Under the Cherry Blossom Tree

Chapter XXIII

--Epilogue—

"Mommy! Mommy! When is Yurina coming?" an adorable young girl with chestnut hair and emerald eyes just like those of her mother's asked. She seemed no more than seven years old.

Sakura laughed, "Soon, Nadeshiko. Soon Aunt Tomoyo, Uncle Eriol, and your cousins Hikaru and Yurina will arrive." She had matured to a fine woman, but her looks did not seem to age one bit. Sakura cradled her third child, an infant girl, in her arms. She was sure that her baby Momoe would grow up to be just like her sister except with amber eyes.

Nadeshiko pouted and crossed her arms. "What's the rush?" Sakura inquired, comfortably leaning against a sturdy blooming cherry blossom tree.

Nadeshiko plastered a goofy grin, facing her mother. "Yurina promised to tell me a secret. We are best friends." She clumsily dangled her friendship bracelet that Yurina had made especially for her.

"I'm sure that you won't have to wait for very long," Sakura grinned.

As if on cue, there was some rustling and voices. In a few seconds, a man who had a boy on his shoulders arrived with a woman, another man, and their two children.

The man with the boy on his shoulders had chestnut hair and fierce but caring amber eyes. The boy on his shoulder was the oldest his siblings and looked like a replica of the man except he had inherited his mother's auburn hair.

The woman who had arrived cheerfully greeted Sakura and her nieces before placing the picnic basket down and taking a seat next to Sakura. Just like Sakura, Tomoyo had matured to a fine woman and kept her beauty. Her husband, Eriol, remained the same—he had already been mature and his glasses seem to enhance it, but unlike before, his eyes gleamed proudly at his wife and his two children.

"Yurina! You're finally here!" Nadeshiko ran toward her friend who had navy blue hair and sparkling amethyst eyes.

"Sorry that you had to wait for so long. Hikaru couldn't find his sword," she uttered sincerely, pointing to her five year old brother who now was gawking at Nadeshiko's brother, Hiromi, with total admiration.

"It's ok. Now…what was that secret you were going to tell me?" Nadeshiko asked curiously, dragging the two of them farther away from the group but visible to their parents' eyes.

Sakura gazed at her daughter and niece fondly. Twelve years passed since that day—the day where Syaoran bravely broke away from the clan…no…the Elders. The Li Clan remained under Syaoran's leadership every since a private investigation ordered by the Chinese government on the Elders and his uncle once the news of Syaoran's leave was announced to the world. Even though it took a year to two, the thorough investigation was worth it. The private investigators found all the proof to condemn the Elders and Syaoran's uncle for life under murder and theft. The missing money from Syaoran's account was restored.

Finally, when Syaoran graduated from the university, he proposed to Sakura, and she would never forget that day.

"Syaoran, where are we going?" Sakura groaned. Usually she loved the rain, but when it was raining cats and dogs with booming thunder, she was going to have to draw the line. It also didn't help that she was having a bad day—fired from her part time job and forgetting that a major paper was due.

"You'll see," he grinned. Sakura notice a hint of sparkle in her boyfriend's eyes even though his hair was basically covering them.

"If I get a cold from this and miss class, you're in trouble Syaoran Li!" the young woman glared as she continued to follow her boyfriend, griping his hand.

Syaoran chuckled. "I promise you won't. After we do this, I promise we'll get you into a nice warm bubble bath."

"Will you cook me dinner?" Sakura added to the deal, grinning and holding her umbrella tighter.

Syaoran smirked. "Yes, yes. Whatever you want but after we do what I plan on doing." Finally, after a few more steps, Syaoran halted under a tree.

Sakura blinked a few times and move her wet hair from her face before registering where they were. "And why are we under this cherry blossom tree?" she asked annoyed.

"Before I answer that, you have to answer my question first. What's today?"

She closed her eyes and imagined her calendar for work. "The fourteenth of…OMG, it's Valentine's Day! I'm made you some chocolate yesterday! It's in the fridge. I didn't totally forget!" She clasped one hand over her mouth and her eyes widen as she tried to avoid Syaoran's gaze.

To her surprise, she heard a chuckle from her boyfriend. "You had a rough day. Besides, I would have been surprised if you had," he teased. "But that's not why I bought you out here in the rain. Do you remember the day when we first went out?"

"February 14," she whispered to herself.

Syaoran nodded and continued, "We've been through so much together, Sakura. Everything I've done, I am now, is all because of you. I said that I was going to marry you, right? But I don't think that was the right way to propose." Then Syaoran knelt on one knee, ignoring the fact that his pants would get muddy, and took something out of his pocket. It was a small red velvet box. He opened the top to reveal a stunning diamond ring with two tiny emeralds on both side of it. "Sakura, let not only February 14 mark the day that we officially went out, but also the day where we promise our perpetual love for each other. Will you marry me?"

Sakura smiled and kissed him. "Yes! Of course I'll marry you."

Sakura had on a content countenance. For dinner, Syaoran already had a homemade dinner prepared in the candlelight. And that was the day she had been proposed. It was only exactly a year later that they married.

"Hello! Earth to Sakura," Syaoran uttered in her ear.

She turned to face her uxorious husband with the same content countenance.

"Why are you so happy about? We see Tomoyo and Eriol almost every day." He nestled next to his caring wife and gently took Momoe from her.

"I was just thinking about the day you proposed to me," she grinned, leaning against Syaoran.

"Oh? And what about our marriage day?"

"It was perfect."

Meanwhile, Tomoyo was busy setting the food while Eriol kept his keen eyes on the kids.

"Tomoyo, dear? What do you think Yurina is telling Nadeshiko?" Eriol glanced over to his wife.

"I don't know. Maybe it's some boy that she likes," Tomoyo teased as Eriol tensed up. "Oh no! She is too young! She's not going to day anyone until she's eighteen, you hear me, Tomoyo?"

Tomoyo giggled at her husband's love for his daughter. "Hey! We liked each other before I was nine AND we dated when I was nine."

"Well…that's different," Eriol stated smugly with a grin. "Anyway, I'm starving."

"Perfect because I just finished." Tomoyo informed of the others as they all headed toward the picnic blanket and grabbed some food.

Thus ends a story filled with joyful promises…

"Syaoran?" Sakura grabbed his attention.

"Hmm?"

"Did I forget to mention that your sisters and their families are coming over tomorrow? They're spending the entire week here to visit," Sakura informed, hiding behind her plate.

Syaoran's eyes widen as he choked on his lemonade. "NOO! Not again! Let's call them and tell them that we're going away tomorrow…no, tonight, and we won't be back until…never!"

Sakura laughed. "Sorry sweetie, but I promised them they could."

"Or we can move right now and not tell them where," Syaoran suggested pleadingly.

Everyone laughed as Sakura glared at her husband.

OK…so maybe not joyful promises, but promises that brought them all here today.

XXXXX

Author's Note: So here's the epilogue to satisfy my skeptical readers about my previous chapter ending. Sorry the last bit was 'off' but I wanted to try something different and 'fun'. And I know it's short, but I had no clue what else to do/write about. So I hope you guys enjoyed it!