disclaimer: Tsubasa. Cardcaptor Sakura. Magic Knight Rayearth, and xxxHolic belong to CLAMP.

AN: Enjoy the last chapter of, Remembering Why. -bow-

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"Is that...the feather you were searching for?" Yue had asked, looking at a glowing feather on the ground.

Syaoran nodded his head yes and kneeled down to pick it up. Holding out his hand, his index finger had barely brushed the magical feather, before it happened.


The sound of shattering glass, something delicate breaking, pierced through the night. Syaoran's expression changed from relief to horror.

What was left of Sakura's feather littered the ground, was being blown about by the wind...

A twisted smile formed on his face as the boy watched the image through his water mirror. By laying a mirror in a pan of water, and with a little bit of magic, he was able to see everything...

"Well, I do feel sorry for him. However--" Picking up the mirror, the water ripples erased the image. "---It was bound to happen sooner or later." He sighed. His twisted, mysterious smile curved downwards, forming the smallest frown imaginable. Getting up, the great magician turned around quickly, just in time to see a smiling brunette coming his way. "Hello again, Sakura-chan." He said cheerfully, putting on a smiling mask for the princess. "I hope you weren't too bored while I was working."

The princess shook her head no. "Oh, no!" Sakura said quickly, smiling warmly at the boy. "I had a lot of fun, there were a lot of interesting books to read and everything, Eriol-san!"

"That's good." Eriol said, still smiling. "Well, we should get ready for Syaoran-kun's arrival. Ah...Is something wrong?" He asked, watching as the Princess slowly made her way to the other side of the room.

Sakura continued walking, placing her hand on a polished, ebony colored box. She was close enough to see some sort of design on it. Cherry blossoms... She looked up quickly, hearing Eriol's question. "Oh! N-no! I was just...this box...I...I was just attracted to it..." She stammered, bowing in apology. "I'm so sorry!" She apologized.

"Its alright. If you would, could you bring the box with you?" He asked.

Picking up the box, Sakura's fingers tingled. It was a comfortable feeling...and it felt so familiar... A small piece of her first memory came to her...

It was her birthday, and she was opening the presents. There was one present. It was little, and wrapped in pink paper. To my beautiful daughter...said the letter. She had opened it, and there was a little black jewelry box with cherry blossoms on it...Her feather was... She looked up at Eriol, from where she was standing he looked almost like... "Eriol-san-----"

"Ah, we should be going now.." Eriol announced, cutting her off before she could finish, and guiding down the elaborate halls of his manor, Sakura following behind him.

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There was a stunned silence as Syaoran stared blankly at where the feather used to be. Kurogane and Fye watched in disbelief from afar, a grim look on their face, having no idea what might be going on inside their friend's mind.

It wasn't supposed to happen this way...

The ninja closed his eyes, not wanting to see the boy in such a pitiful position. "Get up." He said firmly, but in a softer tone then he normally would. He had traveled with Syaoran long enough, to know the boy may be more mature then Fye, but still, just a child. But in Kurogane's eyes, this wasn't a time to be sitting down and crying over it.

Syaoran, did not respond.

His footsteps were loud...deafening...as he made his way to the child. "Syaoran-san?" The magician mewed quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go, Sakura-chan must be getting worried." His voice, was kind and understanding. But no one could understand Syaoran...He wasn't so simple.

Slowly, Syaoran stood up in what felt like slow motion. He failed. What happened? Why did it break? To Syaoran, it felt as though he had destroyed her memory. Something inside of him twisted into a knot, making him fell sick and empty. "...Yeah.." He said after a few seconds of silence. Looking up, he could see Yue's glare had turned into an expression of...it was hard to tell what Yue was feeling, but it looked like pity. Keroberos, the more friendly of the duo, had turned away, his wings were down.

Wings...

Once again, there was that sickening emptiness inside of Syaoran. He looked down, he looked much like a dog that had been beaten.

"Hold your head up." Kurogane commanded, crossing his arms.

The archaeologist tried, but failed miserably.

"Its time to go." Yue said, ignoring the depressed child.

"I thought you said you didn't know how to get back." Kurogane said slyly.

"We only said that so ya wouldn't run back home when ya got scared." Keroberos replied smugly. "Besides, he knows we're ready."

Kurogane lunged towards Keroberos with the ancient katana he wasn't able to use. "Its about time I get to use this." He murmured. The sword grew about twice its regular size and looked as good as new...

"Whoa!" Keroberos yelled, running away from the enraged ninja. "Control your anger!" He wailed.

"Like hell!" The ninja shot back, he was about to do a horizontal slash, one that would sever the cat's head from his body. "Gotcha.." He said menacingly. Mid-slice, the sword froze in mid-air, as the ninja's body was wrapped in some sort of magic bond.

