Somewhere Over the Rainbow
by Zenin

This chapter is dedicated to all those faithful reviewers who never give up on me when I'm being pathetic, annoying, and even when I'm losing my touch.  Thank you, dev, Jesus Freak, Emerald-eyes, crystal-chan, Manda-chan, masterofwords, Wings of Fire, Sakura Kinomoto, Azure Rosas, SakuraJade, and all you wonderful others!

"Get an ambulance.  Now."

Xiefa struggled to lift herself, black eyes huge in a face streaked with dirt.  "What was that?" she managed to gasp. 

Syaoran's expression was one of fierce anger mingled with heartsick respect as he slid his arms around the Card Mistress' limp figure.  "I'll explain later," he said quietly.  "Just get help.  I don't know how long she'll last." 

Xiefa pulled herself to her feet, using a tree for support.  She staggered with determination towards the place where the Cards had been standing before Sakura.  A glance over her shoulder showed a scene she thought that she would never see.  Syaoran held Sakura close to him, her head tucked neatly under his chin as his lips moved soundlessly, eyes shut tightly.

He was praying.

Xiefa quickly looked away, stunned.  Her brother had never prayed for anything, and while she did know that he liked the pretty little Card Mistress, she never knew that his love was that deep.  So deep that he was desperate enough to throw off all his former traits and do something he never had done before.  A shiver ran down her spine as she continued stumbling forwards, still deep in thought.  His aura had reached an unimaginable level of intensity, flaring a deep green, surrounding him and the girl in his arms.  It had been an awe-inspiring sight, almost nearing divinity.

Her foot caught on a stone and sent the brown haired girl tumbling to the ground.  She lifted her smudged face, hissing a sharp intake of breath at the sight that met her eyes.  The Cards were gone…but several people were in their place.  Xiefa blinked confusedly at them, just as one man with large amber eyes and grey-threaded, reddish orange hair struggled to his feet.  He was thin and tall, looking very distinguished in his dark suit.  Round glasses were perched on his nose, and worry lines creased his forehead.  Rather than help his companions, he walked purposefully towards Syaoran and Sakura, brushing past Xiefa with hardly a glance.

"Hoshi?"

He paused, glancing at her with a calm that she was sure he did not feel.  "I am he."

With that said, he jogged the last few yards and fell on his knees beside the fallen Card Mistress.  "Mistress.  Sakura.  Please…you didn't have to do that…"

Xiefa could only stare as one of the man's companions, a grey-haired woman in her late fifties joined Hoshi.  One by one, the group of freed cards gathered themselves around their former Mistress.  Every head bowed, and every mouth moved in silent petition.

Sakura had to live.  Xiefa felt a rush of hope fill her…until—

"Xiefa!  Get the damn ambulance!"

She sighed explosively and set off on a run to the nearest payphone. 

__________________________

"She did it."

"I don't believe it…"

"I do!  I knew she would do it!"

"Shut up, Thalia."

"You're just jealous, Urania, and you know it."

"Girls…"

"Why I would even bother being jealous of you is far beyond me."

"HA!  So you admit it!"

"Girls…"

"I am not jealous of you; nor will I ever be jealous of you!  I have so much more to—"

"GIRLS!"

"Er…yes, Calliope?"

"Shut up."

"Umm…okay."

"It's really such a shame.  To die at such a young age…"

"That goes for you too, Melpomene."

"Hmph."

"Calliope…she has helped us to get rid of an impure influence.  Is there any way—"

"—any way we can help her?"

"Yes… there is something we can do to help…"

"What is it?"

"Come.  Clio, I'll need your help on this."

"Yes, sir."

_______________________

"Blood pressure is normal."

"Heart rate?"

"Stabilized.  Other than the concussion, she seems to be in optimum health—"

"Then why the hell isn't she awake?"

The Li Clan's chief healer turned disapproving eyes towards the raging, brown-haired young man seated in the corner.  This look was accompanied by a dark glare from a regal, black-haired woman. 

"Li Syaoran, I will not have you throwing a tantrum in here!"

