Epilogue:

Sakura opened her eyes, blinking to bring the room into focus. Where was she? The ceiling looked familiar as did the scent of the house but she couldn't remember for the life of her where she had encountered it before. She was so tired, weary physically and mentally.

Above her a face came into view and it was Eriol.

"Eriol-kun?" she asked faintly and she focused finally, recognizing the ceiling right then. And the smell.

This was Syaoran's house.

Tomoyo appeared beside Eriol, a happy smile lighting her face. "Sakura-chan, you're awake!" she whispered and she embraced the girl, her long hair falling around Sakura.

She rose slowly from the couch she slept on, her head spinning. "What happened? Where am I?" she asked even though she already knew. And then she suddenly remembered for she looked at Eriol in terror. "Where's Syaoran?"

Eriol took her hand wordlessly, helping her rise. She allowed him, suddenly realizing she had very little strength in her knees. Carefully, he began to lead her, winding out of the room and toward the staircase in the back of the large house. Tomoyo followed silently, dark hair floating behind her. Sakura leaned on Eriol, smiling gratefully at him as he slowly helped her up the staircase and toward the second landing. Syaoran's room was on that floor, toward the back of the hallway.

Wei-san was inside the room with his young master, watching over him. When Eriol knocked on the open door to alert their presence he smiled at them and excused himself, leaving the room. Sakura gazed after him, wondering if he was mad at her. He didn't seem it but that was all right. She was angry enough at herself for the both of them.

"Is he all right?" she asked Eriol as he released her and paused at his bedside. He was still asleep, chest rising and falling in rhythm. For that perhaps she was thankful.

"He's fine." Eriol nodded. "Just very tired. He's been asleep for about a day. You, too." He said, glancing at her.

"Me, too?" Sakura gasped. Her eyes widened as realization dawned on her. A full day. That meant…"Oni-chan! I have to call home and tell him-"

"I already did. I told him you had come over yesterday after school and still hadn't been feeling well and were staying over with me." Tomoyo slipped in smoothly. The workings of a clever mind. "You should probably at least stop by tonight so that he doesn't suspect. Then you can come back." She advised.

Sakura gazed at her wordlessly for a moment.

Tomoyo smiled faintly at her, the corners of her lips curving up.

Sakura found herself smiling back before stopping herself. She bowed her head, feeling awkwardness wash over her. "I was so mad at all of you. I thought you all had betrayed me and I couldn't stand it. It hurt me so much…"

Tomoyo stared at her sadly and then reached out, brushing back her hair tenderly. "We're all sorry." She whispered, tilting her head. "We're sorry it came down to that and we're sorry we never told you. We just…" she shook her head, grimacing, "We wanted what was best for you."

Sakura nodded in understanding, lips tightening. And then she leaned into her friend slowly, wrapping her arms around her neck. "I'm so sorry." She uttered against her friend's hair. "I'm so, so sorry…"

Tomoyo smiled at Eriol over her shoulder. He smiled back, eyes closing into little moon crescents.

Touya already had the door open as she started coming up to the front door. "You had me scared to death." He stated almost angrily, dragging her into the house. "What happened?"

Sakura stared at him, hands clutching her backpack with a white-knuckled grip. "I wasn't feeling well last night." She answered slowly. "I stayed at Tomoyo-chan's house and then she took me to school this morning."

Touya glared at her, jaw clenching. The school had called to say she hadn't been in. That none of them had been in. He had been there to receive the call but Yuki had calmed him down, saying she probably had a good reason.

"Oni-chan?" she asked and she looked passed him as Yukito-san came out of the living room cautiously. "Yukito-san…"

"Sakura-chan." Yukito said faintly and he came around, grasping her by the arms. "Are you all right? We were worried about you."

She gazed at him, stunned into silence. And then she managed a smile, one that became wider as she suddenly realized she was talking to him, was close to him and wasn't feeling anything but a simple love for him. "I'm fine, Yukito-san. Just a bit sick last night but fine today."

Yukito stared at her as if measuring her and then backed away a step, looking toward Touya.

"Yokatta." Touya finally said after a small silence. He nodded, inhaling. "I made dinner seeing as how you let me starve last night." He said and while his face was closed off she knew he meant it lovingly.

Sakura smiled at him. "Arigato." she said quietly.

Touya nodded again and then turned, heading back towards the kitchen.

Sakura followed him with her gaze and then looked at Yukito who was looking the slightest bit uncomfortable now. He seemed so small, so fragile. She marveled at how her feelings had changed in but a day.

I was sure that I couldn't live without you, without you loving me the way I do you. Or the way I loved you yesterday…

And wordlessly she floated toward him and, taking him by surprise, wrapped her arms around his waist, exhaling into him. "Arigato, Yukito-san. For everything." She whispered against his chest.

He looked down at her, arms embracing her gently although uncertainly. "For everything?" he echoed.

She turned her head to look at him, comfortable in his arms. "For everything." She repeated, smile soft. "I'm not mad. I'm not sad." She said faintly. "I'm happy again."

He cocked his head questioningly but then seemed to change his mind, finally tightening his embrace. "I'm happy then, too." He said softly.

When she got back to Syaoran's house Nakuru and Spinel Sun were there, sitting with Tomoyo, Eriol and even Kero-chan, who was spooning huge quantities of strawberry shortcake into his mouth.

"Kero-chan!" she admonished, entering the living room.

