I totally half-assed the editing this time. Didn't finish it, honestly. I'm just really done today. I had a rough day, so I'm just going to give you guys the unedited version. Sorry if there are mistakes in it.

This chapter isn't mean to be fluffy. It's more about the plot. I'm trying to wrap this project up, so we've gotta have some conclusion stuff going on here. Very important. Plus, this is going to bring into play some things I've foreshadowed in previous chapters. In addition it contains even more foreshadowing. Start making all your guesses now. Oh, and by foreshadowing, I don't just mean about Sakura and Syaoran's relationship. I'm talking about smaller details.

Anyways, bear with me while you're reading this. The beginning is written a certain way (you'll see) and that wasn't originally what I was going to do, but I decided to leave it for both time as well as to show you how distant Sakura is. Then she comes back and is yelling across that house at Touya. Transitions. Gotta love em.

Sakura's POV

When I was young, long before I ever met the Chinese boy who would one day steal my heart, my mother told me stories of when she met dad, and how they fell in love. It was a scandalous relationship because she was a student at the university he taught at. That didn't stop them, though. Even when the board found out about it, the two of them fought in order to save my father's job and my mother's reputation.

In the end, they were both let off with a warning since my mother was so close to graduating. It was less than a year after she finished school that my dad proposed, and a few months later, they were married.

I always found the story to be beautiful and inspirational because they were willing to fight for each other. Every time my mother spoke of it, I thought to myself how nice it would be if one day I found someone like that myself. A person who would do anything to be with me, and I, in return, would do the same. That idealistic point of view didn't become real, though. When push came to shove, I was the one who couldn't fight. Despite finding the person I always dreamt of who was prepared to fight and potentially suffer on my behalf. To be with me, the coward that isn't even able to try and be with the person she loves because of fear.

After seven years of being in love, I finally found the key to my own happiness. Being the fool I am, I held onto it for a while, and just when there was the perfect time to use it, I threw it away fearing the unknown world that might lie beyond the door.

Young, cowardly Sakura chose the easy way out. She chose not to fight.

And as Syaoran strides over to the pathetic, weak version of myself that I despise with all my being, so close that I can feel my breath repel off of his chest, I'm forced to accept that I can't reach out to him. Even when he rests his hands on my shoulders and places a gentle, fleeting kiss to the top of my head, I remain stock still.

"I love you, Sakura. Please, don't ever forget that."

Then he's gone, and my body reacts despite my will, reaching out for him. My conscious takes over in time to stop short, knowing that there's nothing I can say or do that will magically change things. It was my decision to do this, so I have to see it through. For both of us.

It's for the best.

When I get home that night, all I have the strength to do is collapse against the inside of the door, and curl in on myself. There are no tears left form me to cry. I just stare at the hard wood floor panels, looking at them, but not really seeing them. What happened during the past few months that led me here?

My dad finds me like that not too long after. He kneels down beside me and asks if I'm alright.

I tell him I don't know. Because, in truth, I really don't. All I know is that it hurts, and I can't imagine the pain ever going away.

He rubs my back and asks me what happened.

I tell him about my friend who I love more than I've ever loved anyone. And I tell him how I hurt that person, because all I'm able to do is push that person away in the hope of protect both of us.

My dad asks me why I can't be with this person if he means that much to me.

I explain that I'm afraid of hurting him, because soon we won't be able to see each other anymore. The boy and I live far, far apart, and I believe it will be a burden and pain to try and be together when we're so far apart. Our homes are thousands of miles apart.

And then my father tells me a story. He talks about my mother and how any amount of time together, even if they weren't by each other's sides again, would be more than enough for him. Just to be able to talk to her and see her again. "Sometimes it takes a leap of faith to find the greatest things in life. The greatest things in life don't come easy. Perhaps you decide to tell this boy how you feel and you two are separated but remain a couple. For some, long distance relationships don't work. That might be the case for you and this boy, but wouldn't you rather give it a shot at least to know for sure and not have any regrets?"

Everything he says sways me. It sounds so alluring. But I can't think. I can't even toy with the possibility right now. I just broke the heart of the person I love. I need to think. To breath. To process what has happened and what is going to happen next.

It's too much. Just let me rest. Let me accept this fate I've brought upon myself.

Time. I need time.

The phone rings at noon.

