Epilogue. My friend… My Love…
Sakura emerged from the cave, followed by Shaoran.
'Woah!' gasped Sakura amazed. They were on a grassy cliff, with few trees and bushes. It was already night time, and the moon was shining brightly just in front of them. 'The moon looks amazing! I can't believe it's night already!'
'Yes' agreed Shaoran. 'It's a peaceful night too… The blue moon always looks beautiful at night like this… it's a view that takes your breath away…'
'Blue moon…' echoed Sakura gazing at the shining circle in the sky. 'It's beautiful' she smiled broadly as she observed this enchanted scenery. Shaoran was silent for a couple of minutes before finally speaking.
'Sakura…' he called out the girl's name. She turned his head to look at him, and he was enchanted by how beautiful she looked in the blue moonlight.
'What is it, Shaoran?' she asked, still smiling.
'We… we did good, didn't we?' asked the boy. The girl laughed a little. Oh, how he loved this laugh.
'Of course we did' she giggled. 'Your memories are back, you saved us from this man… We both achieved what we were aiming for!'
'Yeah…' Shaoran agreed, his eyes looking away and a sad smile appearing on his face. 'I don't want to go' he whispered so quietly Sakura couldn't make up the words he said.
'Shaoran?' she asked worryingly. 'What's wrong?' her eyes were full of confusion and worry.
'Sakura…' the boy closed his eyes for a second before looking straight at Sakura. 'Thank you so much. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me'
'Shao…ran…?' Sakura's eyes widened. Why did he say that?, she thought. Why does it sound like he's saying goodbye? 'What are you trying to say?' she asked, although she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer. Shaoran smiled warmly, and this time she didn't blush and look away.
'Shh' he put his finger on her lips. 'I remember everything now. Now I can finally move on. I will be with my family once more… The family I loved and cherished 50 years ago…'
'Shaoran…' tears appeared in Sakura's eyes. She knew that… she knew once Shaoran regains all his lost memories, he will be allowed to move on and disappear. She wanted him to remember his life… but, at the same time, she didn't want him to remember. Because that would mean he would leave, forever. But it was already too late. Shaoran regained his memory… and that meant…
'Sakura' the boy said smiling. 'Can you do something for me?'
'Of course' she replied trying not to cry.
'Give my old sketchbook to Mechiko' he asked. 'Tell her I wanted her to have it'
'Are you sure, Shaoran?' Sakura questioned. 'You said it was precious to you'
'Yes, that's true' Shaoran agreed. 'That is why I want Mechiko to keep it. She will have a part of me that will always be there for her. She will always remember me'
'Of course I will give it to her' Sakura replied, tears starting to flow. 'That's a promise, Shaoran'
'Thank you' the boy smiled and held up his hand. 'Touch my hand, Sakura' he asked.
Sakura reluctantly held up her hand and touched Shaoran's. He became brighter, and he smiled.
'Thank you' he said. Before she could react, he grabbed her hand, pulled her closer and kissed her. She closed her eyes and returned the kiss. ' u, a' he whispered to her ear and smiled. ' e'
Sakura opened her eyes but he was already gone. She looked at the moon, her eyes full of tears.
'Goodbye…' she whispered. 'I love you too, Shaoran'
'I can't move on because my memories are missing' said Shaoran just after she met him. 'My whole life is missing. All of it, gone'
'Another reason why I was stuck down here because I was waiting…' he said when they found the family portrait. 'Waiting for someone like you'
'It's okay, I'm here for you' she said to him in the library after reading out his Father' s letter. He looked so lost then, that she just had to hug him.
'Even if anything does happen, I know you will save your friend' Shaoran said to her right after Tomoyo disappeared once again.
She was looking at the blue moon, tears falling. Shaoran has moved on…, she thought. He has left, and now is in peace… I know I will never see him again. He knew what was like to lose someone close to you. Just thinking about how his family was taken from him… and how he suddenly died… my heart aches. She gripped her shirt right where her heart was. Although we only met by accident, and we were 50 years apart from each other…
'He was my friend…' she whispered, then shook her head. 'No… My Love. One that meant a lot to me' she gazed at the night sky, and the moon under which they kissed for the first and last time. 'I will never forget you, Shaoran' she promised to the blue moon. 'Never. I will tell everyone about you, and what your family died for. And…' she smiled a little despite the tears falling. 'I will miss you, Shaoran, My love…'
She stood there, in silence, just watching the moon. She didn't know how much time has passed, and she didn't care. Shaoran was gone… forever…
'Sakura-chan!' she heard Tomoyo's voice from behind her. She turned around to see her friend emerging from the cave. 'I managed to find the passage back to the front of the house' she said with a smile. Then she looked at Sakura and noticed the tears. 'Sakura-chan…?' she asked. 'Sakura-chan, why are you crying?'
'Shaoran is gone…' the brown-haired girl replied.
'Gone?' Tomoyo tilted her head in confusion.
'He left this world' Sakura explained. 'He is now resting in peace… with his family'
'Oh, Sakura-chan…' Tomoyo approached her friend and embraced her. She stood there, patting the brown-haired girl's head while she was crying. It took minutes for Sakura to finally calm down. Tomoyo moved next to her and looked at the night sky. 'Tonight looks beautiful…' she said quietly.
'Yeah…' Sakura nodded. 'You know, Tomoyo-chan? When Shaoran and I found out the truth about the attacks, I never would have thought that the uncle would kill his own brother and the family. All just for the land and money… and yet, he tried to save Shaoran's life, before he fell to his death'
'Yeah' Tomoyo smiled to her friend. 'At least we solved the mysteries. The one about the family's murder. About where Shaoran Li, the only son really was…' she looked back at the cave. 'He was right here. All this time…'
'Yes, he was' Sakura nodded. 'And he is finally with his family' she looked back at the sky. 'He was a really good friend. Thank you, Shaoran Li, my dear friend…' she said. 'And my Love' she added quietly.
