Chapter 37 Finally Together

It was a little awkward at first as they walked after they had something to eat. The silence brought about the uneasiness. Both knew that it was time to actually talk about it. They had been pulling it off during dinner. It was funny how things seemed to have instantly returned to normal after they reconciled only a few hours ago. It was like nothing had happened between them, all that tension and secrecy seemed to dissipate. But the reality came crashing back when they started walking again. Both would have blushed like mad, knowing what was to happen as their relationship was taking a turn.

Shaoran had led her to the park, the heights point which overlooked the sea and part of the city. It was beautiful there, calm and quiet. The moon was full, shining brightly at the night sky as the stars glistened beside it. From the ledge they were standing at, they saw that the waters were calm. The wind was gentle and cool, dancing around them. Shaoran could see Sakura smile as she looked at the universe being reflected on the sea beyond.

He had never forgotten her smile. How could he? Her beautiful smile was always enough to snap him out of his deepest problems, enough to lighten up his day without even trying. As he looked at her, he could feel himself grow more captivated. Without even realizing it, Shaoran found himself smiling too.

"So…" Shaoran started.

"So…?" Sakura replied, not really sure on what to say. She decided to let him talk first. After all, she had never given him the chance to voice out his thoughts and feelings about the entire thing before deciding on it by herself. It was only fair.

"What are your plans now? I mean besides going to the Olympics."

Sakura smiled at him and said, "College, of course. I'm still a little on edge if I still want to be an Ambassador but I still want to be in that line of work, even if I'm just affiliated in the UN. Oh and I signed this contract to be Tomoyo's model."

"Tomoyo's model? Model? Like actual modeling? Magazine type model?" Shaoran asked, quite amused and surprised. He could remember her freshman year and how she would tell him that she couldn't believe that her class had made her one of the models. He had seen how she had prepared herself for the task, how she went through it, her feelings about it and most especially her annoyance since her brother wouldn't let up on the subject. Now, learning that she had signed a contract be a model, it was really something that he never expected her to do.

Sakura could sense what was going through Shaoran's mind and smiled. "I know, I know. It's not that hard to figure out what's going on in that head of yours. Yeah it's that kind of modeling and I know that you remember my freshman year, my sentiments no doubt. Those were the first things that came to my mind too. But by doing this, I've ensured myself that all my college bills will be paid and 'tou-chan doesn't have to take another job to support me. It's like a scholarship thing and well I can live with being a model for awhile if it means I'd be able to pay my way through college." She explained.

She saw him grin. He then looked at her and said, "That's so much like you, Sakura. But I'd have to say that it's not hard to figure out why Tomoyo chose you to be her model." The comment made Sakura blush. She chose not to look at him. He simply grinned.

"You're the first to know. So please don't tell anyone just yet. Well anyway, how about you? Still planning to become a business man?" Sakura said, to brush off the topic and move on to the next. She thought that by rallying the original question, it could make her stop blushing. She knew that he had seen her turn red.

Shaoran grinned at her again. Oh yeah. He didn't get a chance yet to tell her. The last time they talked about dreams and the future was when they were waiting in line for the concert months back. He glanced at her slightly and saw that she was still looking beyond, trying hard not to look at him. He smirked inwardly. "No. I'll be taking up pre-law in spring. I'm going for it." He said.

Sakura smiled at him, still refusing to look at him. She couldn't help but ask, "What made you decide all of a sudden?"

"You. During the University fair, I decided that you did make a valid argument. It had been my dream since we were both kids and walking away just because of negligible factors wasn't a rational thing to do."

She said nothing as she gave him a nod. "Listen, Sakura, I really need to apologize-"

"There's nothing to apologize for, Shaoran. I made the choices I made because it was the right thing to do and because I fell in love with you. Things happened because it had to happen that way."

Shaoran didn't know if he was supposed to be in shock for having Sakura spoken the truth, for cutting him off or simply because of her confession. His heart skipped a beat. Did he head right? Or was he just dreaming? From the moment he figured out what he truly was feeling for Sakura, Shaoran had dreamed to hearing her say that she loved him too. His breath was taken when she finally turned to face him. She was simply beautiful. Her eyes spoke to him. It was filled with love and understanding that he felt himself get lost in them.

"I pictured this differently. I already told you that I was planning to tell you and I didn't want you to find out that way. I wanted you to hear it from me. Although technically you did but I wanted to tell you up front, not hiding or skipping a few details." Sakura said, looking straight into his eyes. She wanted him to understand. She wanted to get through to him. It was the only way she knew how. A part of her wondered how easily it had slipped through her tongue. She was dreading that it would be harder than that.