Throwing a tantrum?  Syaoran cradled his head in his hands, hiding the fierce flush of anger that flooded his face.  His silence gratified the woman, who then gave him a controlled, business-like smile. 

"That's better, son."

No it isn't, he thought rebelliously, his fists clenching tightly.  She should be conscious be now.

Sakura's state of health had been precarious by the time the ambulance had arrived.  Syaoran had not left her side once, even when the hospital nurses tried to usher him out of the operating room.  He had become rather violent, if he remembered correctly.  Two male nurses laid out flat; with several others suffering from numerous injuries ranging from bruises to lumps…even a broken nose or two.  If the Li Clan doctor had not arrived at that moment, he might have continued lengthening the list of damage.  Apparently, Xiefa had gone ahead and informed the Clan of the entire scenario.  Yelan sent the clan's healer to relocate the Card Mistress to another "hospital".  Several mages were also sent to Camp Skittles to alter memories and help transport the Cards and the rest of the gang to the Li mansion, where everyone was now enjoying a well-deserved rest.

Except for Syaoran.

His famous brown eyes were now red-rimmed from lack of sleep.  "Insomnia," the chief healer had pronounced after three sleepless nights, and then he had tried to shove pills down the boy's throat. 

The healer almost lost a hand in the procedure.

Syaoran was adamant.  He was going to stay with Sakura, and no one was going to move him.  He was going to stay awake and he was not going to eat.  Of course, he was going to do all this… but someone must have spiked his drinks.  Li Yelan, most likely.  She was the only who could make her son do things, aside from Sakura, of course. The healer and Yelan were now speaking in low tones, glancing furtively at the bleary-eyed young man seated beside the Card Mistress' cot.

"He's…um…that is…very…hmm…how shall I say it—"

"Uncharacteristic?" Yelan supplied, her controlled smile slipping into a gentle look of motherly knowledge.  "Yes, I agree.  Completely uncharacteristic."

A silence passed between them.  The healer .  "The girl…it is unusual that she still remain unconscious for so long.  This is no ordinary coma…"

Yelan's eyes darkened slightly.  "Is there anything we can do?"

"Never give up hope," the healer stated firmly.  He glanced at Syaoran.  "Sometimes you never know how close you are…"

____________________

Sakura felt like she was floating…in fact, it was the very sensation that awakened her.  She opened her eyes slowly, dreamily, and stared up at the sky…wait a second.  The sky?

Her hands flew to her mouth as she bolted upright. 

A lake.  She was in a small boat on a clear, serene lake.  A breath of soft, sweet-scented air kept the boat on its course without the need for oars.  Sakura shook her head vigorously.  This can't be happening.  Where am I?  I can't remember a thing...

Her eyes drifted to rest upon the smooth waters, then widened with shock

Reflections spread across the lake, not reflections of the summer-blue sky overhead, but reflections of…her life?  She could see herself singing in the competition, blushing with embarrassment as she and Syaoran got crowned King and Queen.  She could see herself writhing in torment when the fever had attacked her.  Another scene unfolded, one where Syaoran held her tenderly in his arms and was…kissing her?  Was this a mirror of not just the past, but the future?  No…

She looked closer…yes, that was Cabin Four and that was the very same dress she had worn to the singing competition.  Syaoran had kissed her.

And to think, she could not remember it!

Life could really suck sometimes.

Now another scene was spreading itself across the smooth waters.  Syaoran was slumped over beside a bed, his hands both enfolded around someone else's hand.  Sakura felt a twinge of jealousy, until she realized who the hand belonged to.

Her!

It was not until then that she realized the boat was going in circles.  Every time it neared the shore, an unexpected curve would veer the boat off course, like some invisible hand sweeping the boat away.  Sakura glanced back down at the shining water and it hit her.

Syaoran was keeping her from reaching the shore.  Every time he whispered her name, every time he touched her hand, every time he even neared her bedside, the boat would start backwards; sending her back to consciousness and life.

A tremulous smile touched her lips as she continued to watch, willing him with all her heart to continue sending her home…to him.

So I lay my head back down;
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours;
I pray
To be only yours.
I know now,
You're my only hope.

