Hey guys! Remember me? Man! It's been a while! I really am sorry about the delay, but I've been sitting on these next few chapters for a while. Something just didn't feel right to me… I think I got it pretty much worked out, but even if I didn't, you deserved something. Thanks again to all of you who have stuck with me and continue to share their opinions of this story. I am truly flattered! I just hope this story continues to live up to your standards and expectations. Take care and enjoy!
The credits were rolling when Syaoran head sniffling. Holding perfectly still he tried to feel if it was Sakura. Realizing she was as still as he was, he looked over to the larger sofa where Tomoyo was resting her head in Eriol's lap and wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
"I love happy endings!" She sobbed.
Eriol ran a hand through her hair. "I know babe, I know."
For the first time since the movie started, Sakura moved. Pulling herself up from Syaoran and standing abruptly she excused herself before Syaoran knew what was going on. His eyes followed her to the bathroom as she quietly shut the door as if not wanting to disturb anybody. Something was wrong.
Eriol was still consoling Tomoyo on the sofa and didn't notice what was going on. Syaoran got up and grabbed the empty bowl by Eriol and the full one on the table and took them both to the kitchen. Placing the bowls on the counter he continued walking past to the bathroom door. "Sakura?" He questioned quietly as he placed a hand on the door. The door wasn't closed tightly so it opened with his touch. What he found sank his heart.
Sakura had her legs curled under her with her dress gracefully placed around her, and she was leaning on the bathtub rim while crying silently. She attempted to smile when he came in trying not to alarm him, but the tear tracks on her cheeks gave her away. "Hey." She choked out.
Closing the door fully this time he crawled down next to her. "Hey." He whispered back placing a hand on her cheek and rubbing his thumb back and forth under her eye as if trying to erase the sadness that her eyes held.
"It's all fake isn't it?"
Syaoran looked at her for a moment before questioning. "What is?"
"Happy endings. They never come do they?" Her eyes glistened as she looked up to him, pleading for him to fix everything.
Syaoran slowly pulled her into a hug and whispered into her ear. "Happy endings come in different forms to everyone."
Sakura cried into his chest and tightened her grip on his shirt.
"She was happy." He whispered to her and she opened the floodgates that were holding back the majority of her tears.
"How do you know?" She sobbed. "It must have been so horrible for her!"
"I know, Sakura, because she had you. You brought peace and love and laughter." Syaoran ran his hand gently through her hair as she pulled back and looked directly into his eyes.
Sakura saw compassion, understanding, sympathy, and something else pouring through his expression. 'Is it true? Has he really been trying to confess to me all this time?' "Syao" she whispered.
"Whether you believe or not, your mother was happy. She lived a good and full life. Please don't-"
"Syao. Why haven't you told me?" Sakura interrupted.
"Told you what?" He asked completely confused.
Sakura searched his eyes trying to assemble her answer.
A knock came on the door distracting the two on the floor. "Hey, what's going on?" Eriol shouted through the door. "Is everything alright?" His tone cared concern through the wood door.
Syaoran looked at Sakura and shouted back, "Yeah, everything is fine." He nodded his head at Sakura.
Sakura in turn nodded back and added a smile while whipping her cheeks to remove any remaining water droplets.
Syaoran stood and reached for Sakura's hand to help her up. "Friends are here. Enjoy their presence, we have school soon."
Sakura sighed and closed her eyes. "Can't we forget about that?"
Syaoran lifted her chin to see her face and whispered, "It's almost over, alright?"
"I know." She smiled grabbing Syaoran's hand and brushing past him to the door.
Sakura pulled the door open to reveal a nervous looking Eriol with Tomoyo right behind him. "Sorry." She mumbled as she walked past the two dragging Syaoran with her.
Eriol and Tomoyo looked after the two completely dumb-founded.
Not knowing what else to do, they followed the retreating couple back into the living room.
Sakura seated herself back on the sofa and tugged on Syaoran's arm, making him do the same.
Tomoyo made a move to go join the two, but was halted in her efforts when Eriol grabbed her upper arm. "I think we will be heading out. Do you guys want to do lunch tomorrow?" Eriol smiled before looking towards Tomoyo, "We will probably leave for home tomorrow night or the morning after."
Sakura answered before Syaoran could even process the information. "Sure. Meet us here at around 11:30 and we can plan from there. Sound good?" She cocked her head to the side giving them a soft smile.
Eriol nodded and Tomoyo returned her smile. "See you then!"
Syaoran didn't even bother getting up to let them out. Even if he wanted to, Sakura held a pretty tight grip on his arm now. It was pretty clear she wouldn't let her security blanket out of sight for the time being.
The two watched in silence as Eriol and Tomoyo waved and walked out the door closing it tightly.
There was an uncomfortable pause over the course of the next few minutes as noises started to clam and settle. After everything was dead, Sakura sighed and leaned back into the sofa. Grabbing the TV remote, she turned it to a random channel before handing the remote over to Syaoran and then draping herself over his lap.
Accepting the remote Syaoran continued flipping through channels where Sakura left off. Lifting his once hostage arm, he placed his hand on her head and messaged lightly. He would talk to her about everything else later.
Touya climbed the stairs one at a time. His father sat in the living room reading a book. Well, he appeared to be reading, but both he and Touya knew it was just for show. Yukito had not made an appearance for quite some time and Touya was getting worried.
Approaching his door, there was know noise to say that someone was inside. Only a gut feeling that Touya had.
Turning the handle and pushing cautiously, Touya entered his room. His assumptions were correct because he found Yukito perched on the windowsill yet again. It was quickly becoming his favorite spot. Knowing Yukito was grieving in his own way, Touya didn't want to push that he spends the time with everyone else.
If Yukito heard him enter, he didn't acknowledge it.
Mourning was the same whether you sat quietly amongst other or in solitude.
"Yuki?" Touya questioned quietly.
"There isn't much left." Came the almost nonexistent whisper
Touya didn't more or respond. How could he?
Yukito dropped his head a little and pressed it against the glass. "Everything is dissipating and soon it will all be gone."
Touya had to strain to catch his words. "Yuki?" He pressed again.
Yukito chuckled. "It's my curse to have to go through life like this again. To loose… another family." He spoke slowly as he turned his head to Touya revealing the streaks of tears down his pale cheeks.
That was all it the motivation it took for Touya to move to Yukito's side. Placing his hands on Yukito's face, he tilted it up to reveal Yukito's sad eyes, "I'm still here with you."
Yukito blinked and wrapped his arms around Touya's waist setting his forehead against Touya's stomach. Speaking a bit louder then he had previously he asked, "Don't leave me."
Yukito sounded like a little child to Touya's ears as he tightened their embrace. "I'm not going anywhere. I will never leave you alone Yuki." He almost added 'not if I can help it' but decided against it. Yukito was holding on by strings as it was, and it was very obvious how close he was coming to falling apart altogether.
Yukito had been his strength on many occasions, and Touya was going to make sure he provided the same comfort the pale one clutching to his waist gave out unconditionally.
It was then that Touya decided everything would change for the better.
Things around here have been pretty crazy and every time I tell myself I am going to sit down and wrap this story up, new ideas come to me and the story line changes. Don't get me wrong! It's still headed down the same path, but things are just starting to add up better. Hopefully, time willing, I will be able to put the next few chapters up before this year is over. I really hadn't planned for it to stretch out so long. Please be patient with me.