"Hah!" Keroberos laughed.

"I'm going to kill you!"

"Sure ya can."

On cue, Eriol's magic circle appeared from underneath them.

"If you care about that girl...You shouldn't look so upset." Yue said to Syaoran.

Syaoran looked up, a confused look on his face. Was...Yue giving him advice?

"Don't make her worry." Yue explained, seeing the curious look.

And a second later, they were gone...

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"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura exclaimed, running up to the boy. "Are you alright? You're not hurt or anything, are you?"

"No, your highness, I'm fine." Syaoran replied, forcing a smile onto his face.

Sakura frowned, seeing the smile. "Syaoran-kun, you don't...have to force yourself to smile in front of me." She said quietly.

Syaoran's smile faded as he heard her. "Ahah. You're right...but really, everything is okay." He insisted, smiling...for real this time.

"Kuro-woof! Kuro-woof!" Something sang from inside Kurogane's cloak.

"Eck! Get out from there!" The ninja snapped, tugging at a white...something... "And where the hell did you come from!"

"Its. A. Secret!" Mokona replied, raising its pudgy paw to his mouth clearly saying, he wasn't going to tell.

Eriol arrived minutes after Sakura did, smiling warmly at the guests. "I hope you found everything okay. And I'll take what you have of mine." Holding out his hand, two cards flew out from Syaoran's pocket. Dark and Light.

Hearing Eriol, Syaoran frowned. Sure, they found everything...

"You can't have everything you want." Eriol whispered to Syaoran in a manner which made shivers run up his spine. No one else seemed to here, as the young magician turned to the others. "I suppose you'll be leaving then." He sighed, frowning a bit.

"Eriol-san, you look sad..." Sakura pointed out.

Eriol nodded his head yes. "Hm...I am." He replied, looking mainly at Sakura and Syaoran. "I won't be able to watch over you any more, Sakura." He added, dropping the honorifics and quickly changing moods.

Fye and Kurogane looked up at this, hearing the unknown familiarity.

"Eriol-san.." Syaoran began.

"Yes?" Eriol replied.

"Who are you really?" Syaoran asked, staring at the magician, standing between the other boy and Sakura. "The way you treat us...is not the way any normal stranger would. You speak to Sakura and me like you know us. When we first met, you knew everything you needed to know. Mokona went to you, Keroberos knew Mokona. I feel as though you've been hiding something from us."

"And what is it that makes you think my name is not Eriol? That I might, as you say, know you?" He inquired. "Surely, there must be more. And I assure you, that everything I have told you, has been truth."

"Because, when we first arrived, and you introduced Keroberos and Yue-san. You introduced yourself as, 'you may call me' Eriol." Syaoran pointed out. "What is your real name?"

Silence. Keroberos and Yue returned to their master's side, looking protective. Sakura was the one who broke the silence, with her soft, unsure voice.

"This box you told me to carry," Sakura said timidly, holding out the black box. "Is the exact same as one my father gave me at my birthday...Eriol-san, please, tell us who you are." She pleaded.

"Syaoran, open the box." Eriol replied, ignoring everything. "I will answer what I can in a minute, but first, there is something I want for you to have." He added, seeing the demanding look on the travelers' faces.

Slowly, taking the box from Sakura, Syaoran stared down at the box. Placing a hand to the lid, he began to fumble with the golden latch. A dim glow came from it, becoming a card called 'Shield' in Eriol's hand. After that, the box opened easily. He stared at the what was inside.

A dim, warm glow came from the box.

Syaoran bit his tongue. Eriol had this then entire time? Placing his hand inside to take it out, he was too numb inside to react properly to what he held.

A feather.

A white and black, glowing feather...a fragment of Sakura's memory.

Instinctively, the boy dropped the box onto the ground, and Eriol then sent Shield to the box again, saving the box before it hit the ground. Holding the feather up towards Sakura. "Princess.." He began, and the feather lifted itself upwards, floating towards the princess, as if attracted to her. A ripple like feel pierced through the air, as it disappeared into her chest.

Sakura closed her eyes, taking the feather in. It was...so warm...

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"Ahahah! Its cold, isn't it?" A young Sakura laughed, taking a bite of her ice cream cone and then looking at -------. Her brother and Yukito were eating one as well, Touya looked annoyed at --------, simply because ----- was there.

There was a pause, and the young Sakura nodded her head yes, as ------ finished speaking. "Hehe, yeah! Hey, what do you think your most like? I think Yukito is like a lion, because he's strong and handsome. And he's able to put up with Touya all the time. And then I think Touya is like...a camel!"

"What!" Touya yelled, glaring at his younger sister. "A camel?"

