Disclaimer: We don't own Tsubasa, meaning we don't own any of those familiar names and people and all that. We do, however, own everyone else. And, uh, the plot. But the chapter title was also swiped from Tsubasa and is quite possibly one of the most beautiful songs in the whole series.
To Protect You
By: Hane no Miko (link no miko + Koorino Megumi)
Chapter 5: morning moon
"Watch out!"
Sakura briefly lost track of events as she was sent sprawling from whatever had hit her, her head cracking against the table where Syaoran lay. The world went white with sharp pain as she crumpled to the ground.
"Hey! Get up!"
"Help her!"
Something else hit her then, causing her to cry out as she struggled to regain her senses. A strong hand clamped itself roughly around her arm, pulling her up, and she fought to get free, but she was too dazed and her attacker too strong. "Let go! Let go!"
"Sakura!"
"Get up, you heretic!" came the gruff voice of the man who had her. As her vision cleared, she could see him leaning over her--dark-haired with a moustache and a scraggly beard, wearing deep red robes and carrying a sword in his other hand. He was scowling, his expression dangerous.
"No!" she yanked her arm back again, but he would not let go, and she found herself being hauled to her feet and pulled away from the table. "No!" she screamed, even as another man grabbed her other arm, yelling at her, insulting her.
I can't let them have me. Not now, not when I was so close!
"Sakura!"
She could see Daeron among the robed men, fighting, and Mei, Kurogane, and Fye. They were all looking her way, yelling to her, but she had been knocked away from them, and they couldn't save her. The men were going to take her away!
"No..." she whispered one more time, turning her gaze from the men to let it rest on the figure that lay upon the table. She began fighting even harder. They can't take me from him. They can't! "Syaoran-kun!"
One of the men pulled at her arm roughly, enough to bruise, and she couldn't see Syaoran anymore. They were leading her away, back towards the door, and from the quick glances she caught, it seemed only Kurogane and Mei were holding their own easily against the other attackers.
This was wrong, all wrong! She had been there, so close, right beside him! And now the door loomed closer and closer as the men pushed her, and she didn't think it would be long before her companions joined her. How could it have turned out this way?
"Sakura!"
She pulled up short, arms wrenched painfully as the guards continued to walk, half-dragging her. That voice...wasn't Fei's.
Something crashed behind her, and she cried out. One of the men released her arm and turned around to look, cursing loudly before the sound died out in a gurgle. The other man holding her let go quickly--just in time to be smashed in the face with someone's boot.
Syaoran's boot.
And before she knew it, Syaoran was pulling her against him, holding an arm around her protectively as he continued to fight off their attackers, kicking them forcefully but never so much as jerking her.
It was enough to make her cry with happiness.
"Syaoran-kun..."
He led her away from the fight as best he could, glancing at her with any second he could steal. "Princess, are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine!" she replied immediately, "But what about you?" She could see the bruises and cuts all over his body and the way he flinched with every move he made. It made her heart ache, even through her joy.
He just smiled in response to her question--that warm smile that she had missed so much. "I will be fine." Her tears fell even faster.
And before she could say anything else, they were interrupted by a yell from Daeron. "Hey, if you're free now, how about a little help?" Both turned to find the boy held between two men, grinning through his own bruises and cuts as they dragged him away, kicking.
"Daeron-san!" Sakura yelled, pushing past her joy at seeing Syaoran moving again, forcing herself to focus on what was happening around them. "Syaoran-kun, we have to-"
He nodded before she had even finished, his eyes intent as he hurried them towards the struggling young man. Someone else jumped ahead of them, though, and Syaoran pulled up quickly as Kurogane jerked his head towards the shield.
"Help the woman, I've got this."
"Kurogane-san..."
"Now!"
Syaoran didn't need to be told twice, and just as quickly they were heading towards Mei, who was still standing beside the body of Sakura's spirit guide. Fei was trying his hardest to help her fight, but no matter what he did, the phantom could not so much as touch the people surrounding the silver-haired woman.
With Syaoran beside her, Sakura felt a pang of guilt. What had allowed Syaoran to wake up, but left Fei, who was trying so hard, still nothing more than a lifeless body?
"How do we get him free?" Mei demanded the minute Syaoran and Sakura were close enough to hear her.
"Mei, don't...don't worry about me so much! They won't hurt me. But you...you..."
