Chapter Six:

Syaoran felt like his eyelids had weights attached to them, forcing him to keep his eyes shut. He groaned in frustration, pulling them apart before quickly closing them. The harsh lighting of his room seared his retinas and almost brought tears to his eyes.

The annoying beeping in the background made him lift his limb (why did it also feel so weighted?) and aimless swing it in an arc, hoping to knock the blasted alarm clock off of his nightstand.

He was shaken from his post-sleep fog when his hand collided with something metal that was most certainly not a part of his room. He had fallen into this routine often enough he knew where and what to place within his wingspan. Valuables and anything other than his alarm clock were kept away from his reach.

Memories flooded through him like a flash of lightning. The street, the accident, the pain, the park, and—Sakura! He sprung his body up into an upright position and couldn't hide his flinch or the pull his muscles gave him. A few good stretches would do him a world of good.

"Sakura," Syaoran said, fixating on the problem at hand, "I have to apologize… let her know I'm later…" he mumbled under his breath, looking around to take in his surroundings.

The sterile environment, harsh lighting, and bland colors should have been clues enough to his location. He glanced to look at what he had accidentally struck and saw the metal pole of an IV drop line next to him. He followed the tube down to his arm. He breathed a sigh of relief in knowing he didn't tear the line. He had never been a big fan of needles and would rather not be conscious if they had to fix his arm up once more.

A light sigh made him snap his head towards the left so quickly he had to take a moment and let the room stop spinning. There, huddled in a chair and snoozing away, was the object of his thoughts. Sakura. Syaoran took the moment and silence to stare and observe at her.

Sorrow filled him when he saw her condition. Her skin lacked the rosy color he loved to see so much; when she saw him, was hanging out with her friends, or capturing Clow cards. There was a frown mark on her forehead and her lips were downturned. Obviously her dreams were anything but pleasant. His heartstrings wretched when he took in her red puffy eyes. Even though they were closed in sleep he could tell she had spent many hours crying.

How long had he been here, unconscious and unaware of her worry. How long had he kept her waiting?

"Good to see you finally up, Gaki." Kero's voice made Syaoran turn to see the guardian crawling up onto the bed. No doubt he was pretending to be a stuffed animal in order to stay with Sakura and keep her protected. "It's been quite without you."

Syaoran flicked his eyes to Sakura once more, seeing her shift in her sleep to try and find a more comfortable position (which Syaoran thought impossible, judging by the size of the chair she had wedged herself into) before turning his attention to the yellow lion with wings. "How long was I out?" He rasped out, wincing at the rawness of his throat.

"It's been a week, Syaoran." The brunette turned his head to the doorway now, seeing Eriol smiling and holding a cup of water with a straw. "I'm glad to see you awake." He slid up to the bed, helping Syaoran take a sip of the cool and refreshing liquid.

Kero was inspecting a tray of food and accidentally knocked over the utensils, startling Sakura from her sleep.

Her eyes snapped open and her body jackknifed out of the small chair. "Syaoran?"

"Sakura."

Her heart almost stopped. Of all the times she had snapped awake and to attention, of all the times she had said his name aloud, whispered, or in secret in her heart, she had never had him respond to her. Tears obscured her vision so quickly she almost didn't see his upright form.

Eriol stood, placing the cup off to the side. He grabbed Kero and positioned him in his arms like a stuffed animal. "I'll go and let one of the doctors or nurses know that you're awake." He dragged the protesting Kero off out into the hallway and gently closed the door behind him. That knowing smile of his implied he was giving the two the alone time that they needed.

"Oh God Syaoran…" Sakura sobbed, wrapping her arms around the boy as soon as the door closed. All sense of decorum was thrown out the window. "I was so worried about you. The doctors kept saying all these things, and it took forever for them to finally approve your mother's request that I be kept in the loop for your condition." Tears dripped endlessly down her face.

Syaoran shushed her, gently smiling as he wiped the tears from her cheeks. Her sobs quieted and she blinked, staring at Syaoran as if she would never see him again.

"I'm sorry Sakura." Syaoran whispered, "for so many things," he cleared his throat, "for making you cry, leaving you alone here in this hospital, and for being late."

Sakura opened her mouth to say something but Syaoran shook his head and she snapped it shut. He felt strength flood through his limbs, easing away the aches and pains. His magic was the root for his swift recovery. The magical coma of sorts that was thrust upon him no doubt helped him but left him in a limbo of such. "Sakura…" he took a deep breath, gathering his courage.

"Syaoran?" her hand took his and squeezed it in encouragement. "What is it?"

He closed his eyes briefly. Finally they could pick up where they had left off, before time got away from them. Fate would be kind enough this time to allow him one more chance, to say his feelings and thoughts. He opened his eyes, smiling at Sakura's face, and opened his mouth, eyes never leaving Sakura's own.

No regret.

FIN