Chapter 15

Syaoran looked down at his watch. It was just past 5:00AM. Yuigahama was still incredibly dark, with gray clouds blotting the sky. Only a few others had gone on the train with him early that morning. It was pretty stupid really, to take a train ride at 3:00AM in the morning, especially when he was already feeling so worn out. All he knew was that he didn't want to wake up the next morning with this still hanging over his head.

Relying on his memory, he walked to a bus stop that would drive him right by the beach. As he sat on the bench, he closed his tired eyes for a moment. Fifteen minutes passed quickly in that way as he dreamed. Images of Sakura and Yuki were mixing together. He began to frown as his dreams were unravelling. Then something honked loudly.

Syaoran sprung up from his position, alarmed. He blinked his eyes difficultly, trying to remember where he was. He moaned under his breath. Right. Yuigahama. Beach. Have to find that letter. Then he squinted against the bright lights, realizing slowly that his bus had arrived. Quickly grabbing his bag and fishing for his ticket, he walked in.

…

He sat on the sand and took in a deep breath of the ocean breeze. He positioned himself several meters away from the shore. Because the wind was chilly, he closed the zipper of his jacket. Now the clouds were beginning to part, getting ready for sunrise. Still it was still fairly dark. He glanced around idly, noting that there was no one else in sight.

To his left was the old bottle. It didn't take much effort to find it. It was there, where she'd said she left it years before, untouched and unfazed by time. The letter was there too; its paper having aged with time. Syaoran decided to wait until the sun came out before reading it.

So as he watched the sunrise, he put the bottle aside and opened up the folded letter.

Syaoran,

I guess by the time you've read this, I'm already gone. That sucks for you, since you won't get to see my pretty face anymore!

Ah, I can see your expression now. Sorry. I didn't mean it.

The real reason I wrote this letter is to reveal to you something that I've kept for a really, really long time. I'm not as brave or as strong as you. I'm really weak.

I've actually loved you all this time. Uwah, I finally wrote it out. I wrote in pen too so now I can't erase it.

I love you. I've been in love with you since we were…fifteen? I think I fell in love with you before you fell in love with me. Since that moment you gave me that cold glare and walked off with that bad attitude of yours, I was a goner. You never knew, did you?

When you became my friend, I couldn't have been happier. For the first time in my life, I was glad to be alive.

In the beginning, I was afraid to tell you my feelings. I couldn't even find the courage to talk to you properly until college. When we became closer, then it just became impossible. Our friendship means the world to me, if you only knew. That's really why I couldn't tell you how I felt.

About my sickness, I knew since I was a kid that I was going to die sooner than most people. I just don't want you to suffer more because of me. I'm sorry that I kept all this from you.

But you know, right now I'm happy. Even I'm sick like this, I'm happy that you love me. Is that weird?

And I'm actually really selfish, Syaoran. Sometimes I have these crazy thoughts, like I want to be the only woman you'll ever love forever. But I know that's not fair to you. When I think about how it will be when I'm gone, I start to realize just how selfish it is to want to keep you for myself.

In all honesty, if I had one wish, it wouldn't be to save myself, since that's kind of too late anyway. No, I'd really wish for you to be happy. So please, be happy?

I don't know why but I have a feeling you're going to wait a while before opening up this letter. So I wanted to ask the present Syaoran reading this letter. Are you in love with someone else now? I really hope you are.

My happiest memory is when you told me you loved me. Do you remember what I said to you then? What would happen if ever I fell in love with you and got the guts to confess? Well, here's me releasing you of your promise. So if you really are in love with someone, love her wholeheartedly and let me go. I got more than enough time with you, so make sure you give her 110% of your heart, okay?

And I want to end things right, so in case I don't get a chance to properly say this to you, thank you. Thank you for being my best friend all these years. Thank you for loving me and making that promise to me. And lastly, thank you for the memories.

You really were the highlight of my life.

Bye Syaoran.

