Title:  Reminiscent (23)

Author:  Yih

Written:  January 2002/February 2002

Disclaimer:  All rights are Clamp except ACC-Dangyun, Siwan, Shaolin, Faa, Tooya, Tooya 2, Tanpopo, Fukumi, and Saisei. 

Visit my website at: http://www.seiki.f2s.com

Author's Note:  Please review since I spent an awfully long time deciding to make this one entire chapter instead of three longer, torturous chapters, okay?  I'm trying to be nice for once!  I know since this is the end of the story, you don't have to review anymore to get what you want, but if anyone wants me to make a sequel then R/R please, I love hearing your comments because they help me so much with my writing.  Thanks to all my reviewers… you've been great.  One question I'd like you to answer: should I keep the sequel (if I write it) as a continuation of this or start a new story?  Basically should I break it up to another story or keep it within this story fold?  I'm thinking of breaking it up…  Oh and please tell me who wants to join my "mailing list" that I'm creating for anyone who wants to know when any of my CCS series are updated, thanks! 

Part 23

"It's time." 

She sighed inexplicably because of because.  It wasn't a sigh of dread or apprehension, she had been given a week more than a fair amount of time to decide.  And she had decided.  With Siwan's words of wisdom, she knew that no matter what choice she made the future was uncertain, but one thing was certain no matter who her choice was—she was going to be happy.  She smiled contentedly and peacefully, a feeling that had overwhelmed for the last few days of being unable to hurt either of the men she loved. 

But there was one man that she loved.  And then there was the man that she loved.  Of course she wanted to be able to live with the one she loved, but what she wanted even more was not to be able to live without him.  In that respect, there was only one man that she knew that could fulfill that desire in her.  The smile bloomed on her face like a cherry blossom in the spring at the thought of him. 

It made her sad to think of the other one, the one she hadn't chosen but there was no helping it.  She simply didn't want to think of the consequences anymore.  She had made up her mind and that was that.  There was no going back; there was no thinking about it; there was no regretting her decision.  If was she going to do that, she might as well lock herself up in closet and never come out again.  Eventually, one person was going to get hurt no matter what she did.  And telling them sooner was going to be better than later. 

A knock on her door, outside the room she had considered her sanctuary for the past week, disturbed her train of thought.  "Who is it?" she queried.  "Whose there?  You can enter, the door's unlocked" 

"Me, Mistress," Yue replied gently, opening the door to show her his face.  "It's Yue." 

"Yue," greeted Sakura cheerfully, "I didn't know you were here." 

Yue smiled back softly.  "Eriol asked us to come.  He wanted to make sure that you didn't need any more time.  He's waiting outside on the porch whenever you're ready to go.  Kero has something to say to you before we all leave, but I won the coin toss that allowed me to have my say first.  If I may…?" 

"Yes?"

He reached down to grasp her hands in his and squeeze them warmly.  "I just want to let you know, Sakura," he told her in a warm voice, "that no matter who you choose, it will always be right.  Nothing matters more to me than your happiness, you have to know that.  You may think that we expect a decision, but I know I don't and I'm reasonably sure that no one else does.  We just want you to be happy Sakura." 

She beamed radiantly at him.  "I know you all do.  And I'm sure my decision is right.  I could never be content if I didn't choose him.  Sometimes, when I think of my decision that I made a few days ago… I wonder if it's the right choice.  But then I ask myself, can I live with him?  I don't know.  But then I have to ask myself, can I live without him?  No, I cannot imagine my life without him.  That makes my heart ache to think of that possibility and then I know again that my choice is the only way to go." 

"I'm glad that you know your answer," he responded.  "I'm sure that it's the right one.  Let me call in Kero." 

Yue left with all the grace of movement that he always had.  She didn't hear him call for Kero, but she heard the sound of her other guardian's distinct accent.  She smiled fondly as Kero burst through the door into her room, launching himself fully into her open and welcoming arms.  She laughed gleefully at the tears of joy forming in Kero's eyes at seeing her for the first time in a week, the longest time period they had ever been separated from each other. 