"Skipping a few details? What details would that be?" Shaoran asked lovingly. Sakura fought the urge to up walk up into his arms and get lost in them.

She took a deep breath and said, "Before you guys broke up, I already had a feeling…this bad feeling that it was going to turn up that way. I kinda overheard Rika-san's friends talking at the washroom. They didn't know I was there. They kept talking about how it wasn't fair for Rika-san to be in a relationship where her boy friend's attention was divided from her to me. At that moment, I tried to tune them out but it was so hard. I know they don't like me but it just…I started to see things differently. I placed myself in Rika-san's shoes and figured, yeah, it was hard and painful so I decided to back off a little bit. But then you guys broke up. I honestly didn't know what to do. I still went up to Rika-san and asked her if you did something for her to break it off or if it were something else. I already knew part of the truth but I guess I wasn't ready to really hear it. When she told me how she really felt, I understood. You know the rest. I just couldn't stand seeing you like that, you know."

With the next blinking moment, Sakura found herself in Shaoran's arms. His strong, reassuring arms were around her, holding on to her, almost like for dear life. Shaoran felt her freeze with shock but then relax as she allowed him to hold her close. He had forgotten how nice it was to hold her next to him. It was different then. Before, they viewed each other as best friends. Now, it was like they finally knew where they belonged.

"Why didn't you tell me, Sakura?"

"How can I tell you that I was the reason you were hurting? Knowing you, you would just have told me that I was being paranoid and that it wasn't true. A part of me was afraid of you hating me for it."

Shaoran broke off from her and cupped her face. How could she even think that he could hate her? Her, of all people? He bid her to look at him straight in the eyes. He saw that a few stray tears escaped her eyes. He gently brushed them away. She gently closed her eyes, savoring his touch.

"Look at me, Sakura." Shaoran said gently as she opened her eyes slowly. He kept her gaze, feeling himself get lost inside them as he also could tell that she was captured in his gaze as well.

"I can never hate you, Sakura. We have our differences and we do argue but it will never be enough for me to truly hate you. Ryu told me something the other day that I think you should hear. He told me that we are hurt the most by the people we love the most. I will not lie. I did hurt at that time. But it can never compare to the pain I felt when I thought I've lost you forever. Please believe me." His voice was almost pleading but filled with much tenderness and love that it made Sakura's heart beat a little faster.

"I believe you, Shaoran."

Shaoran smiled at her. He ran his hand on her long, silky hair, trying to imprint the feel in his hand. God, he truly loved this woman in front of him. She had been there by his side for his entire life and for the time that she wasn't, it felt like he had never been complete. Everyone could see that they belonged together. He finally saw that too. They had always belonged together. There was no question about that.

Having her so close to him, Shaoran couldn't resist as he leaned forward and closed the gap between their lips. The moment his lips touched hers, all his emotions seemed to stir inside of him and an overwhelming feeling of love seemed to envelop his entire being. Even if he didn't want to, he broke off gently. He looked at her straight in the eyes.

"I love you, Sakura." He simply said, as he tucked her hair behind her ear.

Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "Yeah, I know. I love you too, Shaoran." He tightened his arms around her, holding her closer.

They came closer and shared another kiss. This time it was more passionate than their first one just a moment before, not losing its gentleness and sweetness. They let all their emotions surface with that kiss, putting everything they had as it flowed to the other.

Shaoran's tongue teased her outside her mouth before it finally entered. Sakura responded to him. She loved him and couldn't quite really come to terms that she was indeed kissing him. It all felt like a dream…a dream she wished would never end. To be in his loving embrace, sharing a sweet kiss with him, made her heart soar. It was like nothing bad had happened. It seemed that all that pain was worth it and it didn't really matter. What was amazing about it was that she knew that he felt it too. He shared her feelings. He shared her thoughts.

They broke the kiss, gasping to catch their breaths, with a promise of more to come. It was all new to them yet it didn't feel that way. It seemed that they had been lovers for years. Nothing ever felt so right. Both were blushing as they shared the truth between them. They didn't need words to express anything. They felt it. It had always been like that with them, only now it had been intensified with the turn their relationship had. Staring at each other's eyes, they somehow saw their own reflection knowing full well that the other was a part of the other. That would never change. No matter what life brings them, they knew that that would never change.

For the years that they had been by each other's side, they knew that their new relationship had its risks and it wasn't going to be smooth sailing all the time. But neither doubted the fact that they would be able to overcome it. As best friends they were able to overcome anything, so now that they were officially lovers, closer to each other's heart, why wouldn't they be able to triumph over problems?