– Yuki

His body felt numb. Without his awareness, the letter fell to the sand, slipping out of his hands. He sat still, staring off at the dark sea, listening to the sound the waves crashing against the sand. All that kept flashing in front of him were the memories. She'd loved him this whole felt tears roll down his cheeks. He hadn't known at all. The girl he'd loved so immensely for the first time in his life loved him back. Only she had chosen to keep it a secret. Regrets and what-ifs came like a surge inside of him.

Just as he lowered his head and covered his face with his hand, gentle arms wrapped around him tightly. Sakura's warmth and scent surrounded him immediately. He felt her cheek rest against the top of his head. Like a baby, he buried his head in her bosom. He couldn't even stop the tears from faling.

Sakura repeatedly rubbed his back, feeling her own tears rise to the surface. She'd seen him, walked towards him as he read the letter, and saw how he just crumpled down as though lifeless.

For a long time, she held him as he cried his heart out.

…

The sun was beginning to shine a little brightly now. A long time had passed before Syaoran could even gather himself up again. But just as he did, he wiped his face with his shirt. For the first time that morning, he looked up and met Sakura's eyes. Hers looked just as puffy as his felt. He glanced down at the sand and found the letter. He passed it to her wordlessly.

While Sakura read it, he continued staring out into the endless ocean. Thanks for writing me that letter, Yuki. I needed it.

After Sakura finished reading it, she folded the letter and held it in her hand. She could only continue studying the wrinkled piece of paper that held so much unsaid words. The feelings between Yuki and Syaoran were more than she could take in. They were so pure and filled with love. It made her want to cry for the mere fact that their love had been wasted because she had to die at such a young age.

Syaoran turned and looked back at her. He saw the tears in the corner of her eye. "You're crying," he said as he reached over and wiped them away with his thumbs.

"Why did she have to die?" Sakura asked, shifting away so he couldn't touch her. "You loved each other so much. It doesn't make any sense." She swiped at her eyes with her arm. "Doesn't it make you mad?"

He stared at her in disbelief. He hadn't known what to expect out of Sakura, but this reaction stunned him.

"The kind of love you shared with Yuki, it's so special. It's a love that comes by once in a lifetime, Syaoran," she murmured. "Why didn't she just tell you? You would have had so much more memories together."

When he caressed her cheek with his hand, she looked up, meeting his gaze.

"Can I have it?"

She passed the letter to him. He then stood, holding the letter in his hand, and walked to the shore. Syaoran studied it for a long time. It was the last thing that remained of the past. He had to let go of it all now. He took a deep breath, feeling his heart being squeezed painfully again. But knowing Sakura was there was enough to give him the courage to say goodbye.

"Yuki, I never got to say bye to you properly," he called out. "I'll do it now."

He let the letter fall into the water. A tear escaped and fell on his cheek. He wiped it away. Goodbye, Yuki. He straightened and stepped back a few steps as he watched the piece of paper get carried away by the sea. Then he turned back.

Sakura was standing a ways away, her hands covering her face. Her shoulders were shaking.

He practically ran back to her and pulled her firmly into his arms. He held onto her as tightly as he could. She was the most precious person in his life now, and nothing, no one, not even Yuki, was ever going to change that. He was going to do what Yuki had said. His whole heart was Sakura's now.

"What are you feeling right now?" She managed to ask amidst her sniffles.

He looked down, shifted so he could study her face. With the way she was looking at him and with all that compassion in her eyes staring straight back at him, he couldn't help but lower his lips to kiss hers. "Why'd you come after me?"

"I didn't want you to cry alone."

It was like the heaviness in his chest disappeared with that single sentence. He didn't realize how badly he needed her to be there for him until now. "She loved me all this time and she didn't tell me."

"When you love someone with all your heart, you want them to be happy, no matter what. For Yuki, all that mattered was you."

Syaoran rested his forehead against hers. "It's a lot to take in."

She closed her eyes. "But you found what you were looking for."

"She told me to find it after she died but I never got the courage to look for it. It took me all this time," he admitted quietly.