Syaoran stayed focused on the enemies at first, holding Sakura close as he sent kicks their way. Mei was using vines to trip them, and she continued as he fought, though her expression was tight. She obviously felt little concern for her own safety at the moment.
And there was one other who also wanted the answer to Mei's question.
"How...how do I get free?" Fei asked softly, giving up his efforts to fight and moving closer to Sakura so he could talk to her. "I...I want to help! Please, does...does he know how to get free?"
Sakura frowned, biting her lip at his words. "Syaoran-kun..." she whispered, not wanting to distract him during a battle.
But this is what Fei-san and Mei-san want most. The guards won't just stop for us to help them!
"What's wrong, princess?" he asked, stealing a glance in her direction as he sent out another kick.
Sakura started to ask when another attacker came, but Syaoran quickly dealt with the man, knocking him down with a swift kick to the chest while Mei bound him in vines. Before she lost the chance to ask again, Sakura grabbed his arm and pulled him farther from the fight and closer to Fei's body.
"Syaoran-kun, how did you get free?"
He blinked at that, a slightly confused look passing over his face. When he spoke, his voice was apologetic. "I don't know, Princess. I could hear when you all came in, but I couldn't move, and then everything started to fade. And then I heard you cry out, and..." He paused a moment, and she thought she saw him blush. "I heard you, and I knew you were in danger, and I just acted."
"So he freed himself...?" Fei asked, but Sakura was sure the spirit was only talking to himself. "Because he was worried, he freed himself...?"
"Was there anything else, Syaoran-kun?" she persisted, looking to the spirit in concern. He was obviously doing everything he could to get free. If there was some extra little detail, something she could use to help Fei...
"...I'm not sure." The boy frowned, his eyes narrowing. "There was something there, though. I felt some kind of strong energy, but I couldn't find it. I don't know what it was."
"Sakura?" came Mokona's soft voice from where he was pressed into her clothing, drawing both their attention even as Syaoran continued to keep their enemies at bay. But he froze at the sight of the creature. "Mokona, your eyes! Is the princess's feather...?"
"It's here! Right here."
The young man's eyes narrowed in determination at that. "We have to find it."
"But Syaoran-kun-!" Sakura protested immediately. She gasped when she realized what she'd just done, putting a hand to her mouth.
He just frowned at her in concern, however, asking gently, "Princess? What is it?"
Sakura glanced at the phantom beside her, his expression strained with concentration as he fought to free himself as Syaoran had. She then looked at his body, still prone on the table as green energy ran from him to the dome full of people. "Fei-san... He can't get free, even though he's fighting as hard he can."
Syaoran frowned, looking at the young man's body as well. He did not question how his princess knew that he was fighting, but simply moved closer to the table, all but ignoring the last of the enemies as the others continued to fend them off. "Then we need to free him," he stated.
"I'm sorry..." The phantom's voice was choked with tears and effort. "I...I want to be free. I want to be free!"
"It's okay, Fei-san," the princess replied softly, watching as Syaoran stood looking thoughtfully at the body. "We'll help you." She smiled with the words, both because she believed them and because she knew he would hear it in her voice. Syaoran-kun will find a way.
"Mokona," the young man spoke up suddenly, drawing her attention from the phantom as the princess looked to him hopefully. His gaze was fixed on the green light now, still flowing from Fei to the dome.
The dome...of people!
"Can you tell where the feather is?" he asked, even as the question formed in his princess's mind.
The small white creature nodded, expression serious. "Mokona feels it from inside the shield."
"Then we have to go in and get it," Syaoran said, taking a step closer to the dome, arms reaching out as Sakura and Fei both cried out to stop him. He turned to look at the princess, and she shook her head.
"You can't just touch it," she said quickly. "You might get caught again."
"But we don't know that-"
She cut him off with another shake of her head. "Please believe me, we have to find another way." There has to be another way! Fei-san, Mei-san, Daeron-san...we have to help them all!
Syaoran hesitated a moment and started to say something when Fei suddenly walked up behind him, stopping in front of the dome and reaching out to touch it.
"Fei-san!"
The spirit turned to look at her at her cry of alarm, a soft smile on his face. "If I'm already trapped, it can't hurt. I'll... I'll help Mei. I will." And then he was gone through the dome before she could say anything else to stop him.
"What happened, Princess?" Syaoran asked as Sakura fearfully watched where the phantom had disappeared.