"Haha, relax your highness." Yukito laughed.

"Hmph. Like a camel!" Sakura replied, crossing her arms. "No one likes camels, and they're always cranky. They can be really useless, just standing on the streets and all, but sometimes, he's useful." She explained.

"Well, what if I liked camels?" Yukito asked.

"It wouldn't be a Touya Camel!" Sakura replied. "And you, ------, would be like ice cream!"

Silence. Apparently, whoever it was she was talking to, was replying.

"Yeah! You're really cold, but you're also really sweet! And when you're all alone, its like you're nothing special. But when we take you outside, and put you on something like an ice cream cone, its like...you melt and you make people really happy..." Sakura replied, blushing a little as she spoke and looking down at the ground. Her ice cream cone was beginning to melt in the desert heat.

"Ahaha, you must really like ice cream to use it as a metaphor." Yukito laughed.

Sakura looked a bit towards the fourth person and then back at Yukito. "Yeah!"

"Of course, its edible." Touya added to the side...

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Once again, the phantom of Sakura's memories had returned.

Why...won't you let me remember you? Sakura thought, her vision growing dark as she lost consciousness.

Fye had caught Sakura for Syaoran, which was a good thing, because Syaoran wouldn't have been able to catch her. "She's only sleeping." He said, not wanting to make Syaoran's hair go white.

"Of course, in her current state, she needs to sleep to maintain her power." Eriol pointed out.

"What?" Syaoran asked.

"Do you know why you couldn't retrieve that memory?" Eriol asked suddenly, breaking through the relieved silence. He didn't wait for a reply. "Even if you retrieve all of her memories, the one memory she will never retrieve, will be the memory of you." He recited perfectly, repeating Yuko's exact words. "I believe that was your deal, correct?"

"How do you---?" Syaoran began, but could not finish. He glared at Eriol...or whoever he was. Who was he?

"That feather didn't contain a regular memory. It contained an emotion. If she were to remember that emotion, she would most likely, remember everything about you." Eriol explained.

"And what would that be?" Syaoran asked through clenched teeth. He knew too much.

"Her feelings for you." Eriol replied simply, taking his glasses off and wiping the dust off of them with his shirt.

Her feelings for you...Those words echoed through his mind as he stared blankly at Eriol. He didn't quite understand. If he didn't then how did 'Eriol' know this?

"I know everything about you and Sakura. I know everything about this journey. About her wings, about your feelings, your deal with Yuko, how Sakura almost remembered in Oto...everything. Syaoran, tell me what your journey is." Eriol demanded, putting his glasses back on and looking directly at Syaoran with piercing eyes.

"To find Sakura's memories." He replied automatically.

"You're wrong. This is a journey of forgetting." Eriol replied calmly, his cold eyes still on Syaoran.

Syaoran was unable to respond.

"With each memory she gets back, the more she forgets about you. The more time you spend with this Sakura, the more you forget the original. Be honest, you can't honestly tell me you remember her perfectly, do you? You've probably forgotten something minor. A day you may have spent with her, something she may have said. Its human condition, we forget things everyday. It must be hard, remembering her, when she's changed so much." Eriol pointed out. He would not let Syaoran go so easily.

"You're wrong." Syaoran insisted. He's right. His mind told him.

"And in the end, she still won't be the same. She isn't exactly the same Sakura if she doesn't remember you, now is she?" Eriol continued.

"It doesn't matter!" Syaoran yelled. "You talk like you know everything, and maybe you do, but you don't know me as well as you think you do! I'm fine with the fact she'll never be allowed to remember me! I made that deal with Yuko-san, I know what I promised! I said it because I didn't want Sakura to die! I didn't want her to forget everything! If she can remember her family, herself, Clow, and everything except me, then its okay! She doesn't need me!" Syaoran continued to yell at Eriol. "You think you know everything like your some God. But when it comes down to it, you're just crazy."

Eriol blinked once...twice. He hadn't expected this. He smiled and then...laughed. "Ahahah! Crazy? I've heard that before. But it doesn't change who I am. I am one of the greatest magicians in the world. I have my own style of magic. It doesn't matter what my name is, I still am, who I am." Eriol chuckled. "But maybe you are right about everything you said. But you know, I'm pretty sure she cares."

"It doesn't matter, she's a princess..." Syaoran replied, looking away. He didn't have to be reminded. "And she'll forget anyways..."

"You're wrong. You see, Yuko and I...will get into a very interesting conversation," Eriol replied, he ignored the stunned, surprised, and demonic look he received. "She told me about her deal with you, and it made me think. She couldn't take away Sakura's memory, because, that would be taking away her soul. And no one, not even I, am crazy enough to bargain using one's soul."