"I didn't know if I should come here. I thought…it really wasn't my place to be here. I…was almost ready to give you up you know. Almost." She let out a small laugh, finally opening her eyes up to him. "When I let you go the second time, I was so lonely. Then I was sitting on my bed, realizing a lot of things while crying like a puppy dog. It didn't matter how I felt. All that mattered was you. I could picture you here, alone…probably crying too. I got so sad. Syaoran, you know, I really…I lo-"

"I'm saying it first," he interrupted, cupping her cheeks. "I love you. Yuki asked me in the letter if I was in love. When I read that, your face was all I could see."

She kissed him first this time. "You love me?" she asked when his lips travelled to her forehead, then to each of her eyelids, then to her chin. "I really love you. I've never said that to a man before."

He then kissed her on the mouth again. "That means I get to take the rest of your firsts, huh?"

"Don't say that so smugly."

"You know how badly flawed I am. I can be pretty dumb and say the wrong things. And this probably won't be the last time I make you cry, so I won't make any promises. You'll still love me though, right?"

"I probably will never understand you the way Yuki did, but I'll love you even when you don't need me anymore," she offered, feeling her emotions come to the surface again.

He bonked her head lightly. "Stop with the tears already," he chided. When she could only giggle, he held her again, close to his heart.

Sakura turned her head so she could look over at the water. "Don't worry Yuki. I'll do my best to make him happy."

Syaoran looked down at her hair, catching the way the sunlight formed a halo at the top of her head. He couldn't have asked for anything more. All the pain, all the sorrow he'd experienced in his whole life were all replaced now with indescribable happiness. He'd never felt this happy to be alive.

"I love you, Sakura," he said, this time for himself.

…

Sakura straightened out her legs on the carpet floor, sitting against the wall with the suite telephone against her ear.

After everything that had happened, both of them had gone to a nearby hotel and fell on the bed right away. In less than a minute, both had fallen asleep, emotionally spent and physically fatigued from the travel. After three hours, Sakura woke first.

"So that's why you chased after him," Tomoyo murmured.

"Mm. We've been on the phone for almost an hour and he's still asleep," Sakura answered as she glanced up at the bed. Syaoran's face was currently buried under a pillow, but she could see some of his hair sticking out. "Tomoyo, I've never gone after someone before."

"That's because you've never fallen in love before."

"You saying that means you must be acknowledging Eriol's declaration of love for you, right?"

Tomoyo became quiet for a moment, before she hummed. "I kissed him. In Osaka. I didn't plan on doing that, but…he…"

Sakura smiled, completely happy for her best friend. "Aww. You still love him."

"Argh. I told him we're taking it slow this time. He practically cried when I said it." She sighed. "I have to admit, it's nice having someone love you exactly for who you are. It was hard for me to open up again, you know. I felt like I couldn't trust him anymore. I guess I never gave up on him after all this time. I wanted to make him fight for me…because he never used to."

Sakura looked outside the window from where she was. "That's how it must have been for Syaoran too. He couldn't lean on anyone because everyone left him…and the one person he loved at the time went away too." Her heart felt sad thinking of Yuki. "I wish I could've met her. She seemed like a really good person."

"Yuki? You got to read the letter, right."

"I felt like I got to know her a little bit more. To love someone to the point that you'd hope for their happiness above your own, even when you're in enough pain as it is, it's…"

"That's admirable."

"It's love."

At that moment, Syaoran peeked out from under the covers and met her startled gaze. He could barely open his eyes, so he blinked many times. She smiled at the sight and reached out to pat his head. He grabbed her hand midway and pressed his lips against her palm. Her heart leapt. Syaoran took the phone from Sakura while still holding her hand in his.

"Tomoyo?" He asked with a rough voice.

"Syaoran! You woke up! Sakura just filled me in. How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing good, thanks for asking. But I'm going to hang up now. Sakura will call you later."

She giggled. "Take care of her!"

He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Sakura to stand in front of him. She looked down, studying his sleepy amber eyes and the way his dishevelled hair fell over them. So this was how he looked when he woke up. It thrilled her heart to be able to see it; to be the only one in the world to have seen it.