"I missed you so much!" he exclaimed.  "Next time you do anything that takes this long, you're bringing me with you!  None of your cooking," he moaned in anguish, "and not being with you made me realize how important you are in my life, Sakura.  You promise me, you'll never leave me alone with Yukito and Touya for more than a day at a time, especially when your otousan isn't there… promise me!" 

Sakura giggled and nodded her agreement, hugging Kero to her side.  "I'm sure it wasn't that bad," she finally responded when she could stop laughing at the utterly horrified look on his stuffed animal face.  "Well, it couldn't be that bad." 

"No," Kero admitted, "it wasn't that bad.  But it was bad.  It wasn't that Yukito's cooking was bad, but considering how much he likes to eat—you'd think he'd cook better!  It was just, those two can never get their hands off each other.  I don't mind the affection, but they display too much of it.  It's worse than when you and Syaoran are together!" 

"Now really?" she inquired curiously. 

"Yes, really!" he exclaimed vehemently. 

"But," she began, "I don't think this is the reason you asked Eriol and Yue for a chance to speak with me privately though, is it?" 

"No, it isn't," Kero answered sincerely.  "I wanted to talk to you about—about… your choice.  I know that by now you're already made your decision, but I just wanted to let you know that I have no hard feelings at all whatsoever to Syaoran or Dangyun and that whoever you pick is perfectly fine by me.  I really don't have a bias," he disclosed.  "But I kind of want to know whether they cook well or not…" 

Sakura chuckled with amusement before squeezing Kero toward her.  "I know how important your tummy is to you," she said pointedly, rubbing his stomach.  "But I really don't know how either of them cooks.  But they both probably at least know how to cook somewhat well since they've both lived alone as bachelors for an extended period of time." 

"Well," Kero declared, "that isn't very important.  You still have to make your pancakes whoever you decide to marry!" 

Sakura's eyes widen at his last words.  "Who ever said I was getting married?"

"Isn't this what this decision is about?" Kero asked, utterly clueless that it was not. 

"No!  No!" she cried out.  "No, it's about who I want to be with… Kero." 

"Isn't that the same thing?" he queried, making a good point. 

And Sakura had to confess to herself that Kero had made a startling revelation about her decision.  She had never thought about it that way, that by making her choice she was basically saying she was going to marry the man.  But as she thought about it more and more, the more it made sense to her.  After all, she had been considering spending her life with him and that was basically the same thing as what Kero was purposing. 

"Yes," she finally answered. 

Kero gave her a big grin.  "I knew I wasn't all the way wrong!"

"I just never thought of my decision as making a decision on who I was going to marry," Sakura divulged sheepishly.  "But you made a good rational comment.  Of course that doesn't change my decision whatsoever because I was already considering along those terms without considering it within that particular choice of words.  It's funny I hadn't thought of it actually when I've been thinking of so many other things along those lines!" 

Even going back into the past, she thought, smiling wryly.  I even went back into the past, and saw myself married to each of them with such adorable children.  Tanpopo, you reminded me of myself.  Fukumi and Saisei, both were darling creatures that I could see as my own children when I have them.  And both times, I could see the joy that my future brought to myself.  I know any path I choose will be right and that the path I've chosen now is the right one because I'm not hesitating nor am I contemplating changing my mind.  It is what it is. 

"Sakura?" murmured Kero with concern, seeing her eyes glaze over as if she was in another world. 

"What?" she asked, her eyes clearing up.  "Oh, I'm sorry Kero, I was just thinking about some things." 

Kero smiled at her, wondering what she had been daydreaming about.  "Sakura…, I know I shouldn't ask this and you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but… who did you choose?  You know curiosity comes with being a cat and all, and I am a lion in my other form," his voice was slightly pleading, he was dying to know who she had chosen, but he was perfectly fine if she didn't want to tell him.

"I'll can't tell you yet, Kero," Sakura replied, her eyes soft with understanding and slightly sad that she couldn't answer his question. 