Kero instantly choked, almost spitting back up the food. "Sakura-chan!" he crowed happily and he forgot the food momentarily, flying over to her. "Are you ok?"

She nodded, smiling down at him as she took him into her arms. "I'm fine, Kero-chan." She said and she wiped away a bit of cake still decorating his tiny chin.

Nakuru rose, slowly coming close and once she was in her proximity she lunged at Sakura, embracing her. "Gomen nasai, Sakura-chan!" she cried, squeezing her so hard she was scared her eyes would pop out of her sockets. "Gomen! Gomen!"

Kero was choking under them both.

"It's all right, Nakuru." She said soothingly, even running her fingers down the girl's long, dark hair.. "It's all right. I'm not mad. I'm not sure about Syaoran but I'm not mad. Not at you. Not at all."

Nakuru was practically sobbing against her. "You're…so sweet…" she cried, form shaking and Sakura laughed, comforting the poor girl.

"Nakuru." Eriol called to her. "I think you're choking her…"

Nakuru's tears instantly stopped and she pulled back, blinking wide-eyed. "I am?"

Sakura shook her head no, laughingly.

"You're so sweet!" she shrieked again, once more hugging her.

"Ok, enough!" Spinel Sun called over to her. "Let her go upstairs and see the boy already." He rolled over on the back of Syaoran's couch, back to the setting sun

"Is he awake?" Sakura asked, looking toward Tomoyo.

Tomoyo shook her head. "No. But we're expecting him to wake up soon." She replied with a small shrug. And she wound an arm around Eriol's arm, smiling.

Sakura took in the scene, not understanding for a split second. And then, "Tomoyo-chan!"

Every pair of eyes in the room were suddenly resting on her and Eriol. "N…Nani..?" she stuttered, staring right back. She looked at Eriol who was blushing a deep red.

Sakura merely blinked momentarily. And then she smiled again and quietly left, Tomoyo asking indignantly what the big idea was.

She wanted to see Syaoran.

She wound up the staircase slowly, thoughtfully, and tiptoed down the hallway towards his room, peeking in through the open doorway.

He was still sleeping. Which was good. She wanted him to recover.

Very quietly she stepped in and closed the door, locking it. It was so peaceful in here, what with the sun setting in that window too. The sky was a deep, coppery red, the darkening sky visible passed. She pulled up a chair beside his bed and sat, gazing at the sun.

So serene.

His breathing was even and for that she was grateful. She slowly leaned forward, clasping his hand with hers and laying her head down beside him on his bed. His hand was limp and she found herself gazing at it, at the long fingers she held sadly. His sheets smelled like him, such a comfortable scent. She smiled to herself and closed her eyes, allowing the scent to wash over her, to be all she sensed. And it carried her away.

Aishiteru.

She came awake slowly, aware of someone rubbing her fingers tenderly. She lifted her head, blinking. She had fallen asleep. She couldn't believe it. How much sleep did she need, anyway? She looked at her hand and realized that someone's fingers were playing with hers, long slender fingers running over her knuckles.

Syaoran was awake, head turned in her direction, a small smile on his lips.

She looked at him slowly, sitting up all the way. "Syaoran." She said simply. He was pale, much too pale for her liking and there were dark circles under those deep brown eyes. But he was beautiful.

He gazed at her still. "Aishiteru." He whispered and she suddenly knew she had heard him say it only a moment ago. That was what had woken her up. His eyes searched hers as he said it, not sure what to expect and not sure how to gauge her reaction.

She swallowed and then rose to her feet. He watched her stand, a small muscle working in his throat. He looked so sad, it broke her heart. She leaned forward, practically flinging herself at him. "I'm sorry, Syaoran! I'm so sorry-" she cried, embracing him tightly, never wanting to let him go.

He wound his arms around her, lightly. "Ouch." He grimaced and she pulled away as if struck.

"Hooeeeeeee! Gomen!"

He chuckled at her, smile widening into a grin. "It's fine. It's perfect." He said, a hand lifting to brush her hair away. "I'm sorry, too. For everything. For having thought that-"

She shushed him with a kiss, leaning into him once more. She caught him by surprise, his hands freezing around her. And then, accepting her, he slowly settled into the embrace, returning her kiss gently.

"It's over now. It's all over." She murmured against his mouth, hands lifting and feeling his hair underneath her fingers.

There was a knock on the door. More of a pounding. "Oi! What's going on in there? We know he's awake!" came Kero-chan's rude voice. And more voices agreed with his from outside.

"Funny." Syaoran said quietly, looking into her eyes with a small smile. "I think it's just beginning."

She smiled back at him, memorizing every detail of his beautiful face and then falling into his kiss once more. "Aishiteru." She finally whispered to him, knowing he heard her and knowing her love was returned fully. At last.

And they both ignored the noise outside.

Fin

For everyone who was reading along, thank you so much for putting up with me and the story and I hope if I write another (which I probably will because Cardcaptor Sakura IS my life) you will all decide to read it, too. Arigato!

Also, my brother, a few friends and I are working on a webpage that's going to hold loads of fanfiction and fan art. I was wondering if anyone wanted to contribute some of their work to the site? It would be such a great help to me because this is pretty much our first page and we're dying to get underway. If you want to help out (I hope you do!) and contribute some work please email me! I'm at DCFenix@aol.com

Ja ne!

-Aeslinn ;)