Disclaimer: I will not own it, Sam I Am; I will not own CCS and ham. But Reader-I-Am, I will own any character I made up…and ham.

This is my attempt at an epilogue. If you laugh at me, I will use the power of free speech and write a strongly worded email. You have been duly and properly warned. Apart from that, hope you make sense of it.

Epilogue: "Certainly a twisted old thing."

By Emmy

---- Li Mansion, Five years later…

Karella looked up at the daunting house, as cold as ever. But Karella knew the truth; she knew the happiness that lay within. She knew of the beautiful young couple that lay within. Syaoran and Sakura had invited her here, using the excuse a bit of an anniversary party. She knew that they just wanted to show off their beautiful home, their happy marriage and the telltale bump under Sakura's dress, which Karella remembered from the half-year-anniversary, which was also their wedding.

Syaoran and Sakura, powerful magicians becoming nervous normal parents. Karella smiled at the thought. The baby would be five now, or four coming up to five. She had diligently sent presents at Chinese New Year and other holidays, never forgetting a birthday. They had returned the favor, always out-doing her, no matter what. It wasn't their fault that they had some money to throw about; Sakura had made a living from being a kimono designer, her designs being shipped out to Japan and Syaoran was an heir to millions anyway.

She was greeted at the door with hugs and kisses from Sakura and a smile and a kiss on the cheek from Syaoran. She remembered them so well, but they had grown up. Sakura was as beautiful and as young looking as ever, but Syaoran had a mature look to his face now. Karella would admit a slight crush on his looks but she knew Sakura's fierce loyalty and protectiveness would see her pinned to a wall, if more happened.

Karella saw herself as to old for him anyway, she being at least ten thousand.

Sakura smiled to herself as she saw her companion, now a little older looking from her journeys about the world. Sakura had read of her fabulous adventures in Africa through letters and whatnot. Sakura was jealous of her for having so much freedom but then she remembered her family and forgot all about it.

Sakura remembered this would be Karella's first meeting with Sakura's daughter, Nadeskio Yelen Li, a mouthful of a name. The shy, sweet, clumsy five-year old who Sakura adored so completely was out on the back lawn, mucking about with the family dog.

"Come this way, Karella, we'll have some lunch out in the sun." Sakura took Karella's hand and dragged her through a maze, Syaoran following them.

Syaoran sat with Karella and Sakura called in her daughter, "Nadeskio, there is someone here I'd like you to meet!"

A small girl ran into the room and smiled sweetly up at Syaoran and then hid behind the folds of her mother's skirt, upon seeing the beautiful stranger. Sakura kneeled down to her daughter's eye level, "Dearest, this is your mother's and father's friend, Karella. Please say hello."

Karella stood up and smiled at the adorable child, who said in a small voice, "Hello."

She ran over to her father, who picked her up and said to Karella, "Her favorite story is the one where you protect Sakura and myself from the wicked witch."

Karella looked at the child, whose eyes opened wide, "That was you?"

Karella laughed at Nadeskio's forwardness, "Yes, I did that."

The child wrinkled up its nose and said thoughtfully, "So, you're some kind of protector?"

Karella nodded, "Yes, I am."

In truth Karella was a spirit, older then Sakura and sent by the people of her village after the village had been burnt down by a spiteful witch.She'd been sent to take off the curse the moment it had been put on, but Karella hadn't been strong enough, so she followed Sakura through five hundred years worth of history. It had been rewarding, to say the least, to finally see the witch die. Now Karella, after one hundred more years given to her by the otherworld powers-that-be for a job well done, was going to travel and age.

After a hearty lunch, in which Karella told some stories and anecdotes about her trip to Africa, teatime lasted well into the evening. It was eleven before Karella stood up, "My carriage is waiting. It was lovely seeing you and your beautiful daughter."

Sakura gasped, "You're not staying, tonight? The roads are so dangerous and the city isn't a place for a woman."

Syaoran nodded ruefully, "My sister was attacked in the city. Good thing she can hold her own."

Karella sighed, "I have a boat to catch in the morning, but thank you for your hospitality."

They led Karella to the front door, gave her some presents and a little money for the trip and she left. Sakura sighed and Syaoran put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, and asked, "Are you jealous?"

Sakura spun around and looked deep into his eyes and kissed him on the lips, before whispering in his ear, "Never, ever."

And the two went inside, hand in hand, safe with the knowledge that neither of them was going anywhere, at anytime. They were in love with this life and each other. Nothing, no spells, no evil witches and no magical barriers were going to change that.

Sakura stopped and smiled at Syaoran, when they reached the stairway, "I'll be up in ten minutes, I have something to quickly finish."

He nodded and walked up the stairs, Sakura watching him go up. When she heard a door click, she wandered the hallways, till she reached the French doors that led out to the cherry blossom. She looked at the tree for a while, then opened the door and stepped onto the cool, dew-covered grass.

She delicately spun and skipped till she reached the tree, feeling light and playful again. She reached the base and dropped to her knees, tucking them neatly below her and she looked at one of the roots. She smiled at the tree, and realized that to get over what happened five years ago, she was going to have to cut this thing down.

Sakura stood, brushed off her knees and gave the tree a hug, as if it were a real person. She whispered, "You certainly are a twisted old cherry blossom."

Sakura let go of the tree, took a few steps back, and bowed to the tree then left to go up to bed and into her love's arms.

Her comment wouldn't leave her though, and she remembered it, until the day she died and the tree had become just a stump.

"You certainly are a twisted old Cherry Blossom."

Hopefully I managed to answer some questions and clear up some stuff.

Thanks so much for being so supportive, I loved re-writing it, because it's always been one of my faves.

The story behind Karella: I couldn't think of a way to end it so in comes a character that I made to end it. She became important to the story, so I kept her. Not very impressive, right? But hell, my story, not yours.text