"No! That's alright," Kero responded quickly, patting her awkwardly on the back.  "I'll find out soon enough.  As anxious as I am to find out, I'm sure Dangyun and Syaoran must really be killing to find out, and here I am holding you back so that they have to wait longer!  You'd better go meet Eriol outside so he can escort you to his house.  That's where everyone's meeting.  Well, that's where everyone has been staying since you've been staying here." 

"Thanks, Kero for being so understanding."

"No problem," he replied, pushing open the door for her to walk through.  "Yue and I will follow you shortly back to Eriol's mansion, but he has some special conveyance set up for you.  A spell of sorts, I suppose, considering he is Clow Reed's incarnation." 

Sakura nodded and kissed the top of his head before walking out of the room she had considered her sanctuary for this past week, the room she had slept in all her life.  She walked down the hallway then down the stairs, taking each step reminded her of the gravity of her decision.  It hit her more and more, compounding with each downward step.  She reached the bottom of the stairs and turned to the direction of the front door, about to open it when Eriol pushed it open for her. 

"Long discussions," he noted. 

"Yes," she responded, not sure of what to say to him. 

"It doesn't matter either way with me," he told her bluntly.  "I'm sure the other two told you the same."  When she nodded in the affirmative, about to ask him how he knew, he continued before she could ask, "The two of them were talking about it the whole way here—in the car.  I drove them," he explained.  "But I know that any decision you make is the right one.  Don't let your conscious nag you and make you doubt yourself because the first instinct is always right." 

Sakura hugged him and kissed his cheek.  "I know, Eriol.  I know," she murmured.  "I've thought about this for the longest time.  It wasn't just this week, I've been doing this inner battle inside myself ever since Shaolin arrived into this world.  But it became worse when Dangyun arrived.  And then, the thoughts of both of them—Dangyun and Syaoran overwhelmed me.  I've finally made my choice after agonizing over it and I knew it the first day.  The rest of the week was just to calm my nerves and not go back on the decision I knew was right.  My conscious did nag, and my mind did doubt, but I didn't change my mind.  I went for what I felt in my gut and if it's right, it's right, if it's wrong, it's wrong.  Whose to know?" 

"No one," he answered.  "No one at all.  No one can judge whether you choice is right or wrong, it is simply your choice.  It's who you love and you don't choose who you love and who you cannot live without.  It just is." 

His very words penetrated Sakura's heart and caused a few tears to form in her eyes.  She had been thinking of those exact words moments earlier when she was alone, and to hear it voiced eloquently by one of her closest friends made the wisdom of the words only stronger and convinced only more than what she was doing was more than right.  It was what was meant to be. 

"Eriol," she stated in a firm voice, "I'm ready." 

"I was waiting to hear you say that," he replied.  "Hold my hand and we'll be off." 

She held onto his hand, feeling him squeeze her comfortingly as they stepped off the porch simultaneously, he leading her into another dimension.  For a moment she thought she was traveling to the future, but no the feel was different.  She didn't feel like death's claws were trying to grip and rip at her.  Instead she felt an inner peace, a quality of contented as the time seemed to whirl to complete and utter halt.  She wondered for instant if he was taking her some place other than his mansion when the doors to the light opened and they fell from the sky to the greenness of the earth.  She gripped his hand tightly, though not in fear but for the strangeness of the situation. 

And then another door opened up, this time of a paleness that enveloped them and brought safely to the earth.  She settled and moved her feet, testing the firmness of this ground and found it exactly the same.  Eriol grinned at her, seeing her reaction and joked, "Who says humans cannot fly on their own willpower?" 

Sakura laughed softly and shook her head with her mirth.  "No one that has ever met you would say that, Eriol.  You could make angels dance with your smile," she declared cheerfully, for instant forgetting that the only angel that he wanted to make dance was her.  A twisted look pass over his face but he covered it up quickly before she even saw it.  "Now, where is everyone?" 

