Disclaimer: the usual. This anime doesn't belong to me?
Ahh…I'm very sorry…I got engulfed in my Hana Yori Dao Icon challenge and totally forgot about the existence of fanfiction…
To get this story OVER and DONE with…
Here I present the last chapter…
Over the Border: Chapter Eight
The grand day arrived with much excitement and controversy from the royal advisors. Much was to be done, but there was simply too little time, far too little. She felt her hands trembling at the sight of the hurrying maids and servants, attempting to decorate the hall in time for celebration.
Unknown to the rest of the world, Sakura thought, today was simply a farewell party. She could see it. A room filled with oblivious, blissful people, congratulating her on her twentieth birthday.
Comments on her beautiful she was getting. On how mature she was turning into. How she was truly a lady now.
"Syaoran…" she thought, as she stepped into the grand hall.
A loud applause greeted her, the sounds of laughter and cheering. She smiled. How could she not?
Even though these were all people she would probably never see again in her life, she couldn't help but feel warm at their cheers and laughter. This was a world that she was soon to leave.
"Father?" she inquired, feeling a presence behind her. Fujitaka relaxed, and placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder, feeling the existence of regret and stress beneath the smile Sakura wore on her face.
"You have been far to quiet, Sakura."
She gave no response, and simple shook her head.
"Dear…come here…don't look so lost…" Fujitaka said, tears starting to blur his vision. Sakura smiled bitterly, and reached for her handkerchief to wipe away her father's tears, "Please father, and don't be sorry. Don't weep for me. If my death can save the one I was destined to fall in love with…then I think, that my death…was for the good…"
She stared into the distance, "I don't think I would have enjoyed killing him much."
Kill me before I let fear engulf me. Kill me before I change my mind…and instead…kill him…
Syaoran…
…
The dance started, and Sakura saw hundreds of couples spinning around the grand hall, happiness revolving around the room.
She could feel it vibrate off the walls of the hall, hear it from the laughter…and see everyone spinning…and spinning…and spinning…
"Kinomoto-san?" enquired a voice from behind Sakura, who was standing there looking quite alone.
Sakura turned around to meet the face of Li Syaoran, a frown upon his face, "And what might be troubling you this time, Li-san?"
Syaoran opened and closed his mouth. Finally, after a sheepish grin appeared on his face, he muttered while shoving his hand out boyishly, "May I have this dance?"
Sakura almost burst out laughing at his antics, and struggled to keep a straight face. Noticing the slightly disappointed look on Syaoran's face when she didn't immediately accept, she sniggered and placed her hand in his.
"Alright then."
She didn't really know why, but Syaoran had a knack for making her happier. To look forward to the little time she had in her life.
As they danced around the grand hall, she noticed his eyes were always staring at hers. Didn't leave them once. She felt her face reddening as the dance finished, and immediately let go of his hands.
"You're such a bad dancer, Kinomoto," sneered Syaoran, his immature mood obviously kicking back in.
Sakura couldn't help but argue back, "Sorry, but I happen to remember it was you that stepped on my feet all the time."
Syaoran was about to defend his case when he saw Sakura's face pale drastically. He caught her just in time before she collapsed onto the floor, "Kinomoto! Are you alright?"
"Kinomoto!"
"SAKURA DAMMIT. ANSWER ME!"
Sakura opened her mouth to try answer to him, yes, she was alright…she'll be up soon…
But the words never came.
She found it hard to keep her eyes open…maybe she should really close them after all. Death came rather easily once she thought about it…
"SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON!" Syaoran roared, his voice echoing into the distance.
Others either looked as shocked as he was, or hesitant in answering his question.
"Someone…please…" he murmured weakly, hoping this was simply a bad dream, holding onto Sakura's body, "Why…what…what's happening to her…"
"It's the Kinomoto curse…no woman lives beyond 20 unless they kill the one they love…" Fujitaka's voice rang loud and clear, "She chose death to save you, Syaoran."
Fujitaka had been prepared to witness Sakura's death, but he had never thought it'll be this early into the night…he thought he'll have time to say at least one last sentence to her…but he had lost his chance forever…
He held back his tears. As the king, he must remain his composure and act calmly…to lack humanity.
Even so, despite knowing what he should be doing, Fujitaka felt his eyes blurring once again, and he desperately wiped his tears using his sleeve.