I remain firmly seated on the couch watching the pictures on the television wiz by. "Touya! Phone!"

Somewhere farther off in the house my brother's voice comes echoing back. "You get it for once! You've been sitting on that couch watching TV all morning!"

"I don't have to work this weekend. I'm entitled to sit on the couch all morning if I want to!"

The phone continues to blare loudly from it's spot perched on the countertop.

"Just pick up the phone already! I'm busy right now!"

I huff begrudgingly, but push myself up off of the cushion realizing that Touya is determined not to pick it up.

I reach the phone just as the final ring fades away.

"Hello? Kinomoto residence, how may I help you?"

"Ah, Sakura-sama, is that you?"

My ears and body immediately perk up. "Wei?" I exclaim. "Why are you calling?"

It doesn't register to me that I might sound rude until the older man's voice comes back asking, "I'm sorry, is this a bad time?"

"Oh. No, I'm sorry. It's just that I wasn't exactly expecting to hear from... you." That's not it. I wasn't expecting to hear from Syaoran, and while Wei is not Syaoran, they do live in the same apartment. "Is there something you need? Did..." I pause. "Have you spoken to Syaoran recently?"

"Yes, I spoke to Syaoran-sama not an hour ago, but that's not why I'm calling you at the moment."

"Oh?"

"You see there's someone here who wishes to speak with you."

I wait for him to offer some sort of explanation, but one never comes. "Can you elaborate, please? Who are you talking about? Syaoran? Meiling?"

"No, no. Nothing like that. You see..."

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Open the door, Wei. Hurry and open the door already!

Summoned by my will, the door gives way to my fist and on the other side stands Wei. There's a dreary expression across his features.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"It's no trouble at all." My eyes drift past his shoulder. "Can you show me in?"

"By all means." Wei leads me into the warm, familiar apartment. As we proceed down the hall, my adrenaline begins kicking in. When Wei told me who wanted to talk to me, I thought he was joking at first. By the time I realized he was serious, I was nearly running out the door to get here as quickly as I could.

"Madame, Miss Kinomoto has arrived."

A woman's voice replies from somewhere just beyond my line of sight. Her voice is like silk slipping thought my fingers but with a powerful undertone that tells me she's clearly someone very important. "Send her in then, and bring us out some tea."

Wei's eyes move to me, and he gestures me elegantly into the room. I timidly advance, keeping my hands firmly at my sides. The woman seated on the armchair across from me looks almost exactly as I remember her from when I met her as a child; however, this time she's adorn in a more casual, relaxed ensemble. Her long, pitch black hair falls freely down her back and across her sturdy shoulders. The radiant red lipstick she wears makes her ivory skin glow like porcelain. And her dark, perceptive eyes are alive with a sort of intrigue that makes me fidget under their watchful gaze.

Beside me, Wei bows low and takes his leave from the room. I stand opposite the woman, unsure wether to be seated or to remain standing.

"Miss Kinomoto, quite some time has past since I last saw you. Time has been kind to you, I see, though. You're just as radiant as you were when I first laid eyes upon you as a child." A delicate smile forms upon her lips, instantly putting me at ease. "Forgive my rudeness for calling you here with no warning. I assure you, I bare no ill will. If it isn't any trouble, would you mind sitting with me for awhile? There are some things I wish to discuss."

She's so courteous in her speech, that I'm not sure how to respond. To begin, I nod and move across the room, lowering myself onto the couch opposite her.

"Miss Li..." I hesitate, glancing behind myself.

"Xiao Lang isn't here at the moment. I asked my niece to keep him out of the house for a while. I'm afraid that if he knew I was here, I wouldn't have this chance to speak with you in private."

Syaoran doesn't even know his mother is here? Talk to me in private? What in the world is going on?

Trying to appear calm, I say, "If you don't mind me asking, why did you ask to speak with me?"

"No need to look so worried. Like I said, I didn't call you here out of spite. Recently, whenever I'm talking to my family here, your name seems to come up in conversation."

"Well, Syaoran and I do spend a bit of time together, so that's probably why."

"Perhaps." Yelan props her elbow up on the arm of the chair and leans her face thoughtfully against the back of her hand. "Although, from what I hear, it's a bit more than just that. You're aware of Xiao Lang's feelings, are you not?"

I almost jump, I'm so startled. My face heats up, and I have to break away from her intense gaze.