"Inside," he remarked, his voice having lost its edge of merriment, though still quite teasing in its way.  "They're all inside.  But I figure that you'll probably just want to talk to Syaoran and Dangyun, am I right?"  When she nodded he winked at her, a bit of his happiness for her joy resurfacing.  "And I'll try to keep your oniichan at bay until you finish talking to them and telling them of your decision.  He's been pretty insufferable the past few days, especially since Yue has been so anxious for you that he hasn't allowed himself to relax and go back into Yukito-mode.  And that has only made your oniichan more edgy.  Yukito seems to have quite a stabling effect on him." 

"Yes, I would agree," she said wryly.  "Yukito does help my niichan relax, especially when they're alone together."  She flushed wildly after she said.  "But… ahhh," and her voice just died as her face was stained with the blood rushing to her head, "it's not like… I've seen them like that—together, I mean." 

"I know what you mean," Eriol said gently.  "I'm sure they're not as uncomfortable as you are about their special situation," he taunted relentless, trying to get the awkward feeling out of himself.  "I mean they're pretty blatant about their relationship from what I've seen…," he voice trailing off suggestively.  "But I'm sure you've seen much more than I have, since he's your oniichan and all."

"Eriol!" Sakura exclaimed, her face flushing to a pink pallor.  She then laughed, chuckling with the hilarity of the situation.  "Yes, they are pretty open with their relationship, but I don't mind it at all.  They're so in love that all I can see is the beauty of it." 

"You would," he whispered softly, reaching up to caress her cheek but managed to resist that urge.  "You see the beauty in all things and that's why everyone loves you as much as they do.  You really are something special, Sakura—someone that knows the good and does the good, selflessly and generously.  If you only knew how other people saw you, then perhaps you might understand.  But different eyes see in different ways, and I cannot tell you how you embody all the graces of humanity." 

"I am not that special," Sakura protested. 

"I am not the only one that disagrees with you," Eriol told her.  "I can name many more than just the two men that love you with all their hearts that would agree with me."  He paused for a long moment, not knowing what to say before he added, "I think they will want to know your decision without me delaying it any further.  Would you like to tell them out here or in my private study?" 

Sakura closed her eyes for a brief second, breathing in the sweetness of the beautiful day.  "Out here," she responded, her eyes still closed as if she were meditating and concentrating all her energies into calming herself.  "I'd like to speak with them out here," she reaffirmed, her luminous emerald eyes opening up and staring into his with an intensity that he had never seen before in her. 

"I'll go get them." 

And with that he left her by herself, letting her suck in the freedom of the wind.  She wondered if she'd feel Faa's presence in the subtle breeze.  But she did not.  She felt nothing and everything all at once.  In this decision, she was ending everything and beginning everything.  Life was like an endless cycle that twisted and turned different ways, but always came back to where it started and where it ended. 

Love is everything, she thought to herself.  Love is all, all encompassing.  Love is beautiful; love is perfection; love is love.  And I love him, she affirmed poignantly.  I love him so much that I cannot imagine my life without him.  It would be too empty and too lonely.  But what about the other?  I love him, too and a part of me will always love him.  And the more I think of it, the more hesitant I am.  But I know my choice… I know that there is only one man that I cannot live without.  I love him because love is like the endless time.  It never goes away, just stays and accumulates.  How I love him… How I do…

"Sakura?" whispered a slightly husky that she knew was Syaoran. 

She whirled around, her face visibly surprised when she saw he was alone.  "Where is Dangyun?" 

He turned his face to the side, not wanting to let her see the tears that ran down his cheeks because the first thing she asked was of his rival and not of himself.  It took him moments to compose himself enough that his voice wouldn't betray him.  "He is coming.  He's just trying to get himself ready," he explained, thinking it odd that the normally collected Dangyun was actually more of a mess the last few days than he had been himself.  "It is the big moment, after all." 

Sakura nodded.

"Sakura?" 

"Yes, Syaoran?" her voice saying his name so tenderly that for instant he wondered if it could be… that he was the one. 

"Can you tell me your decision?" 

"No.  Not until he comes." 

