…!

"Please, don't make this any harder…" she pleaded. "Can't you see I'm doing this for your own good?"

"That's what you said last time…" he responded softly.

That was a low punch, and Sakura felt it almost physically. The guilt tormented her beyond anything, and for the first time since he had awoken, Sakura saw a reflection of the grief she had experienced in his eyes.

"Yes…" she said miserably. "And I will never forgive myself for that. But that's why I have to leave…I don't want anything like that to happen to you again…"

"Then don't leave!" he repeated sharply, but then his voice turned into an anguished plea. "Please, don't leave me again, Sakura…"

Sakura's jaw dropped and she shook her head. Her eyes were wide and shocked.

"No…it's impossible!" she stated. "How can you still want me?"

"Because I love you, Sakura. Because I'm bound to you by that love. I do not exist without you as you do not exist without me. I cannot be without you…just like you said…" he answered simply, a ghost of a smile on his face.

"You heard me…?" inquired Sakura, holding her left hand to her heart.

"Indeed. I always hear you call for me, no matter how far apart…" Syaoran replied lovingly. He took her right hand and placed it over his heart. "There…" he whispered. "Can you feel it? Both your heart and mine beat as one…"

And it was true. Their heartbeats had the exact same rhythm. Sakura felt the shadow that had been tainting her soul slowly disappear…

"I love you," she stated. "And I'll stay with you forever if you'll take me…"

Syaoran took her face in his hands and pulled her nearer. Then their lips met, softly, tenderly, lovingly, sealing a promise with that kiss.

"Stay with me forever," he requested.

"Forever…" she echoed, and hugged him.

Sakura and Syaoran held each other, enjoying the moment as they hadn't enjoyed anything in a long time. They silently wished that instant would never end…

But no matter how strong their desire was, it couldn't suppress the darkness that was still out there, waiting.

A dark figure had watched the whole scene from the window, and was now shaking with fury. So the kids were back together again…Fine, no problem. He'd take them down together then. It was just a small change in his plans…it wouldn't affect the result. Still, they had managed to anger him, and that wasn't wise at all. He'd see they got what they deserved. The fools…he'd show them real pain soon.

Very soon.