"Did you have a good rest?" She asked softly.

"I did. I slept for a while. How long have you been awake?"

"Over an hour maybe?" Sakura played with his hair and tried to push his bangs to one side. "That's another first for me, you know. Going after someone and not giving up. I always gave up first."

"It was a first for me too. Chasing after you all this time. Though half the time, it was me pushing you away." Ruefully, he smiled. "Sorry."

She looked into his eyes for a long time, studying them while he did the same to hers. Then she bent down and pressed her lips on his. Her pulse thudded when his lips travelled down to the spot under her jaw. She sighed quietly when he pulled her forcefully that she fell on his lap. Her legs wrapped around his waist instinctively. He found her mouth again, almost devouring it, while his hands locked on her waist, touching her bare skin. She felt her cheeks bloom with heat as her mouth opened and his tongue touched hers tentatively.

He pulled away first, managing to smile despite how badly his heart was racing. "Sorry. Probably not the right place to do it our first time."

She shook her head, though she took a moment before meeting his eyes. "It's…okay with me."

Despite her words, he could see the anxiety in her face. Syaoran held her cheek, bending down to kiss the tip of her nose in comfort. "Our first time together, it'll be special. I promise I'll take care of you."

Because he noticed it, she let her forehead fall against his shoulder in relief. "Okay."

His body still felt hot, his heart still rapidly pounding. No matter his good intentions, he was still, after all, a man. Carefully he stood up while lifting her up, set her on the bed and pulled away. When she stared up at him in question, he stood against the wall, a meek smile on this face. "Sorry, I'm…cooling off."

She nodded and looked away from him, feeling the heat of her own face strengthen.

"Sakura," he spoke after a moment. When she faced him again, he said, "Thanks for saving…" His face reddened. "Ah...I mean I'm really…glad…that I get to be your first."

She smiled then, showing that bright, innocent smile he fell for. "You mean my only one, Syaoran."

"Ah...don't say that," he interrupted quickly putting a hand up. "I'm already having a hard time keeping my hands off you, so don't make it harder."

Her heart shook in response. She could see on his face just how troubled he was. She never thought she would be this desired by someone before. It felt amazingly wonderful, especially when the man desiring her was Syaoran. There was no doubt in her mind that he was going to take good care of her the moment it happened. She then got to her feet and took out her hand for him to take.

"Let's go get something to eat."

:::::::::

On the train ride home, Syaoran leaned his head back and turned to his right. For a long time, he watched her sleep. He felt content just looking at her face. To think how everything had come to this. Even looking back at how they were months ago seemed funny to him. The last time they had gone to Yuigahama together, they'd still hated each other. It really was funny how life worked.

He reached over and pushed aside a stray hair from her face. At the touch, her eyelids lifted slowly, her eyes adjusting to the light. When they met his, a small smile appeared on her face. She turned towards him and snuggled closer.

"Stop staring at me," she murmured sleepily.

"No."

She moaned a little, reluctantly deciding to wake up. She straightened from her position and stretched her back. When she finished doing so, he was still watching her, that half-amused, half-intense look in his eyes. A little embarrassed, Sakura grabbed hold of his chin and wagged his head from side to side.

"You dork."

He smiled then. "I was just thinking how the last time we were here together, you were getting it on with Soshi."

Her punch came quick and forcefully, earning an 'oof' from him. "I was not."

"I was at the beach that night…my first attempt at looking for that letter. When you found me, remember?"

"Oh really? You looked so sad that night," she recalled, thinking back to that time. It seemed so long ago. "That was the first time my heart did this little bump. I never felt it before."

He looked at her quizzically. "What?"

"That bump. Like my heart skipped a beat or something. When you looked at me that night."

"Really?" For some reason, the pleasure came like a wave over his heart. "I thought you liked Soshi then."

"I did. But…" Sakura poked his cheek teasingly. "I guess you were always the one that got my heart going."