"So he was telling the truth. That boy has never been good at showing his true emotions to anyone. I'm pleased he was able to overcome his own obstacle."

At that moment, Wei emerges from the kitchen carrying a tray with two tea cups and a pot. He pours the tea and places the glasses in front of both myself and Syaoran's mother. Once he's out of the room again, Yelan lifts the cup to her lips.

"I hadn't intended on being overly forward with you, Miss Kinomoto, but I'm afraid that I must be. Xiao Lang has not been himself as of late, and it worries me. I'm sorry to ask you this, but do you harbor feelings towards my son beyond just friendship?"

I nearly choke on my tea. "M-Miss Li?" I exclaim.

"You won't be offending me if you answer with a 'no'. I assure you that I won't breath a word of whatever you say to my son."

I set down the cup in my hand. "It makes no difference either way..." I speak softly now as if by raising my voice, he'll somehow hear me. "Syaoran already knows how I feel about him."

"From your expression, I assume it wasn't the response he had been hoping for."

"No, it wasn't."

"I see." Yelan is quite for a moment. "Well, I can't say that I'm not disappointed. Xiao Lang is my only son. His happiness is all that I wish for."

"I doubt that being with me is what would make him happy."

Yelan looks curiously at me. "What would make you say that?"

"Well... I love Syaoran very much, but if I were to accept him, I would just be causing him pain."

Yelan nods. "There are many different types of love. Leading him to believe your feelings were more than friendship would indeed be painful if they didn't change to something more."

I hesitate. "That's not... That's not it. There were times when I only saw him as a friend, but that was a long time ago. I fell for him gradually. I can't pinpoint exactly when it was that I really began to see him as more than just a friend, but I became aware of it when I realized I was going to lose him. After that, I told myself that I hated him. Then, a few months ago, I realized I was lying to myself. Syaoran has this uncanny ability of making me feel like everything is going to be alright. Without him, nothing is as bright and lively. If what I feel for him isn't a romantic love, then I can't imagine what is."

Something about Yelan changes after I'm done speaking. "Child, I'm afraid I don't follow. Is my son aware that you feel this way about him or not?"

"He knows that my feelings towards him are romantic."

"Yet you claim that you are unable to make him happy."

"Sorry, I guess I'm not explaining this very well. You see, even though told him how I feel, I also told him that I couldn't be with him."

Yelan's eyes narrow slightly, not so much in anger, but rather out of a natural urge to protect her son. "And why is that?"

I hesitate. How do I explain to Syaoran's mother that I can't be with him because I don't want to hurt him? No matter what I say, does it really justify my actions through her eyes?

"I can't see myself having a future with him that would be anything besides painful."

"Relationships aren't meant to be easy. If they were, they would be meaningless. The point of being with someone isn't just gaze longingly into each other's eyes and lollygag around as if everything in the world is perfect. You must support one another through the good and the bad."

"But how two people support each other if there a thousand miles apart?"

"Ah," she breaths. "So that's it."

I bow my head. "You must think I'm pathetic."

"No." Her voice is gentle. "I think your afraid of repeating history. What you seem to be forgetting, though, is that you are no longer children. The past is behind you, and the future is unpredictable. We decide for ourselves how to live life. You can either cower from the world and avoid taking risks that could hurt you, or you can go forward and take risks, facing the consequences, be them good or bad, with an open mind and will to go on living. So you have to ask yourself one question: how will you choose to live your life?"

The life that will allow me to be with the person I love.

I realize my mistake immediately. All I've ever done is protect myself. I don't take risks or put myself out there because of the fear. Syaoran was right: I really am a coward.

"Oh," I groan, bringing my hand to my face. "I've been such an idiot, haven't I? Will he even accept me after all that I've put him though?"

"If he loves you, and you make him understand then I'm sure Xiao Lang accept you with open arms."

I pull my face from my hand, eyes wide. This can't wait. "I have to go. I have to find him!" I jump off of the couch.

Across from me, Yelan starts to shift, but is cut short. At that moment, the front door creaks open, and new voices fill the household.

"Wei, we're back! I tried to keep him out as long as I could, but he was getting suspicious, and–hey, Syaoran, wait a minute!"

"What's going on. Why has Meiling been acting so-" Syaoran appears in the doorway, and his eyes immediately meet mine. "Strange."