Syaoran closed his eyes in pain, forcing the tears that sprung up so readily.  He was so sure he wasn't the one, that it was hopeless.  That the road, he saw his life taking, seemed to lengthen by at least a tenfold.  He gulped down his misery and open his eyes that were as dry as when he had closed them.  He smiled half hearted at her, not attempting to get any closer to both the source of his joy and his sadness. 

"I'm sorry I took so long, making my decision." 

"No," he croaked, "it was worth the wait.  The wait was good." 

"I'm glad." 

"We needed the wait.  It made me realize that he really loves you, I wasn't sure of it.  But now I am." 

Sakura smiled beautifully, nearly tearing his heart out of chest with that simple gesture.  "I know.  And I know that you love me?" 

"With everything that is within me," he avowed.  "I never loved anyone as much as I love you—"

The rest of Syaoran's sweet confession was interrupted with the arrival of a rather disheveled Dangyun.  "I'm sorry I was late," he said hoarsely.  He pulled back his long strands, the redness of his eyes and the dull gray underneath his eyes indicated the hardships he had been through the past few days.  The sleeplessness, the anguish, the contemplation, the sadness, the guilt, and the agony of not knowing and of knowing.  "I had to… clean myself up." 

Her head slowly went up and down, her eyes taking in the horrible image of Dangyun.  It hurt to breath, and her shallow gasps calmed her down enough that she was able to meet his haunted, yet hopeful look.  She bit down hard on her bottom lip as she focused her eyes onto Syaoran's more calming ones.  Under his relaxed look, she herself was able to lessen the tension in her shoulders, but felt her muscles tighten when his eyes began searching her own for questions.  This was going to be a lot harder than she thought. 

"I've made up my decision," she said, breaking the suffocating silence.  "I'm sure you two want to know," she babbled.  "And I am ready to tell you both.  I can't tell you two enough that this was the hardest choice I ever had to make," she chattered on.  "But I'm sure that's not what either of you want me to say.  And yet, that's the truth all the same.  I know that my mind's made up and there's nothing either of you could do to make me change it.  I actually decided within the first two days I was in solitude who I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with.  Then I spent the rest of the time, my mind agonizing away my doubts and my worries that my choice was wrong.  But I'm sure now.  Absolutely sure. 

"And Kero," her lips broke into a sunny smile, "hit a vein I hadn't considered that it wasn't just a choice that would affect me now, but affect me the rest of my life.  Of course, I had been thinking along those lines… I just hadn't thought of it in the way he put it.  Yue and Eriol were especially comforting when they all arrived to pick me, reassuring me that I was right," she murmured softly, her voice getting teary.  "And… I still can't bear to hurt anyone, but I have to, don't I?" 

Neither Dangyun or Syaoran could answer her because she already knew the answer.  Someone was going to get hurt no matter what.  Both of them held their breath expecting her to give her answer.   But whenever she tried to open her mouth to speak her muffled tears would ring out and she'd close her lips again, trying to get under control.  It went on and off like the endlessness of time because each time she was about to say something, the weakness in her voice would make her stop and crush their hearts and release their souls to the possibility that they still had a chance. 

"Don't… don't ever think--- I didn't love you both because--- I did," she began finally.  "And I have to tell you… that my… choice is-- I choose…" her voice trailed off shakily, and she looked with utter pain at both of them, doing the hardest thing she'd ever have to do, "I choose you, Syaoran.  You're the one I cannot live without." 

Syaoran fell to his knees in front of her, his arms wrapping around her unsteady legs.  But it was not his eyes that she searched for immediately after her declaration, she looked for Dangyun's whose eyes were complete voids.  She wanted to give him words that would alleviate the pain she saw.  She began to speak, but he lifted his hands and he said brokenly, "Don't.  Don't say anything.  I knew," he whispered painfully.  "I knew beforehand, but I still hoped.  That's why I was this way.  This haggard, this desolated before you even told us.  I knew and I know now that I'll never have you. 