He laughed while grabbing her finger. "That's nice to hear."

For a long moment, they merely looked into each other's eyes, with no words in between. Staring into his eyes made her feel warmth in her belly. There was no other man who could make her feel that way.

Then she asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Uh…" Syaoran let out a breath. "Feels kind of like this big heavy boulder's off of me. That weighed me down for a long time. Thanks for being there for me, angel eyes," he said quietly.

"You think I have angel eyes?" She asked with a delighted smile.

"Well, they're nice and big and green. Definitely angel-like." He leaned in. "Smells like an angel too."

"You're sweet. Who would have thought I'd fall in love with you out of all the people in the world?"

He scoffed. "You make it sound like you're on the losing end here."

"I'm just saying, who knew? Have you ever heard of that phrase? 'Fate is a fickle thing.' It's so true!"

"At least deny what I said."

She rolled her eyes. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. There."

"Sounds better."

Sakura glanced out the window and caught the way the sun's rays hit the rows upon rows of pine trees. It somewhat felt like they were leaving it all behind – the past. Going home to Tokyo, with the past behind them, ready to move on. It was a good feeling. She heaved a light sigh, still a little burnt out from all those emotions.

"If you could talk to Yuki one more time, what would you say?" She asked out of simple curiosity.

Syaoran followed her gaze and studied the beams of light. "'I can't believe you lied to me this whole time.'" The corner of his mouth lifted. "'But thanks for being my first friend, for loving me. And next time I see you, I'll introduce you to her.'"

Sakura angled her head, studying him.

"The one who got 110% of my heart," he supplied, then nodded firmly, concluding his farewell with it. "Then I'd say goodbye. Give her a hug if I could."

"Mm. That sounds like a good parting."

After a quiet pause, he then said, "Thanks for not walking away."

At the words, Sakura pushed back a little so she could fully face him. It was the young Syaoran speaking to her now. She could hear it in the tone of his voice; the young boy who was never loved properly and who never learned to trust in someone. Her heart, feeling overwhelmed, constricted.

"You can't get rid of me that easily," she managed to say.

Syaoran pulled her back to him. "Thanks for that too."

:::::::::

Three Months Later

"Why do you always have to win every single game?" Sakura cried, standing up with her hands digging into her hips. "Can't you be a gentleman for one second and let me win at least once?"

"I can't. I just wasn't born that way. I have to win. If you want to win so badly, pick a game you're actually good at."

In frustration, she walked off to his kitchen and refilled the bowl of chips. They'd been playing all the card games she knew how to play for almost four hours already and yet she hadn't even won once. He was such a liar, claiming he didn't know how to play any card game whatsoever. The moment the cards were dealt with, he became the friggin' card magician and beat her every single time. It was so annoying.

"I don't want to play anymore." She announced as she set the bowl on the coffee table and sat back down on the couch.

He chuckled as he grabbed a handful of chips. "What do you want to do then?"

"How about you cook dinner tonight?"

"Why? I won. You cook."

"Syaoran…! It's your turn," she objected fiercely. She grabbed his arm and pulled at it back and forth. "Come on!"

"But that's not fair to me. What do I get for winning all those games then?" He shot back, scratching his head. "I didn't cheat. It's not my fault you chose to play card games that you suck at."

Annoyed at the reminder, she spoke firmly. "Look. Just cook dinner because I'm really not in the mood to do it. I'll make it up to you after, okay? I'll clean up everything and wash all the dishes. Just go…cook. Please?" She added with an earnest smile.

"You're lucky I like you." He muttered, stealing a quick kiss before going to the kitchen.

As Syaoran began preparing the meal, Sakura cleaned up the mess they had made in his living room. When she gathered all the cards together, she stood and waked to the fireplace and glanced aimlessly. Now there was a picture of the two of them, with their cubicles as the background. It felt a little appropriate, she mused, considering that was how they had met in the first place.

The past six months with Syaoran was beyond hectic and a complete emotional rollercoaster, but she didn't want it any other way. As Tomoyo used to say, the love stories that usually last are those that endure a lot of pain in the beginning.