Meiling comes running up from behind him, and starts to reach for him, but stops when she seems me. "Oh, you're still here?" She turns to Yelan. "Sorry, Auntie, I couldn't keep him out any longer."

Meiling's words register with Syaoran and he looks away from me, his attention shifting to the woman sitting in the arm chair opposite me. "Mother?" he's nearly shouting now.

"Hello, Xiao Lang. It's been a while since I last saw you. Did you get a haircut?"

His jaw drops. Can't say I blame him. He probably hasn't seen her in over a few months or more, and she's asking him about his hair.

"When did you... Why are you... What are you doing here?"

Yelan shakes her head. "I'm disappointed, Xiao Lang. You seem upset. Aren't you at least going to give your mother a hug?"

Syaoran continues to stare at her with a perplexed look. He doesn't budge an inch. His mother, on the other hand, appears unfazed. She stands up, crosses the room, and wraps her arms around her son. After a moment, Syaoran finally moves his arms to return the embrace. His expression softens a bit, but still remains puzzled.

"I'm happy to see you, mom, but why are you here? You don't usually make unannounced visits during the school year."

Yelan releases her son. "Well, with all the reports I've been getting about what's been going on here, I decided I'd take some time off to drop by."

She says 'drop by' as if she happened to be in the neighborhood and decided to visit her son; whereas, in reality, she flew across the ocean to get here.

"Take some time off?"

"Yes. Fuutie is watching over things while I'm away. She's become very good with business matters. That reminds me, I think it's about time I have a word with you about a few things. Sooner rather than later, Xiao Lang." Yelan faces me. "Miss Kinomoto, if you're willing to hold your thoughts on the matter we were discussing, I'd like to speak with Xiao Lang first."

I clutch the sides of my skirt and nod firmly. "Of course."

Her eyes soften. "Xiao Lang, wait here while I see out our guest. I'll be back in a moment." With those words, Syaoran's mother beckons me forward and follows me outside. "Thank you for coming over to speak with me today and on such short notice. After all this time, I must have given you quite a shock."

"I assure you, it's a pleasant surprise," I tell her with a bright smile. "And thank you for making me realize what I have to do. If everything works out, I promise that I'll do my best to make Syaoran happy."

What she does next leaves me taken aback. Syaoran's mother steps up to me and wraps her arms around me in an embrace the same as she did her son. "You're still as wonderful of a person as you were the day I first me you, Kinomoto Sakura. I believe that you are, as you always have been, the key to Xiao Lang's happiness. Please, watch over him well."

I smile. My arms move on their own to return her embrace. "I will. I promise."

I'm not crazy about this chapter. Frankly, I'm not overly fond of any chapters that don't have fluffy SakuraxSyaoran stuff going on. Granted, I do enjoy writing meaningful things like what I was having Yelan say. I felt super deep while writing that. Wisdom, you guys. I try to have it. I also try to write sounding sophisticated. That's another Yelan thing. I felt like I was pulling it off, especially at first. Maybe you don't agree. I was in the zone, though.

Anyways, next chapter is the last, you guys. We can all weep together... that it's finally over. It's been over a year. I've probably said this a million times, but I've never been so serious about writing anything as I am about this. I have many notebooks with handwritten notes. I google things to make sure I've got my facts right. Seriously, I pride myself on not being one of those fanfic writers who doesn't even try to write professionally. I may not have a beta, but I seriously do my best to give you guys top quality fanfiction here. Grammar, spelling, and plot are very important to me. I made many mistakes when I started, and I know that I still make careless ones now, but I've really become more mature and experienced thanks to this story. Heh. It makes me so happy now that I signed up for this site and had the courage to write for others.

Okay, so since this is the second to last chapter, I'm gonna give you all a heads up. Next chapter there will probably be a lot more authors notes than usual. I know, I know. You probably don't think that's possible. Well, it is. I want to tell you guys about my entire basis behind the plot and some other little things about the story. There'll be info on the edit and the epilogue next chapter, too. Be sure to read if you're interested in those things. Since, odds are, I'm going to be taking the entire story down when I edit. Wait, no. All but one chapter. We'll talk about it next time. I'll be sure to edit this chapter fully at some point, by the way. It shouldn't be too bad now, but I'm sure there are mistakes. (I found one where I left out a word and the sentence didn't make any sense without it).

Okay, so I'll talk to you guys next time. See you then.