"Fei-san...went in," she breathed.
Can he really do something from in there? Fei-san...please be okay.
Syaoran nodded in understanding, not even asking how she knew what she did. Slowly, he wrapped an arm around his princess as she watched, his touch warm and reassuring. She leaned into it.
They waited together then, Mei, Daeron, Fye, and Kurogane all coming up behind the two when the last of their assailants had been disabled.
"What are we all waiting around here for?" the samurai asked sourly.
"Aww, Kurorin doesn't want to help the people?" Fye teased.
"Shut up."
Sakura ignored the exchange, trying to pierce the wall of the dome to find Fei. It was difficult--there were so many people in there, all distorted and blurry from the shield. She wanted to help them all.
Daeron as well was watching the shield, his eyes narrowed. She wasn't sure what he was looking for, but he said nothing and she didn't feel right to ask him. They'd all done so much for her already--Kurogane seemed uninjured, but Fye had a cut along his arm, Mei was exhausted, and Daeron had bruises along one side of his face. And all she had done was stand there and not help.
She wanted to say something to them, to break the silence somehow, but there was a gasp and everyone's eyes turned to the figure on the table.
Fei's eyes were open.
"Fei!" Mei was by his side in an instant, running her hands over his face and chest. Fei didn't seem to realize she was there at first, his breathing heavy. "Fei, how...?"
Finally, he turned his head towards her voice, a small smile on his face as he raised a hand and laid it against her shoulder, then traced up her neck to her cheek. "Mei...?"
"Yes, it's me," she said, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "But how did you get free?"
"...Help," he said softly, then craned his neck as though searching for the others. "There was an elf girl... She helped me."
Beside Sakura, Daeron froze. The auburn-haired girl turned to look at him, confused. His expression was strained, but there was something almost like hope in his eyes.
She thought she understood why he had been looking at the sphere, now.
But before anyone could say anything more, there was a resounding crack, and as they all stared in awe, the large dome of green energy began to split open. The energy crackled wildly at the disruption, sending out sparks along the cracks that marred it. An instant later, it shattered as if the energy had been so many shards of glass, fading into nothing as they flew away.
For a moment there was nothing but stunned silence, finally broken by the cheer of a magician. "Hyuu hyuu!"
"What...what happened?" Fei cried, blind eyes wide as he struggled to pull himself up. "Was that...is it gone?" His own tone was a mixture of hope and disbelief.
"Yes," Mei stated immediately, keeping one hand against his chest to try to still him as she took his hand in hers with the other, "It's gone, Fei. You got rid of it."
The young man smiled, but he shook his head. "No. She did. She...she had to free herself, too. Just like I did..."
Daeron stepped forward then, and Sakura watched him with a smile as he stared at the people lying all over the floor, the first of them just now beginning to stir.
"Tika...?"
A girl no older than Daeron raised her head, long dark hair falling in her face, but Sakura could still see the smile that lit up her features. Daeron immediately hurried towards her, falling to the ground beside her and hugging her tightly. The young princess couldn't hear what they were saying, but didn't think it mattered, either.
As it was, her hand found Syaoran's, gripping it tightly. Her stomach leaped and a warm feeling spread through her heart when he squeezed her hand back.
"While this is a lovely scene," Kurogane interrupted loudly, calling the attention of Mei and Daeron, "this isn't the place to do it."
"Kurogane-san is right," Syaoran said quickly, stepping forward but still holding Sakura's hand. "We still have to find Princess Sakura's feather." He turned to the little creature hiding in Sakura's shirt. "Mokona?"
"It's here, but--"
"Excuse me..." a soft voice interrupted, and they all turned to Daeron and the girl. He had his arms wrapped around her shoulders, supporting her, as they made their way slowly towards Sakura. All around them other people were waking slowly. "I...I think I have what you're looking for."
Sakura watched as they approached, eyes widening in surprise--and delight. There were two things about this girl, Tika, that struck her immediately. The first was the white feather held carefully in both her hands. The second was the way her abdomen protruded, just slightly, and explained everything the princess had ever wondered about Daeron and the girl. "Thank you," she cried, her heart overflowing with happiness--not just for the feather, but for all the people here who she now held dear, and the happiness that they had regained. "Thank you..."
Daeron grinned at her. "Well, aren't you gonna take it after all this time?"