Back in the village, Gran was just preparing the dinner, when she heard a knock.
'Oh? I wonder who that could be…' she said to herself walking towards the door. She opened the door and noticed a certain brown-haired girl standing on a doorway. 'Ah, hello there, Sakura' she greeted the girl. 'How can I help you?'
'Well, Gran…' said Sakura, stepping inside the house. She reached to her bag and took out an old sketchbook. 'This belongs to the late Shaoran Li, the only son… he said you knew him all those years ago… he said you should have this, his old sketchbook'
The old woman looked at the sketchbook held by Sakura and covered her mouth.
'He wanted me… to have this…?' she asked taking the sketchbook in her wrinkled hands.
'Yes' Sakura smiled. 'His spirit was trapped inside that house because he fell…'
'He… fell?' asked the woman shocked.
'Yes' confirmed the girl. 'He wasn't slaughtered with his family. His sisters were killed by the mobs, but his uncle was the one who killed his Father. Then, Shaoran ran for his life, but… he lost the footing and fell down the pit…' Gran took few steps back, shocked by Sakura's words, and the girl continued. 'Because he didn't remember, he was a ghost who remained at the house. But I helped him to recover his memory, and he told me to give this to you. So he could never be forgotten'
'… You are really a good girl' said Gran smiling through the tears. 'I was afraid when he disappeared, but I'm glad. I'm so happy you cleared the whole story, Sakura. Thank you so much'
After that, both Sakura and Mechiko decided to give Shaoran a proper memorial. It might not be a proper grave, but it is a reminder of who Shaoran Li was… They ordered a gravestone, and put in in the village's graveyard. Sakura wanted to have it in the mansion, beside his family, but Gran was old and couldn't make a journey through the forest to visit the grave, so they decided to put it right there. It was a simple gravestone, with only a few words carved on it: Rest in peace, Shaoran Li, died aged 23. Suffered a heart attack and fell down the pit. A caring and kind-hearted Son, Brother and a Friend. Sakura really wanted to add "Love" to the carving, but Gran said it's enough like that. They both regularly visited the gravestone, bringing new flowers and taking care of the grave.
'Gran?' asked Sakura during one of the visits. 'Can you teach me how to draw and paint?'
'Of course I can, dear' the old woman replied with a smile. 'Now, I will give you a moment alone. I will wait for you at my house, with a fresh pot of tea and cookies' she said before turning around and leaving.
Sakura stood there, watching the grave. A single rose was put there by Sakura.
'Thank you, Shaoran' she said to the gravestone. 'You will always be my friend, and my love, wherever you are. I decided to learn how to draw and paint, just like you. I'm spending much more time with Mechiko now. She still remembers you, and she said you should wait for her' a single tear fell down her cheek. 'I'm so happy you are with your family now. So… watch over me, okay… Shaoran?'
' s, a' she could swear she heard the boy's voice from around her. She smiled gently and left the graveyard.
Years passed, after some time, at the age of 89, Gran Mechiko passed away. She was buried on the graveyard, next to Shaoran's memorial. Sakura regularly visited both graves, talking to Gran and Shaoran. She also often went to the old mansion and to the cliff, watching the blue moon from there. It was 5 years after Gran's death, and Sakura was 21 by then. As usual, she took her bag, filled with drawing utensils, sketchbooks, and one special sketchbook.
'You want me to have it?' asked Sakura surprised, holding the sketchbook in her hands. Gran smiled warmly and nodded.
'He would want you to have it' she said.
'But… he asked me to give it to you, Gran' Sakura reminded. The old woman chuckled.
'That is because he thought I would be hurt if he gave it to you rather than me' she explained and looked up. 'You know, Sakura, I can see him more often now. We talk about the past, the present, and the future' she looked at Sakura. 'I know he loves you, Sakura. I was his first love, but you took my place in his heart'
'I…' Sakura tried to excuse herself, but Gran waved her hand and laughed.
'I'm not mad at you, dear' she calmed her down. 'I had my time with him 53 years ago, so I can't blame him for finding someone else dear to him. But I'm glad it's you, Sakura'
'Gran…' Sakura whispered, and the woman pointed at the sketchbook in girl's hands.
'That is why I'm giving this to you, Sakura' she said. 'Because now you will have a part of him with you'
'Thank you, Gran' Sakura smiled hugging the sketchbook. 'I will treasure it'
Sakura smiled as she walked past the bridge and emerged from the cave. The moon shone beautiful, as always. She was just about to move to her usual place, when she noticed a figure standing by the cliff. As she was coming closer, she started to notice brown hair and green clothes the person was wearing.
'I was waiting for you' said the person, turning around. 'Sakura'
'Shaoran…' Sakura whispered covering her mouth, tears starting to fall from her eyes. She let go of her bag and ran to the man, embracing him in a tight hug. 'Shaoran, you're back'
'I am, love' he said, hugging her and patting her head.
'But… how?' she asked looking at him. 'You died… so how?'
'I was praying, Sakura' he explained. 'I was praying so that I could be with you. I was happy with my family, and when finally Mechiko joined me. But I missed you, Sakura. I looked at you from heaven, and I wanted so badly to be by your side. So I prayed to god to let me live one more time' he smiled and took her head in his hands. 'So here I am' he said and kissed her. Sakura returned the kiss.
'Welcome back' she whispered as she looked into those amber eyes in the blue moonlight.