"I'm willing to help," Sakura said, walking to the sink to wash her hands.

"Here, you can peel these." He passed her a bag of potatoes.

As she began the first potato, she looked up at him, watching his back. It really was crazy how things could change in half a year. Who would have thought it would be him, she wondered? The it for her. Certainly not her. If she hadn't gone after it, she would have missed out on it all, just as Tomoyo had said. She probably would have moved on to another heartless jerk after Soshi.

He turned and caught the way she was staring at him. Still it made his heart skip a beat whenever she looked at him that way.

Without saying a word, she leaned upward and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.

"What was that for?" He asked when she fell back on her heels.

"Just felt like it."

He grinned. "Are you going to see your dad and brother for Christmas?"

"Not this year. I'll go see them at New Year's. Come with me?"

"Yeah I want to meet them. So that means…Christmas, you're free to spend it with me?"

Sakura looked up, annoyed with the question. "Why are you even asking? Of course I'm spending it with you. It's our first Christmas together," she muttered the end as she looked back down at the potato in her hand.

"Why are you acting so shy?" He brought her chin up so he could see her eyes.

"I'm not being shy. I'm annoyed. You can be so slow sometimes," she answered back, angling her head in defiance. "I already booked the last week of December off, like I said I would. You did too, right?"

"Why would I even ask you to spend Christmas with me if I didn't have it off?" He retorted.

"Okay, before we start arguing like we usually do," Sakura began, bringing her hands up. "So we both have the last week of December off to spend together. It's our first Christmas, so…"

"You just don't want to lose an argument." She scowled. He knew her well. When she went back to peeling the potatoes in mild frustration, she felt him staring at her, and she ignored him. Amused, Syaoran continued watching her. "I got you an early present though."

Her head shot up. "What?"

As he expected, she was as bad a sucker for presents as she was for ice cream. "You kind of have to open it now or else…it'll get wasted." His gaze travelled to his bedroom. "It's on my bed. Go check it out."

Before he could even finish, she sprinted off. Alone in the kitchen, Syaoran shook his head in amusement. Everything about her was so friggin' adorable.

Cautiously Sakura opened the door. She turned on the lights as she put one foot in, then locked her gaze onto the bed. On top of a big white box was a smaller black box, both of them rectangular in shape. How could she not have noticed this? She practically lived in his house the past few months. Because he gave her the permission to open it, she walked over to it and touched the boxes gently.

"Can I open both boxes?" She called out, already itching to open them up.

"Yeah. Open the big one first."

She wondered why he wanted her to open the presents weeks before Christmas. Instead of mulling it over, she moved the small box aside and carefully untied the pink ribbon holding the white box closed. Then she lifted the top lid. Inside the white box was a bouquet of white and pink lilies, covered by transparent cellophane. There was a note attached to the stems. Filled with emotion, she fell limply on the bed.

I should've given you these on our first date. Sorry for the wait, Princess. – Prince Charming

Her tears came suddenly. She took the flowers out of the box and hugged it. He hated being called 'Charming,' which she still frequently called him. And all this time, he still refused acknowledging the fact that she thought of him as her own prince charming. So the fact that he bought her these flowers and even wrote out such a mushy letter brought a delightful flutter to her stomach.

Then she looked back down at the black box. Keeping the flowers tucked in one arm, she opened it. Inside were two plane tickets to Hawaii. Sakura looked up instinctively and saw Syaoran standing at the corridor, his hands tucked in his pockets. He was studying her reaction. Her knees gave way a little at the look in his eyes.

"I didn't win them though," he said as he walked into the room.

"You remember everything," she murmured in astonishment. "So you've finally accepted defeat and admit that you are my prince charming?"

"It's not that I'm admitting it. It's more like, if every woman had to have one, I'd have to be yours, because you can't be with anybody else." He squatted down in front of the bed, looking up at her. "What do you think? You want to go?"

"This is where we're going for Christmas?" Her voice grew in excitement.