"Soul...?" Syaoran asked numbly, staring wide eyed at Eriol. He knew Yuko? And...if Yuko had done the deal correctly...Sakura wouldn't be here?

"Not 'the soul' is the essence of what makes us, us. A soul is something a person holds very dear and with an attachment to the soul. Sakura's soul was preserved inside those memories, making it impossible for the deal to work, since Yuko didn't ask for her soul." Eriol explained.

"Your point is?" Kurogane asked flatly.

"I don't think their mortal minds can take much more abuse." Said Yue, looking at Syaoran who looked as though he was going to die.

"Oh? Ah...hahah. Maybe I did get...a little...carried away." Eriol laughed, smiling sheepishly at the trio. "What I'm saying is. Sakura's soul, is her memory. And because Yuko never asked for Sakura's soul, Sakura is actually able to get all of her memories. Yuko's just being a sadist and making it so some memories just...go numb."

"So that would mean----" Syaoran began.

"When it comes down to it, deep in the subconscious of her mind...Sakura remembers you perfectly." Eriol said simply. "And now, you need to get going." He said smiling that absolute-zero smile at them and letting Mokona speak.

"Are we ready!" Mokona chirped, making it more of a statement then a question...

"No!" Syaoran yelled. "Who are you really?" He asked, but his words were drowned out as Mokona began to send them to the next world... "What's your real name?" He asked again, louder, but still he doubted anyone could hear.

Eriol smile changed to one of cunning as he watched Syaoran, apparently, he had heard him. "I suppose its only fair." Eriol sighed. Surprisingly, Syaoran heard his voice perfectly, as though it were by magic. "Its...------"

"What?" Syaoran asked, struggling to hear Eriol. "I can't hear you! The wind is making too much noise!"

"I wish you the best of luck in your journey." Eriol whispered, his voice piercing through the chaos.

Syaoran closed his mouth shut. There was no point talking any more. Everything grew quiet as they started their way to the new world. Looking back he smiled, a small half smile. "Thank you, for everything...whoever you are." He thought out loud. Turning back foreword, it was barely a second as they made a crash landing into a new world...

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"Until we meet again." Clow sighed, looking up at the night sky.

"Do you suppose you'll meet them again?" Yue asked, watching his master carefully.

Clow looked up, smiling one of those smiles which gave no clear answer. "Yes. Maybe not now, not soon, not later...but eventually. They won't be the same, though." He admitted.

"What's that supposed t'mean?" Keroberos asked, nudging Clow's hand and purring a bit.

"What?" Clow replied, answering with a question.

"Ya know what I mean." The cat responded.

"Ah!" Clow gasped, turning back to where Sakura, Syaoran, Fye, and Kurogane had been.

"What is it?" Yue asked, following Clow's gaze to the same spot.

"I forgot to tell them! Yuko wants her White Day presents..." He thought out loud, putting his fist in the palm of his hand and looking thoughtful.

"Eck!" Keroberos exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You are one, twisted person, ya know that?"

"Of course," Clow replied, smiling warmly at his two only, and loyal friends. "If I was sane, do you think I'd be as great a magician as I am now?"

THE END

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So, what'd ya think? I hope you've enjoyed this story as much as I've enjoyed writing this. (that sounded so lame. XD) This is actually the first, major 'fic I've ever started...and completed. I'd like to thank all the people that reviewed while I was writing, and at the same time, I'd like to tell those that haven't said a word to me yet, to review! I hope you like the ending too. x.x I spent forever trying to figure out how it would end. Honestly, it isn't very original, its bits and pieces of other stories I've read. There were some references to Chobits and Tokyo Babylon in this chapter. Those of you who have read either, will know what I'm talking about. Oh yeah, and because someone was wondering. Yes, i am in band. I play the most evil, possessed, cursed, wicked, damned instrument in the world! -dramatic pause- the flute! dun! dun! dun!

I'm actually thinking about writing another Tsubasa 'fic. (edit: I wrote several more…) But I won't say, because some people in this world lack the ability to come up with ideas of their own and thus, end up stealing other people's ideas... I'm also planning on a Wolf's Rain 'fic for anyone out there who cares.

Until then, I probably won't be writing for awhile, except, maybe to update my 'fics that are like: i-would-be-finished-with-the-story-by-now-if-i-hadn't-run-out-of-ideas-for-this-one-chapter... If you actually like my writing, or just need something to kill time, read one of my other stories, and please, review!

Thanks to all my reviewers:

Black Haru

Hikagi

Mizu-Tenshi

Ally-Kat722

caiyu

Kenny's grounded all the time

Angel Blossom

Insanity Team! (A.k.a Violent Tomboy)

I love ya'll! xoxo GOD BLESS