The princess smiled, and Syaoran gave her hand a squeeze before letting it go so she could reach out to take the feather.
She was pacing, back and forth, back and forth, biting at her lip in worry. They were late! And she'd overheard her brother and father talking about something bad happening--what if they'd been caught in it? What if he was hurt?
But...who is he...?
Her brother yelled at her when she wouldn't come inside, even though it was freezing out, past dark, and everyone else was asleep. But she didn't care, because she was going to wait and make sure they were all alright!
And then she saw the lights in the distance, and her heart sped up.
Why...?
"Fujitaka-san!" she called happily, her heart leaping as she ran down to meet the older man. "I'm so happy you and ------- are alright! Father said there was an accident!"
The older man smiled down at her, laying a hand atop something that wasn't there. "It's alright now, princess. Everything is fine."
She laughed happily and clasped her hands before her chest.
But... Why is he always alone...?
And the vision faded into blackness.
Sakura awoke quickly, startled. "Where...?"
"We're back at our place," Mei said quietly, and as Sakura looked around, she could make out the rock walls and dim lighting of the cavern she'd stayed at earlier.
"Princess, how are you feeling?" came Syaoran's voice then, and she turned to give a smile to soften his concerned face.
"I'm just fine," she replied, watching happily as he relaxed, smiling back at her now. But then she gasped. "But what about everyone else? What happened?" Desperately, she began struggling to recall where she had been when she had fallen asleep and why she had passed out this time.
"Please don't...don't worry anymore, Sakura," interrupted a new voice, "We're all fine now, thanks...thanks to you."
The princess's eyes widened at those words, but not because the voice was unfamiliar. She knew exactly who had spoken, but she had never heard him sound quite like that.
Fei-san...he's not a phantom anymore! She blinked, thinking again, and breaking out in a smile as her memories came rushing back--including a new one. No...I do remember what happened. The feather, everyone breaking free--all of that was real!
The princess turned to smile at the brown-eyed young man. He was sitting next to Mei, the woman's hands over one of his and a faint smile on her face. Sakura didn't think she'd ever seen the woman look so content.
But, remembering that Fei could not see her, she reached forward to set her hand on his unoccupied one. "You freed yourself, Fei-san," she reminded him gently, and she smiled warmly at the surprise in his blind eyes--and the tiny hint of pride.
"We all owe you thanks," Daeron cut in from her other side. Tika sat with him, nearly in his lap, although neither seemed too worried about such an open display of affection. "Don't act like you didn't do anything."
"Daeron-san..."
He grinned and reached out, tapping a finger playfully against her forehead. "Don't worry about it. And don't argue with us, either."
"Quite right," Fye said, his smile wide beneath his bright blue eyes. "I think this calls for a celebration, don't you, Kurowanwan?"
"Don't talk to me."
"Don't worry, Kurotan, we won't get drunk this time!"
"Mokona wants to get drunk!"
Sakura watched, smiling, as Kurogane threw a bowl at Fye's head, Mokona dancing atop the samurai's head even as he did so. It really was great to be all together again. After losing the two in Shura country, she hadn't known what they would do. Knowing they would be traveling together again lightened her heart considerably.
"Are they always like this?" The princess turned at the unfamiliar voice, smiling as Tika moved to sit beside her. "Your friends, I mean."
"Every day," Syaoran answered, although he, too, was smiling.
"It's fine as long as they don't break anything!" Mei stated, raising her voice significantly for the last part and giving the two a pointed look. Kurogane simply "tched" in response, and she rolled her eyes.
"Well, not like we have to worry about it much longer," Daeron interrupted, coming up beside Sakura as well and sitting behind Tika, gently beginning to rub her back.
The princess blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Ah...you don't...you don't know?" Fei asked in surprise at her question, looking at Mei uncertainly.
The young woman shifted uncomfortably. "We had other things on our minds." The blind boy frowned. "But!" she plowed on quickly, watching Fei's expression more than the girl she was addressing, "We're about to move back into town, thanks to your help. Those bastards can't do anything against us now that their shield's been busted! And by heretics, no less. They will never get past this one." She broke out in a grin, which got wider as Fei smiled, too.
But Sakura just looked at her, even more confused than ever now.
"Ah...Mei-san?" Syaoran interrupted politely, giving Sakura's hand a squeeze as he spoke. The princess smiled. Syaoran was always so good at talking to people and getting information. She didn't think she could ever be forward and polite enough at the same time like he was. "If you wouldn't mind, do you think you could explain everything that happened?"
