Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to CLAMP, not me.

In the last chapter:

The call ended abruptly and Eriol chuckled. "He'll need to take an indefinite leave of absence from Hong Kong operations from tomorrow onwards, if you do what you came here to do."

"Only if I managed to convince him to come back with me"

"You will," Eriol said with a grin. "You definitely will"

Sensei, I Love You

Epilogue

Sakura tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears and smiled at the reflection in the mirror. Anxious about what was going to happen made her smile turn wobbly. She finally got a chance to meet Syaoran after so many months of enduring the heartache and worrying. What expression should she wear when she see him later? Should she be angry because the heartless idiot did not even bother contact her? Or should she smile and pretend everything was fine? Perhaps a punch or a kick would be a nice touch. Maybe both. Everything will be perfect once he pulled her in for a hug-except that she was in a lacy maidservant's uniform which Eriol instructed her to wear.

Loud staccato raps on the door reminded her that an impatient Eriol was waiting outside her room. He refused to move an inch from the door unless she changed into the uniform. She narrowed her eyes at him the moment she opened the door. "Are you satisfied now?"

"This is wonderful!" Eriol clapped his hands while eyeing Sakura's appearance. "You look absolutely stunning in that dress!"

"Hiiragizawa-san, this is a maid's uniform!"

"The lady does not appreciate my kind efforts..." Eriol wiped the mock tears away from his eyes. "I went through so much trouble to procure this uniform. If only I could get my hands on a nurse's uniform."

Sakura's blood went cold. "N-nurse's uniform?"

"Imagine Syaoran's expression when he sees you in a nurse uniform. He will be instantly cured for all sickness!"

"STOP!"

"Wh-what? That was a loud one... My eardrums almost burst. I bet even Syaoran can hear you from his room."

"Hiiragizawa-san, I really appreciate your help in getting me to Hong Kong and even let me stay in such a wonderful room. But this-" Sakura pointed to her uniform. "-this is too much!"

"Don't you want to get back at Syaoran for making you wait for so long? I'm helping you on that too."

Sakura blinked. "But this... This looks like the joke is on me instead..."

"No, no, no!" Eriol wagged his pointing finger at her. "Just imagine what his reaction will be when he wakes up and see you right in front of him. Ah... that shocked expression..."

"But we don't have to go to this extent just to shock him," Sakura whined, smoothing the crease from her massive knee-length skirt. She suddenly wondered how the maids in the mansion carried out their duties in this uniform.

"By the way, there are a few uniforms in the mansion for maidservants. This is the classiest of them all," Eriol said, answering her unasked question. She looked up at him in surprise and found him grinning at her. "Your expression says it all for you. Come on, let's head off to Syaoran's room—I've got a meeting to attend and we need to hurry."

"And who is the one who insist I change before I leave my room?"

"We need to relax and have fun once in a while in this serious and oppresive environment. No one can ever relax within these walls."

"You look relaxed enough."

"Oh hush! I got a reptuation to uphold."

Sakura rolled her eyes and refused to comment further. She was ushered along a few long corridors and made a few turns here and there until she lost all sense of direction. She wondered how she was going to make it back to her room on her own later. They stopped right outside a door where a well-dressed elderly looking man holding a tray stood waiting. He gave her a slight bow and smiled warmly at her in such a way that a smile came to her face automatically.

"Thanks for waiting Wei-san," Eriol said and thumped Wei on his back. "This is Kinomoto Sakura, the girl Syaoran is so enamoured of and eager to get back to."

Wei bowed again. "Thank you for coming, Kinomoto-sama. I can see why Syaoran-sama is working so much harder than ever."

Sakura thought she did a great job masking her surprise at Wei's command of Japanese language—he really sounded like a native Japanese. "Is Sensei feeling better?"

"The doctor came by yesterday night to take a look at Syaoran-sama and said he needs plenty of rest. He is already awake and working inside." Wei looked at the tray with a glass of water and a small packet of pills. "He's due to take his medication."

"What? Even though I already offered to head the meeting on his behalf? This is crazy! Crazy but... fun... I can eavesdrop and spy on the two of you!"

"You are an adult, Hiiragizawa-san. Please act like one."

"Indeed, Eriol-sama. Spying is a very bad habit."

Sakura grinned at Wei before turning to Eriol. "See? I'm not the only one who thinks so."

Eriol raised his hands up in defeat. "Alright, I'll be good and head off for the meeting. Wei, I'll leave Sakura in your capable hands."

"I'm sure Syaoran-sama will take good care of her during her stay at the Li mansion," Wei said with a smile before bowing. "Have a safe trip, Eriol-sama."

Eriol clucked his tongue. "Why do you sound as if I am going to be tortured or something. Safe trip... I'll be back as soon as I can."

Sakura stared at Eriol's retreating back for a while. "Hey, Hiiragizawa-san!" Sakura was careful not to be too loud lest Syaoran heard her. He turned back and arched a brow at her in silent question. "Thanks for bringing me here."

"Most welcome," he said. "It's mostly out of selfish reasons, so... don't thank me too much."

"Selfish reasons?" Sakura asked but he had already taken a turn and was out of sight. "What selfish reasons? He makes no sense as usual."

"Syaoran-sama has been working too hard ever since he came back to Hong Kong and he has delegated many tasks for Eriol-sama to complete. I have to admit Syaoran-sama isn't easy to please when he is very fixated on the results."

"This doesn't really sound like the Sensei I know. I mean... Sure, Sensei can be very serious at times but most of the time he is just acting silly and getting quite a bit of attention in school for that."

Wei nodded in agreement. "The Syaoran-sama in Hong Kong is a very serious one, especially when Yelan-sama is hovering over him and watching his every moves. There is no leeway to make any mistakes and he cannot afford to make even a tiny mistake at this point. There is so much at stake for him."