Sakura leaned against Shaoran's broad chest. The moment she rested her head on his chest, she could hear his heart beating loud and strong. Her smile broadened as she knew that it was beating for her. His heart belonged to her as much as hers belonged to him. She could feel herself melt a little more as he tightened his embrace a little and ran a hand on her back.

Shaoran held her tight. Having her in his arms made his heart too big for his chest. The truth brought him so much bliss that he never thought was possible. He never thought he'd be able to feel that way. He never had this intense feeling with Rika. It was different. This was as real as it could get and it couldn't be righter than it was.

"I know what it's like to have you and to have lost you. Now that you are here by my side, I don't ever want to lose you again, Sakura. I love you too much that it kills me to think and remember the time that I thought I've lost you forever." Shaoran whispered softly.

Sakura smiled a little and closed her eyes. She listened to his words and allowed it to talk directly into her heart. The words would forever be imprinted there, treasured for all time. "You never lost me, Shaoran. My heart had never left you. My thoughts and actions never left you. Everything was for you to be happy. I never left you." Sakura whispered back.

"I know that now. I never even got to thank you for saving my life."

She was surprised with his words. She straightened herself and broke off from him a little. She looked straight into his eyes. He could tell that she was taken aback by his words. He couldn't help but smile and caress her cheek gently. She said nothing as she closed her eyes and savored his touch.

"Did Wei-san tell you? Ryu-san? Eriol? Tomoyo? Rika-san?" She gently asked.

He smiled at her again and shook his head. "My mother told me. Apparently, Wei told her. She knew that it would be against your wishes but she felt that I needed to know before I allowed myself to believe that I have lost you forever." He explained.

He tenderly took her hand and placed it at his heart. He then proceeded on to say, "This heart will always beat and belong to you. You are the one who gave me back my life. I had prepared for the worst but now knowing that you feel the same, I've never felt so alive."

Sakura giggled a little and cupped his face. She had a big smile ready for him as she looked deep into his eyes. She then went on to say, "What I did is nothing compared to everything you have done for me. And may I just say that it's going to take awhile for me to get used to hearing you say such emotional, heart-felt words. Even though I already know that part of you, I usually had to pry and force you to say it so it's going to take awhile."

Shaoran laughed and held her hands. "Don't worry. I am not in a hurry. Take all the time you need because I will never get tired to saying it to you now." He replied, smiling broadly at her. He meant it too. All of it. That was what he loved about his relationship with Sakura. He could tell her anything and everything, especially the truth without much difficulty. He knew she accepted him as much as he accepted her. It was all good.

"I guess things are going to get back to normal now, huh?" She commented.

He nodded. "Except for one thing." He said.

She eyed him suspiciously and asked, "Which is?"

He grinned at her and replied, "I would like it very much if you'd be my girl friend from now on. But no pressure there."

Sakura laughed a little and answered, "That goes without saying, Shaoran. But I guess you just had a need to hear it. I can understand why we all need some verbal confirmation sometimes."

"So? What do you say?"

"What do you think?"

Shaoran grinned. "Keep me in suspense, will ya?" He teased.

"Right. So pouring my heart out to you, confessing and all isn't enough of an answer?" She rallied back.

"You know you really should take on debate. You just have a talent for arguing." He commented.

She was about to answer but he didn't let her. He silenced her with a kiss. Seizing her lips was something he knew he would never get tired of. The sweet taste of her lips was something he would always want to linger in his own. When he broke off, he continued on to say, "Thank you, Sakura, for everything. For letting me go and making me see the truth for myself. For always being there for me. For saving my life and especially for loving me."

Sakura smiled. There was really no need for thanks but having him say it, she told him that he was welcome and that why she was there in the first place…to make sure that he was safe, happy and most especially, loved. He then fished something in his pocket. When he found it, he brought it up to her sight. She realized that it was the golden dragon. He then said, "It does bring you luck. It just brought me to you. It has served me well. I think you should have it back."

Sakura smiled and shook her head. "Keep it. Your entrance exams are coming up. Take it with you. Besides, I don't need to keep it with me for it to bring me luck. It brought you here, that's enough. Besides, it had made our fates intertwined the moment I left Hong Kong years ago. As long as you have it and you're around me, it doesn't make much of a difference whether I'm holding it or not." Shaoran smirked.

(to be continued…)

They are together at last. Hehe. Well, just one more chapter to go. Hope to still be with you at the end. Thanks.

Michiko