"Mokona wants to know, too!" the creature suddenly interrupted, momentarily stealing everyone's attention as he came bounding over to the group, jumping into the startled princess's arms.
Once they got over their surprise and amusement, Mei paused a moment, glancing at Fei before she looked back at Syaoran. "A while back," she started, her voice a little tight, "the priesthood came up with this idea that would help us fight off this bad weather we'd been having. For the past few years, crops have been dying and things have gotten bleak. So when they told us they could cure the earth, the village responded happily."
"Except for my people," Daeron commented, still sitting slightly behind Tika. "Not that we've ever had much say, but that's something different entirely."
"Not just your people," Mei cut in, giving her friend a look. "Some of us didn't approve either." By 'some of us,' Sakura could tell exactly who she meant. "But no one wanted to believe things couldn't be fixed. So the priests made that shield and have been using people to fuel it since then."
Syaoran frowned, but it was Fye who spoke. The magician was once again seated, Mokona sitting happily in his arms. "And I take it Fei-kun was a focal point for that shield?" The blind man paused, looking uncomfortable, before he nodded and began to stutter out an apology. "Ahh, that's alright," Fye interrupted. "Everything turned out okay, after all."
"But-"
"So that means we can go, right?" Kurogane growled out, face nearly hidden by his black cloak as he sat in his usual hunched position in a corner.
"Aww, Kurowanwan doesn't want to spend more time with Meichama?" Two bowls went flying toward the magician this time.
"What was that about breaking bowls, Mei?" Daeron asked, grinning.
"Shut up."
"But Kurogane-san is right," Sakura spoke up when she noticed that Syaoran was about to say something. She would be the one to help her journey this time, even if she didn't really want to leave her friends yet either. "We found my feather, and everything here is okay now, so we should go."
"You...you have to leave already?" Fei asked, looking unhappy, "But I...I mean...will you come back sometime?"
Sakura smiled at him, though the expression was a little sad. "Someday," she promised. We've met so many wonderful friends on this journey. When it's done, I do want to see them all again.
And maybe then...I can go back home.
"So," Daeron piped up, standing and helping Tika to her feet. "I agree with Fye. Before you leave, we definitely need to have a party. We don't have much here, but let's enjoy it while we got time."
Sakura nodded happily at that suggestion, beaming. It couldn't hurt to stay just a bit longer, could it? "Yes!"
The next morning dawned brightly, the small village and the surrounding land lit up with a warm orange glow. Sakura stood at the mouth of the cave, surprisingly awake considering how late everyone had stayed up. Beside her, Syaoran looked the worse for wear, and she had the sinking suspicion he hadn't slept very well.
"Syaaaaoran can siiiiing!" Mokona sang happily, the little creature bounding across the floor of the cave to join the two, though he continued to bounce around their feet when he got there, still singing, "And spiiiin! Like a Syaaaaoran balloooon!"
The boy reddened at those words, and Sakura couldn't help but laugh, putting a hand to her mouth.
"Oi, manjuu," came another voice as the samurai stepped out of the shade of the cave, ducking his head as he stepped into the light. "You're too loud for this early in the morning!"
"Kuroriiin can only sleeeep!" Mokona continued his song, dancing around the dewy grass heedless of the other's ire, though he was obviously aware of his presence.
Kurogane growled a warning, but before he could say anything else, Fye appeared, draping an arm over the other man's shoulder and grinning widely. "Mokona is right, Kurorin. You weren't very fun."
"Shut up!"
"Ah, you guys're loud," Daeron said, rubbing his eyes as he stepped into view. He looked no better than Syaoran, hair a mess and dark circles beneath his eyes. "Wake up the whole cave why don'tcha."
"Good morning Daeron-san." Sakura's voice was bright, and the dark-haired man gave her a wane smile. "...Is everyone else asleep? We're sorry to have woken you."
He shrugged. "Tika's still sleeping. I didn't bother to look at what Mei and Fei were doing."
Fye's smile twitched into a bit of a smirk. "We should probably let them be for now."
The princess blinked at his words. "Oh, are they already awake? There's breakfast inside for them..."
"Ah, that's all right, princess," Syaoran quickly interrupted, his eyes a little wide as he looked at the expression on Fye's face, "I'm sure they'll see it."