"So Sensei has been very busy for the past few months?"

"I'm afriad he is. He is usually in the office though and doesn't return till late." Wei looked at the tray in his hands before bowing to Sakura. "Syaoran-sama is due to take his medications. Please wait here while I announce your presence. Syaoran-sama will definitely be surprised."

"I bet he will," Sakura replied with a smile.

Wei returned the smile and knocked on the door. Hearing no reply from the occupant within the room, Wei let out a short loud cough before he balanced the tray in one hand to turn the knob with the other. "Syaoran-sama?"

There was a short pause before a gruff voice replied. "Wei, didn't I say to leave me alone until I call for you?

"You certainly did but it's time for your medication." Wei stepped into the dark room. "And you should really pull the curtains back to let the sunlight in especially since you are working."

Sakura raised a brow from outside the room. Shouldn't he be resting? She couldn't help but peek into the room and was taken aback by how messy the room was—there were books and papers everywhere in the massive room which was easily four times the size of her old room. She spied Syaoran sitting behind the desk in the inner corner of the room nearer to the clear rows of windows.

"It's already morning?" Syaoran frowned at the bright rays of light pouring into the room after Wei has drawn back the curtains. "The meeting..."

"Eriol-sama has gone ahead without you."

Syaoran let out a sigh of relief and leaned back against his swivel chair. He raised a hand to massage the space between his eyebrows. "Finally... a short reprive..."

"It wasn't easy dealing with them for months, was it?"

"Tough. Man... I'm tired of all these..."

Wei handed a glass of water and some pills to Syaoran, who gulped the medication down with a slight wince. "You need more rest, Syaoran-sama."

Syaoran shook his head with a wry smile. "I can't. I want to finish this as soon as possible and return to Japan. The project is almost complete."

"But at the expense of your health? Kinomoto-sama won't be happy when she learns about this."

"Well... she doesn't have to know all the sordid details..." Syaoran touched a photo frame on his table with such a tender look on his face that Sakura's heart skipped a beat and she had to refrain from rushing in to give him a big hug and lots of kisses. "Just a few more weeks before everything is finalized. I'll still be in time before she starts her university life."

Sakura decided it was time to make her dramatic entrance. "I hope you do realize that she will slowly start to forget all about you when you refused to contact her."

The chair almost flew off from the table as Syaoran stood up. So fixated he was on Sakura that he did not realize Wei bowed and left the room to let them have some privacy. "Wh...why..."

Sakura crossed her arms but made no move to step closer to him. She had taken the first step and now it was up to Syaoran to come to her. "Why am I here?"

"You should be in Japan."

"I should?"

Syaoran scratched the back of his head. "You know what I mean..."

"No!" Sakura shouted. She had enough of people trying to dictate what she should do. "I don't know what you mean. The only thing that I do know is that you should be with me in Japan after I graduate!"

The silence that followed her outburst was deafening. Sakura could feel the burn of tears in her eyes and she willed herself not to cry. Syaoran spoke after what seemed like an eternity.

"I would be with you in Japan if I could, muffin." Syaoran sighed and looked at the laptop on the table. "I have my responsibilities to fulfill—responsibilities which I threw aside so that I can get close to you and make sure you are okay. It's the least that I could do after what had happened."

"What's this? Are you saying that I'm a charitable job? That you love me out of pity?"

Syaoran stepped out from the safety of his table and approached Sakura. He swept her into a fierce hug, earning a surprised gasp from her. He shushed her when she began to protest. "Never doubt what I feel for you, muffin. Never."

"You failed to keep your promise." Since she was unable to break away from his embrace, she resorted to pinching his sides.

"I know... I'll make it up to you. Somehow."

"That doesn't sound very convincing. I waited for two months and was labelled as your fan girl when I tried to look for you in your office."

Syaoran leaned back so that he could look at Sakura. There was a gleam in his eyes. "What? Fan girl? Hmm... I like that idea."

"Are you forgetting that I'm still angry and upset with you?"

"Ah... I was trying to divert your attention..."

Sakura sighed. "You are really impossible..."

"Aww... Come on! A frown doesn't suit your pretty face! Besides, I just need a few more weeks! Just a few more weeks and I can go back to Japan for good this time. I swear!"

"For good?"

Syaoran shrugged. "It's meant to be a surprise for you when you graduate but the whole project was delayed so I was stuck here trying to resolve the issues. If only the stupid Eriol comes back with me... things would have been smoother. Anyway, the main point is that I did intend to fulfill my promise but... things just didn't go according to how it should have been. So... forgive me?"

"It's going to take more than flowery words to earn your forgiveness," Sakura warned. "Afterall, I did spent the past two months in agony and confusion. It's not a very pleasant experience."

"It's the same for me too," Syaoran admitted and tucked her head under his chin. "When are you starting university?"

"In two weeks' time," Sakura replied and shivered when cool air brushed past her back. She looked up at Syaoran in alarm and found him grining from ear to ear. "What are you trying to do?"

Syaoran shrugged. "Nothing much. Just wondering why are you in such a provocative costume... Are you trying to..."

"What? No! Hiiragizawa-san forced me to wear this!"

"Ah... Remind me to thank him later..." He nuzzled against her neck.

"You are really impossible..."

"Stay with me?"

Sakura smiled. "Forever."

The End

Sorry for the long wait! This chapter is finally up after numerous times of rewriting. Phew! There were some periods of time where I struggled against writer's block and totally had no idea of what I was writing. So... Sensei, I Love You is completed. I will be taking some time to draft out the next story amidst my busy career. Let me know what you think about this chapter/what you hope for in the new story. :)