He grinned. "If you want."

She placed her arms around his neck and let him lift her up in his arms as he stood. "Thank you for the presents," she murmured as he carefully laid her on the bed and pressed a soft kiss under her jaw. "I'm really happy."

"That's good." He slowly buttoned down her blouse, staring into her eyes.

As she looked up at him, she touched his cheek tenderly. "Will you marry me?"

Jolted, his hands froze as he automatically fell back.

At the comical expression on his face, she sat up. "Don't look so scared," she said while laughing.

"You-you did that on purpose," he accused then, grabbing her shoulders. "What, did you see the ring?" He demanded, almost angry.

Stunned at his question, she dropped back. "What?"

At her expression, he froze. "What?"

"Ring? You…got me a ring?"

In utter confusion, he stared helplessly at her. "You didn't see the ring? Then why'd you ask me to…"

"You…" Then she realized it. She'd beaten him to the proposal. He was going to ask her to marry him too. "You were going to ask me to marry you? In Hawaii?" She then asked, her eyes wide like saucers.

He was about to deny it all, but because of how bright her eyes were at that moment, he could practically hear the excitement buzzing around her. Dejectedly, he said, "That was the plan, yeah."

Her beaming smile came out while the water-works began. "I finally beat you."

A little exhausted, he fell back against the bed and stared up at the ceiling. "You actually proposed to me. What kind of man am I if the woman proposes first? That's not romantic," he muttered, bothered by it.

Ignoring it, she bent over him and gave him a kiss. When she pulled back, she asked one more time, "Will you marry me, Syaoran?"

He reached up and let her use his arm sleeve to wipe her tears. "Yes. But I still get to ask you in Hawaii and you won't get to see the ring until I ask you properly." With that, he got off the bed and walked out of the room.

Sakura pushed her face into a pillow, filled with more happiness to last her a lifetime and practically squealed it all out. After a long moment while still out of sorts, she sat up on the bed and gathered the flowers together. She put the tickets on the top of his drawer before stepping out of his room. By his bedroom door, she watched him tinkering in the kitchen.

He looked over at her. Beyond the happiness was the gratitude that someone else had come into his life like this, accepting all of him and giving him all the love he had missed out on in his life.

"Are you happy?" She asked as she walked towards him, holding the bouquet in her arms.

"Feeling pretty good on this end," he said as he kissed her forehead. "How about you? Happy?"

She nodded. "Because I finally found who I've been looking for all my life." She looked up at him. She'd thought for the longest time it was prince charming. But really, it was simply just, "You."

The End

Final A/N: -Releases a deep breath- Wow, it's finally over. It has been awesome writing this story and hearing from all of you. To everyone who read this from the very beginning to the end and have faithfully reviewed since then, thank you so so so much. I'd like to give you a virtual hug for your loyalty! For me, it used to be about the number of reviews, but it's changed over time. It's what people say in their reviews that really hit me and make me smile. I feel so encouraged about writing when I get those comments about how much you've enjoyed reading my story. To those who have read the story and alerted/'favorited" it, but was unable to leave a review, thanks for dropping by and reading this! I'm grateful to you as well - hopefully you can let me know somehow what you thought of it! And for the others who found it midway and began and continued reading, thanks for giving my story a chance. I hope your time wasn't wasted by reading this. =)

I won't be making epilogues or continuations of this story, because I honestly really liked where I ended it. I don't want this story to be one that's prolonged with unnecessary drama. The main points I hoped to make, I think I made by the end, so that's where I will leave it. I can't say when I will be writing another Card Captor-based story, since it requires so much effort and time to produce any story really, at least for me. I am always thinking, however, and whenever a new idea pops into my head, I start writing.

Lastly, to all you lovely people, I'm sure we'll all find what or who we're looking for someday, if we haven't found it yet. We just have to keep an open mind, an open heart, and perhaps expect the unexpected sometimes. =D I hope I made you all smile with this story. That was my goal upon writing it. So. With that, thanks for tuning in, and see you next time!