Sakura ran from her house as fast as she could. She could see Syaoran stumbling down the street. "Syaoran!" She yelled as she continued to get closer.

Syaoran didn't turn around because he couldn't really hear her. He didn't even notice anything around him until he felt a hand strongly grab his arm. Turning around abruptly his head started to pound and he closed his eyes before trying to focus on the person now in front of him.

"Syaoran!" Sakura shouted really concerned for her friend.

Syaoran finally opened his eyes. As the haze cleared, he could see "Sakura! What are you doing here?"

"Syaoran please, come back with me. You don't need to be out here." Sakura pulled his arm and he slowly stepped forward.

"You need to be with you mother. I don't need to be a burden to you." Syaoran looked away trying to clear his mind to release the pressure on his head.

A tear slipped out of the corner of her eye. "Syaoran, I need you with me. Please, come back with me."

Syaoran stopped walking and looked at Sakura. "You need to be with your mother. Not worrying about me."

Sakura stepped forward and put a hand on his forehead. There was a moment of pondering from them both. Sakura was the first to break the silence.

"You need to be inside. You are burning up." Sakura ran her hand down his check and it sent a chill through Syaoran's spine. He shuddered slightly and she removed her hand and grabbed his arm, pulling him back down the street to her house. He would have protested, but he just wasn't up to it anymore.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tomoyo grabbed Eriol's hand and looked to Touya. "What are we going to do now?"

Touya looked at the door. "Hope that she comes back."

Tomoyo was ready to question again but Eriol squeezed her hand in a signal to leave it alone.

Yukito noticed and gave a compassionate smile. "She'll be back shortly, I'm sure."

As if on cue, the front door opened and Sakura walked in with Syaoran behind her. Touya was the first to move towards them. At a closer look, he realized Syaoran's eyes were closed. Sakura pulled Syaoran against her back as she turned slightly to close the door. After the door was shut, Syaoran grew too weak to hold himself up anymore and started to droop over Sakura's back. AS the weight intensified Sakura struggled to hold them both up.

"Touya!" Was all Sakura had to say before Eriol, Yukito and Touya were at her side lifting his body from her. As soon as she was sure they had him, she turned around and put her hand on his forehead again. "We need to lay him down." 'I can't believe this is happening!' Sakura placed her other hand on his face and leaned to his ear. "Everything is going to be okay Syao, I promise."

Yukito looked at Touya with sad sympathetic eyes. 'I hope she's right.'

Everyone turned as they heard Fujitaka stumble down the hall. "What's going on?" He saw everyone by the front door with Syaoran hanging from their hands. "We need to get him upstairs." He delegated as he took charge.

Sakura nodded her head and ran up stairs in front of them. Opening her door, she pushed everything off the bed that she ha put there before she and Syaoran had gone on their little trip. They came through the door shortly after.

"Lay him on the bed." Fujitaka said as he followed behind the group along with Tomoyo.

Sakura pulled down the sheets as the boys sat him on the bed. Sakura helped by untying his shoes and taking them off and then pulling off his jacket one sleeve at a time. After that was taken care of, she held his head as then laid him back on the bed.

Stepping back, Touya looked at the boy in his sister's bed. He grew angry and his face scrunched up a bit. Yukito turned around to see it and quickly ushered Touya out of Sakura's room and into the room directly across from where they were. Touya huffed as Yukito closed the door.

"How can he do this right now?" Touya spoke bitterly trying to keep his voice down. "Mom is dying and he has the nerve to get sick!" Touya walked to the window and looked out.

Yukito stepped away from the door and walked to the center of the room. "Listen to yourself Touya. He doesn't have any control over it. Don't worry about him, you should be with your mother."

Touya sighed not looking away from the window. "But my sister."

Yukito knew what he was thinking, he always had. "She will be fine."

Touya looked back at him, eyes burning red. "How can she be? She is torn apart inside! Can't you see it when you look at her? She doesn't know what to do! And now Syaoran, her only link to sanity though I have no clue why, isn't there anymore. It's no wonder I could never stand him!"

Yukito sighed. He knew this would happen eventually, he just had to wait for it. "Touya, please. You should remember the important things in life."

Touya looked at Yukito. "Yuki I-"

Yukito smiled, "Don't Touya. You still have your parent's. Don't waste your chance with them."

At that moment Touya felt horrible for what he was putting Yukito through. He had lost his parents long ago and had been alone ever since. He had bounced from home to home until he and Touya had become friends. For a while he lived with the family until Touya and Yukito had decided to get an apartment.

'How could I have been so cold hearted?!?' Touya lectured himself. "Yukito, I'm sorry."

Yukito shook his head, "Your mother needs you. Let her know that you love her. Help her to find peace." Yukito turned and walked to the door. Turning before opening it, he spoke softly, "Don't waste this opportunity." With that said, he opened the door and closed it behind him.