"I do thank you for loving despite my grievances to you.  I can't thank you enough for all the goodness in your heart that you were somehow able to forgive me.  And you don't have to say anything, Sakura, my love, my beloved.  I don't want you to say you're sorry for choosing the one person that you cannot live without.  That would be selfish of me, and I've already been so selfish.  Try to think of yourself some time and not all of us.  Remember, one thing… I'll always love you, but I'm content now knowing that our souls that were once entwine no longer have a twisted bitterness that I caused and you solved.  I'm going to say good-bye now because I can't bear to say good-bye to you twice." 

He leaned over Syaoran's fallen form and kissed her on the forehead like a father or a brother might, but not as a lover, never as a lover again.  It was then that the subtle breeze Sakura had been feeling and had been thinking was Faa… was Faa.  She knew he didn't want her to say anything, but she had.  "She loved you no matter what you did to her.  She never hated you even one second of her life.  She wanted you to know that.  She forgave you, the second you forgave yourself." 

"Thank you," he replied hoarsely, "and good-bye." 

Sakura reached for him briefly with her arm, but he moved away from her before he saw her motion toward him.  She collapsed into Syaoran's open arms, weeping and crying for the grief she had caused him.  They stayed in each others arms for the longest time, Syaoran crying with relief that she had chosen him and not Dangyun, and Sakura weeping for the suffering each of them had gone through. 

When both of their tears had dried on their faces, Syaoran began kissing her everywhere.  His fluttery, light as air brushes of his lips filled her heart with a bursting of tenderness that made her fit her body into his like she and he were parts of souls and bodies that had finally found each other after the longest road traveled.  She kissed back with equal passion and fiery love.  It wasn't just a kiss of heated moment, but more of sealing of their boundless emotion. 

And she remembered the future she had witnessed being with Dangyun without Syaoran.  And that was when she knew that she couldn't live without him.  That even though the future had filled with happiness and laughing children--- Fukumi and Saisei--- even the smiling wisdom of Siwan--- and the beauty that was Dangyun, it wasn't the same without Syaoran.  She couldn't imagine life without him. 

"I love you," he whispered into her ear fiercely.  "I'll always love you."  

"I know," she murmured back.  "I love you, too." 

"I'll admit," he told her honestly, "I thought you were going to choose Dangyun." 

"Never," she responded quickly, "it was always you." 

"I know, now." 

They looked into each others eyes for a long second before Syaoran tipped his head down to capture Sakura's lips in an aching sweet kiss.  They kept this lip locked embrace for minutes at a time, pulling apart only to kiss each other more, pouring their love out in this loving way.  Finally, breaking apart for the last time, Sakura's eyes got teary once again. 

"I hate hurting anyone, especially Dangyun since he's gone through so much," she explained.  "But I guess, I couldn't help it could I?" 

"No," he replied, "you couldn't help it." 

"I know," she said sadly, "but that still doesn't make me feel better." 

He kissed both of her cheeks and stood up, helping her rise to her own feet.  "You should take to heart what Dangyun said you.  Try to think of yourself for once.  I know that it isn't much comfort to you, but you can't make everyone happy.  And if you're happy anyone who loves you as much as Dangyun does and I do will be happy for you.  I kept telling myself that if you chose Dangyun, I'd be happy for you anyways because you'd be happy."

Sakura was about to make a reply to him when she heard Eriol's distinct voice calling out to them, "He's leaving." 

She panicked when she heard him say.  She thought that Dangyun wouldn't be leaving at least for a few more days.  But her conscious nagged her into remembering his last words, "I'm going to say good-bye now because I can't bear to say good-bye to you twice."  She couldn't let him leave until she had said her good-byes.  She needed to say good-bye to him even if he didn't want to say good-bye to her. 

"Has he left yet?" she asked her voice cracking. 

"No, not yet." 

She squeezed Syaoran's hand reassuringly.  "I have to go to him," she stated.  "I have to go and tell him good-bye before he leaves." 

"Go," he told her with full confidence in her.  "Go before it's too late." 

