Story Name: Portrait of a Little Wolf

Author: DarkxDiamonds

Comments: Heh .. ^^'' The second sixth chapter of the series. My most grateful thanks to everyone that has kept up with this story and encouraged me to continue it. ;) Your efforts are not in vain!

Chapter Six

Sakura awoke the next morning with a strange feeling in her chest. She was jittery and almost anxious - but for what she didn't know. Shaking her head at herself, she jumped out of her bed and dressed for a cool day. The sun was leaking through the curtains and she found herself smiling. Her debt had been repaid and she felt as though a huge duty had gone off her shoulders.

She was going to move back into the same room as Tomoyo. She hugged herself and remembered Aya, the quiet maid with the hair that shone like gold. She had disappeared. Making a note to herself, she would remember to ask Tomoyo.

She folded her clothes neatly into two piles and carefully placed her small belongings on top of that. A comb that still shone with a silver gleam, a broken locket that still contained a picture, and a small piece of faded paper folded to act like an envelope landing neatly on the pile. Once she had emptied her residence, Sakura collected them in a bag that initially held all her threads and wools, needles and beads. They were all that she owned in the world.

[Later]

He rapped quickly on the wall and waited. He hoped that his coming here wasn't in vain. Please be here Sakura ... To his joy and relief, the cloth rippled and her hand slowly pushed it back. "Syaoran?"

He nodded and silently gupled. "Sakura .. may I come in?" She blinked and hurriedly jumped out of the way. "Of course!" She allowed him to enter. "Did you need another quilt? For the child?" Syaoran shook his head. "The nurses work quickly. I don't even know he's in the house."

Sakura smiled cheerfully. "He? Have you given him a name?" Syaoran looked down. "Naozumi." "It's a good name." There was a silence.

"Sakura ... I had a talk with the priest. During Meiling's funeral that is." He was the first to break the silence. Sakura looked at him, puzzled. "And?" He took a deep breath. "He gave me permission to fill .. what the first marriage could not." She stared at him, realization just dawning on her. "What ..." Eyes sparkling, Syaoran kneeled in front of her. "Sakura Kinomoto .. would you be my wife?"

Once he had spoken the sacred words, Sakura's mind reeled. All the fears that she had managed to lock away with the belief that Syaoran was safe came flooding back. All the little "what ifs" poured across her brain. And she was scared.

"Syaoran .. I'd only hurt you more .." she began crying. "What would other people think?" He shook his head. "No .. no, listen Sakura. The only people that could possibly reveal the fact that you were once a maid that served me are Tomoyo and Eriol. And you know they would never release that. Aya has gone far away - she would never even recieve the news of our marriage."

Sakura pondered what Syaoran had told her. He's right ... she realized with a shock. There's no one standing between me .. between us. No one at all.

"Syaoran-kun .. you know that I love you ...?" His hear sank. No .. not this beginning. It's always followed by sad news. "Which is why .. with all my heart ... I have to say ..." He couldn't look at her. He could already imagine the ending.

"Yes."

He looked up. "Sakura .. you will ... marry me?" She smiled. "I was a fool to run away in the first place. But I'd be an even bigger one not to accept. He looked at her sparkling emerald eyes and kissed her.

The kiss was not made in has. Not some hurried kiss like their first. It was the kiss that released all their hidden love. Released how much they needed each other, how much they wanted to feel the other's warmth. Sakura relished in the elation that she felt. This ... is what I've been waiting for .. my entiref life.

[Later]

He carried her, giggling, thorugh the front door. "Ah! Syaoran, drop me right now!" He twirled her. "Why should I?" She couldn't come up with an excuse and allowed him to spin her one last time. She was too happy and excited to protest.

"Ok! Enough's enough Syaoran! You're making my head spin!" He dropped her gently on the ground. "I guess I made you a little too dizzy ... sorry .." He hung his head like a little boy that had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. She smiled. "Syaoran .. I wouldn't care what happened to me .. as long as you're all right."

He returned her smile. I know so much about you so quickly. And I know your sacrifices .. and maybe ... that's one reason I love you so much.

"I want to tell Tomoyo." She looked at him. "If that's all right with you?" He smiled. "Do whatever you wish. This is also your home now." She grinned at him and ran off. Smiling, he walked up the stairs to his studio.

"Tomoyo-chan!" she burst open the door. "I'm back!" Her friend looked up from the bed." Sakura .. why are you back here?" Sakura jumped furiously on her bed in her excitement.

"Silly, get used to it! I'm here to stay!" Tomoyo blinked. "Syaoran hired you again as a maid?" Sakura shook her head. "Nope! Even better than that!" Tomoyo's eyes widened as she realized what Sakura had just revealed. "Sakura .. don't tell me .. that .. you're going to marry .. Syaoran?" Her eyes were hopeful. Sakura's glittered in response. "Why ever not Tomoyo? Isn't what you and I have been hoping for?"

A squeak emitted from her mouth before she shot herself at her friend. "Yes! Sakura-chan, I told you that he was meant for you! See, I'm always right in these matters!" Sakura smiled gently. "Yes .. I guess you were Tomoyo. However, this is no time to gloat."

She finally managed to get her friend off of her. "Tomoyo .. tell me something. When you ... had accepted Eriol's proposal, how did you feel?" Tomoyo looked at her with expressionless eyes.

"I guess you could say .. I was on Cloud Nine. It was like I was in a dream. Except, I knew it wasn't. I was .. flying." She stopped. "Why?"

Sakura looked down, embarassed. "Because .. I don't think I've ever felt this way before. Tomoyo ... I still can't believe .. I'm really .. in love. I don't know .. if this feeling is even real." Tomoyo shook her head. "Sakura-chan, you are completely in love. Don't deny it." Sakura smiled at her friend's reassurance. "Don't worry. I won't ever make that mistake again."