Fujitaka had known from that start, Sakura's complaints with Syaoran had always been her expression of love for the amber eyed boy. When told about the curse, she had no choice but to accept her death…because she would never betray Syaoran.
He saw Syaoran clench his fists.
Oh Sakura… Fujitaka thought, If only you can see…
Syaoran…the chestnut haired boy thought to himself, what on earth are you doing? Why are you like this? This princess was simply to marry…to lie to…to cheat to…to prove to the rest of the world, that he had a acknowledged princess to be his queen…to clarify his status as the future king…what was she doing to him?
Syaoran couldn't help but bring his head down to her chest, and hug the body that would have once been warm. He realised all the chances he had, to hold her hand…to kiss those lips, once a stunning red which were now slowly fading into blue.
Cold.
The one word pierced his mind. Her body was turning colder and colder by the minute…he could no longer hear the beating of her heart that so often sped up when she was with him.
It seemed so long ago, that they had met; him as an immature prince, and her as the grown-up and dignified princess. Her complaints about him; his annoyance at her. All these tiny things…suddenly became amazingly important to him. All the time he ever spent with her…
To his shock, he realised just how little he attempted to get to know the princess. All he ever wanted to achieve was to marry her and go back to his kingdom. Had he ever had a decent conversation with her?
Ever?
Her eyes were glazed, the emerald in them slowly fading. He could see her dreams in them; a vast ocean, sparkling. A world out there for her to venture in. She would never live to see the world again. Nor will she ever be able to breathe another breathe. Inside a coffin.
Trapped.
"Goodbye…Sakura…"
He slowly brought his lips to the corpse, once a woman that he loved. Amber met the glazed-over emerald. His eyes were brimming with tears. Each drop landing on the glass tiles, like hearing a pin drop. He didn't care if he appeared to be a weakling, a coward…a heart broken puppy…
He never realised it until her death.
He slowly, but ever so slowly, tore his lips away from her ice-cold, blue ones. Her eyes never left him. His heart burnt with a passion to save her – to rescue her. And yet, with a twinge of regret – he realised he could not.
Syaoran once again, not for the first time in his life, was helpless. Useless. Simply rubbish.
He let out a moan of anguish, and bought Sakura's dead body closer to him than ever before. It was closer than they had ever been, but sadly, his companion was not a part of the living world any longer.
Clasping her closely, he closed his eyes, and just let time sit still. He did not care if everyone was staring, shocked at his actions.
He simply did not care anymore. If he could do anything…anything…
Why was he just so helpless?
Take me…take me instead! Please…let her live!
Suddenly, he could feel something against his chest…
He heard the soft beating of a heart not his. It was hers.
But at the same time, he felt all time stop for him. He felt his eyes going blurry – his senses starting to weaken…he could hear the distant screams of the advisors. Footsteps…loud ones…
The sudden breathing of the one he loved…hands clasping his shoulder…screaming his name…why? She was asking why…he smiled…something in him told him, he wasn't useless any longer…he had saved someone…given his life for something…
He grinned at Sakura bitterly, noticing her eyes were no longer glazed over. She was screaming something at him…but he could not comprehend for a strange odd reason…
He felt happy, truly happy, for the first time in his life. Happy to see the usual angry and worried screaming of Sakura. It was such a comfort to hear that…seeing those glassy eyes made his blood run cold…
"Why…!" he seemed to hear.
Because, his heart had always been hers.
He heard Sakura take in a sharp breathe, followed by a distant cry.
And now, a furious, lively emerald, met the dull, faded amber.
…
The END. (Really, it is!)
…
Couldn't exactly think of a non-clichéd way to end it…so there you go.
I'm glad I finished this…
Finished: 24/7/07 xD
In case it's a little confusing, here's the explanation…
The curse stated that in order to live, Sakura will have to kill her beloved, right? Sakura chose death, because she couldn't bear to kill Syaoran.
Syaoran on the other hand, couldn't bear to see Sakura dying to him, so he gave his heart to her instead.
Therefore, Syaoran in the end, dies for Sakura anyway or another.
Saddening…
That's also why this fic is called Over the Border…because no matter how much Sakura suffers and gives her life to save Syaoran's…Syaoran always finds a way to rescue Sakura back. And thus, they always go over the limit; i.e. the border.
Anyway, I basically just wanted to finish this story. It felt a bit rushed…but oh well…
Til next time.