She kissed him full on the lips and ran past where Eriol was standing where he told her that Dangyun was in his study ready to embark back to the past with Shaolin and Siwan.  After she had passed him, he stared into his descendant's eyes.  "So you were the one she chose," he remarked steadily.  "I thought she was going to choose you, but I wasn't sure.  I guess I knew all along.  I'm glad she chose you.  I'm happy for both of you." 

"That means a lot," Syaoran answered, "coming from you." 

"Are you going to up to my study to watch Dangyun depart?" he inquired. 

"No," Syaoran responded, "I'm not going to watch." 

Eriol shook his head in acknowledgement.  "Then, do you mind if I keep you company?" 

"No, not at all." 

"Ready?" 

"Yes, I'm as ready as I'll ever be," Shaolin said. 

Dangyun dropped his hands and waved at the mirror he'd use to cross between the space and time of his lifetime to the present lifetime.  Siwan hovered around him ready to give him aid if he needed it.  He threw her a small smile and grimaced as he concentrated his uncooperative mind on the task at hand.  He slowly managed to focus his power and his energies, tapping once into Siwan's reserves to complete the portal that provided the bridge between the past and the present. 

"It's done," he said haggardly, looking at the fruits of his labor.  "You go first," he ordered Siwan, "you'll help guide Shaolin, since you're use to this sort of thing." 

Siwan flew into the portal and disappeared.  Shaolin followed in after her without having to be told by him.  Dangyun watched to make sure they were both safely in before he himself stepped into the mirror.  Half of his body was in when he heard Sakura cry out to him, "Dangyun!  I had to come… please… I wanted to say good-bye."  He smiled a pathetic half smile, but he didn't turn back because if he did he might never leave.  And he resisted the urge to look at her one last time and let his body disappear into the mirror, shutting off the portal immediately locking away any chance to go back. 

He drifted behind Siwan and Shaolin, feeling the pull of time guiding him back safely to his time period.  It wasn't like traveling to the future where the pathway had been viciously trying to rip his body to shreds for seeking to go beyond what was natural.  But now that he was going back, it floated around him like the bubble of a mother's womb, safe and nurturing.  He let his mind be swept away by this soothing feel and lost himself to the time so that he could begin to heal. 

She watched him leave and not look back, knowing that he was true to his words and that he didn't want to say good-bye to her twice.  She whispered softly after he was already gone, "Good-bye Dangyun."  Tears streamed down her face at the pain she seen written on his face before and then again after she had told them.  She shrugged her head sadly and left the room. 

She walked down the passage way toward the front door where outside Syaoran was still waiting for her.  She pushed open the door and wiped her tears away.  The sight of both Eriol and Syaoran standing together, making a comment to each other once in a while uplifted her heart to see them finally get along.  Now if only Touya and those two could get along, she thought, and everything would be as perfect as can be. 

"So, Sakura… you chose Syaoran," Touya commented, carefully keeping his nicknames for the two of them out of his speech for now noting the fresh tear stains on her cheeks. 

"Yes, I did," she said, smiling up at her still taller niichan. 

"I suppose you're going to marry him eventually, aren't you?" 

"Yes, I suppose I am." 

"Well, I guess I'll have to get along with him better then, huh?" 

"You better." 

"Are you threatening me?" asked Touya with fake shock. 

"Of course not," Sakura remarked, "I'm just letting you know what to do to get on my good side." 

"And why would I ever do that?" 

"Because you love and I love you," she said simply. 

He didn't say anything, giving her a hug and then pushed her off the porch toward Syaoran.  He winked at her and went back inside.  Sakura laughed then causing both Eriol's and Syaoran's heads to move toward her direction.  Eriol shoved Syaoran to her and stepped to the side disappearing from view, another one of his magician's tricks.  She laughed again, a sweet sound that sent her running in Syaoran's direction.  For once she was going to think of what she wanted.  It wasn't in her to be selfish, but Syaoran was the one she wanted and the one she loved. 

There's was no going back. 

He swept her into his arms, pulling her around in a dizzying circle that reminded her of what this day was. 

The end…

and the beginning…

of everything. 

The End.