Touya ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "I'm sorry Yuki, I just don't think sometimes."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yukito walked down the stairs and through the hall. Opening the door cautiously he walked in. There was a lump on the far side of the bed and he closed the door quietly behind him. A sudden intake of breath was heard and then a struggle to return breathing to normal. Walking around the bed he saw Nadeshiko's head hanging off the side. There was a bowl on the floor and it looked like she had used it not to long ago. Yukito's heart ached as he brushed her hair behind her head so it wasn't hanging in her face.

"Fujitaka?" Came a weak whisper.

"No. It's me Mrs. Kinomoto." He whispered.

"Yuki" she mouthed. Opening her eyes he could see how bloodshot they had become. Her pupils were dim and he knew she was struggling to hang on to everything. She breathed hard and closed her eyes. "I just want you to know how much you meant to me."

Yukito's eyes were no longer dry. He took her pale hand in his gently and brought it to his lips and kissed her gently.

"I love you like my own son Yuki." She took in a breath and held it so long that Yuki began to wonder if that was it. He began to panic and started to stand from the ground ready to call in the rest of the family, but before his mouth opened he heard her speak again. "Look after my family and continue to love them all. They need you as much as you need them." Her body relaxed and her breathing became shallow.

"Thank you." Yuki cried quietly. He rested his head on the bed for a moment listening intently for Nadeshiko's breathing to steady. Her shallow breaths were like a sign. Things were going to change and Yuki was afraid just like everyone else. He knew that Nadeshiko had held this household together with her kindness and compassion. He just hoped he could help keep it together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sakura was sitting on the side of the bed next to Syaoran dabbing his forehead with a cold washcloth. Tomoyo and Eriol were standing by the door not really knowing what to do.

"I need to see my mother." Sakura looked to the couple and asked, "Can you look after him for a little bit?"

Tomoyo nodded her head as she stepped closer.

Sakura pulled the washcloth from Syaoran's forehead and his eyes shot open.

"Sakura" He whispered in distress. Tomoyo stopped moving and watched.

"I'm here Syao, I'm here." She said stroking his hair.

His eyes closed at her touch and his breathing became ragged. "Sakura"

Sakura placed a hand on his forehead, she wasn't sure, but he felt hotter then before. She looked up to Tomoyo and Eriol. "I know you want to say goodbye to my mother, why don't you go down Eriol and then go get some rest. I will call you when anything changes."

Tomoyo began to protest, "We can help Sakura-"

Sakura smiled lightly as she looked back to Syaoran. "We will be okay. The sun is going down, and you guys haven't eaten all day. I will call you tomorrow."

Eriol grabbed Tomoyo's hand and nodded and he pulled her out of the room.

Sakura ran a hand down Syaoran's cheek. "Syao. . ."

Syaoran opened his eyes and looked at her. "Don't leave me."

Sakura smiled. "I'm right here."

Syaoran looked at her and whispered, "No your not."

Sakura was confused and tried to comprehend what he was saying. "Syao I. . I don't know what to say except that I am right here."

Syaoran started to sweat again. "Why?"

Sakura felt tongue-tied but responded anyways. "Your sick!"

He closed his eyes. "It's not where you should be."

Sakura couldn't take fighting with him when he was like this. "What do you want me to do Syao? You tell me." Her eyes were watery as she watched him turn his head to her.

Opening his eyes he watched a tear roll down her cheek. "Go be with your mother. You need her as much as I need you."

Sakura searched his eyes. "What are you trying to tell me Syao?"

Before he could respond Yukito walked back into the room. "Go Sakura. Time is running out. I will watch Syaoran for you."

Sakura nodded and stood obediently. "Thank you Yuki." She walked past him and whispered, "Please take care of him. I won't be too long."

Yukito nodded and walked over to the bed picking up the washcloth and rewetting it before placing it on Syaoran's forehead.

Sakura took one last look before turning around and bumping into Touya. Looking up to him she questioned, "You alright?"

Touya looked into the room where Yukito was attempting to nurse Syaoran back to health. "I will be." Looking back to Sakura he tried to smile.

"Let's go see mom." She said as she turned and walked down the stairs towards her destination.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eriol bent down and kissed Nadeshiko's hand. Fujitaka had been there watching over his wife quietly as Eriol paid his respects. Even though she was asleep he spoke to her as if she were listening. "And this, this is Tomoyo."

Tomoyo spoke quietly. "It's been so nice meeting your family. You must be a great women."

Fujitaka stroked his wife's hair. "She is indeed."

Eriol smiled sadly. "If you need anything, please call."

Fujitaka nodded. "It was nice meeting you Tomoyo. I hope to see you again."

Tomoyo nodded and walked out of the room. Eriol followed behind after a bow of respect to Fujitaka and Nadeshiko. "I am truly sorry this is happening. May you find peace for the both of you soon."