Sakura frowned slightly, feeling like she was missing something, but then she nodded. "Okay. I just hope they get up soon..."
We have to leave soon, and I can't go without saying good-bye...
"It doesn't matter," Kurogane muttered, throwing Fye off his shoulder. "We're leaving."
"Aww, Kurorin, you're so mean!"
"Shut up!"
"I'll let them know," Daeron promised, ignoring the ensuing fight as he moved to stand by Sakura and Syaoran. He smiled sleepily and reached out a hand towards the other boy. Syaoran took it without pausing, a small smile gracing his own face. "But Kurogane is right, and you have to go."
"Thank you for your help, Daeron-san," Syaoran said, releasing his hand. He turned to look at Sakura, mouth open to say something, but she shook her head, sad.
"But we can't go without saying goodbye ourselves! That's not right."
"Then it's a good thing for you we're all ears, princess."
Sakura turned in delighted surprise at the sound of the voice, finding the young woman just emerging from the darkness of the cave, Fei right behind her, his hand held tightly in hers. Mei looked very composed, her hair even done up in the same braid as before. Fei, on the other hand, was looking decidedly rumpled--as much if not more so than Syaoran and Daeron--but the almost-surprised smile on his face said that whatever the reason for his current appearance, it made him very happy.
"Good morning...Sakura," he greeted cheerfully.
The princess couldn't help smiling at the sound of his voice, as real now as anyone else's. "Good morning, Mei-san, Fei-san. I'm so glad you're awake!"
"Yeah, well, wouldn't want you to leave thinking we're as lazy as some people." Mei grinned as she spoke.
"Was that meant for someone in particular, Mei?" Daeron asked slowly, eyeing the other woman. "'Cause I'm right here, and I was here first."
"Everyone's heeeere!" Mokona sang happily, jumping down onto Syaoran's shoulder.
"But, Tika-san..." Sakura started, looking at all the gathered people. "We should say goodbye to her, too!"
"Daeron-san said she was sleeping," Syaoran reminded her gently. "I'm sure he'll tell her we said goodbye."
"I will," the long-eared man said, smiling. "So you can all-"
"Or they can tell me themselves," a soft voice said. As Sakura looked up, the dark-haired girl slowly emerged from the cave, a hand held over her stomach and the other up to shield her eyes. "...It's so bright out here..."
"Tika-san! Good morning!" Sakura greeted, smiling brightly. They're all here. Good! Now...we can say good-bye properly.
"I think that's about our cue to exit," Fye stated before she could say anything, smiling as he stepped away from the cave, "Don't you, Kuropuu?"
"Stay away from me."
"Awww, Kuropin, you shouldn't be in a bad mood just because you have to say good-bye to Meichama!"
"...you know, if you want me to break a bowl on you, I could go get one right now."
Sakura smiled a little sadly at all the friends who were gathered as Syaoran took her hand, leading her over to where Fye stood. Kurogane followed, arms crossed over his chest.
"Thank you for everything," Syaoran said once they reached the magician, Sakura's hand still held in his.
"Anytime," Daeron replied, waving and putting an arm around his lover's shoulder. She waved as well, a small smile gracing her face.
"Please be safe."
"We will," Sakura assured.
"And stay out of trouble!" Mei added, grinning even as she crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back against Fei.
"Y-yes. I hope...I hope your journey goes well..." Fei brought one hand up to Mei's shoulder, waving the other a bit vaguely as he smiled at the group.
"Thank you!" Sakura started, but before she could say more, Mokona jumped up off of Syaoran's shoulder, mouth opening and wings spreading out from his back. The wind picked up around them, and suddenly Fye was there, hugging them tightly, an arm around Kurogane as well.
"Take care," he called happily, waving his hand up and down, arm still draped over Syaoran and Sakura. "Kurotan will miss you, too"!
Sakura heard Kurogane's voice pipe up in reply, but his words were lost in the wind and the sound of Mokona's shout as the creature began to draw them in, in an instant bringing them away from this world and to the space that lay between it and their next destination.
In the darkness of space, Syaoran tightened his grip on her hand, and she looked over at him.
"...Thank you," he said softly.
Sakura squeezed his hand back in reply and smiled. She was sad to leave her friends on this world, but she was so happy that they were all back together. And, most of all, she was happy that, for once, she had gotten to protect the one she loved most.