Sing to me the song of the stars,
Of the galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again,
When it feels like my dreams are so far,
Sing to me all the plans that you have for me over again.

So I lay my head back down,
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours;
I pray
To be only yours.
I know now,
You're my only hope.

I give you my destiny,
I'm giving you all of me,
I want your symphony,
Singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs;
I'm giving you all I have.

So I lay my head back down,
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours;
I pray
To be only yours;
I pray
To be only yours.
I know now,
You're my only hope

"Don't give up, Syaoran."

Even as she whispered the words, the wind picked up.  Not the usual soft, compelling breeze, but a strong tempest that has the slightest aroma of dark forests and rain soaked foliage.  The gale reached near-hurricane force as it swept wildly over the lake; disrupting the smooth, glasslike surface and transforming the once-serene waters to large waves that furiously lashed out around the small boat.  Sakura winced slightly as several windblown trees fell over, one decimating a small cottage at the shore.

"Ooh…erm…I guess that means he's not going to give up…heh…"

_________________________

Akemi held back a melancholy sigh.  Sakura still was not awake.  Seven days and she still was as still as…well, let's not think of that.  Three days ago, the Card Mistress had given them all a sign of hope by curling her fingers around Syaoran's hand.  Since then, however, the girl had lain completely inert.  Even the Cards…er…what were they supposed to be called?  For Clow's sake, they were over nine hundred years old! 

She rubbed her forehead, exhausted.  An idea kept nagging at her subconscious, refusing to go away.  She stood, then sat back down; staring at the carved surface of the table in front of her.  Never before had she seen such rich furnishings.  Idly, her finger traced the designs.

The thought still refused to leave.

A curse flew from her mouth as she slammed her fist down upon the table.  "It's stupid!  Things like that only work in fairy tales!"

"Things like what?"

Akemi froze.  Footsteps sounded behind her; quiet, yet purposeful.  She turned her head and met the eyes of the heir to the Li Clan fortune.  He did not sit, but simply met her eyes calmly.  She barely knew what to do.  Syaoran had seldom addressed her in the past, mostly keeping to himself or confiding in Sakura.  But now he stood in front of the table in her guestroom, his entire stance emitting a sense of power and strength.

She could see why Sakura was attracted to him.

Ooh!  Bad thought!  Bad!

"Things like what?" Syaoran repeated, brown eyes intense on Akemi.

Her hands twisted together tightly.  "It's stupid.  I just…it won't go away and it's just so stupid!"

He leaned on the table, his gaze never faltering.  "What?"

Akemi sighed deeply.  "Okay, it's like this.  When I was little, I liked to read lots of stupid fairy tales.  And in situations like these," she mumbled, her voice lowering to an embarrassed whisper.  "The hero of the story would either kiss the princess or confess his undying love and the girl would wake up."  She floundered to a stop at the look that crossed Syaoran face.  "I know.  It's cheesy.  It'll never work."

He straitened, a wry smile flashing across his face.  "At this point, Akemi, I'm willing to do anything."

Akemi could only stare as the young man strode out of her guestroom, his footsteps echoing as the receded down the hall. 

"He's crazy," she stated flatly.  Then she paused, a grin flitting across her features.  "I'm crazy."

________________________

"Sakura," Syaoran whispered, kneeling beside the narrow cot.  He took her slender hand in his, caressing it gently.  Then his eyes locked on her still face.  "Sakura, I don't know whether I'm finally going insane or not.  But I've tried just about everything and I'll not stop until you wake up."

"Akemi told me a story and I thought I'd just share it with you."  He took a deep breath and continued.

"Once, there was a beautiful princess.  She was wonderful, lovely, kind…she would do anything to keep her friends happy and safe.  One day, a foreign prince came to her country and tried to steal something very precious from the princess, but the princess refused to yield.  This act of determination won the prince's admiration and he and the princess became good friends.  Over the years their friendship grew stronger until one day, the princess did something to save some of her friends, risking her life in the process.  The prince never realized until that moment exactly how deep his love ran for the princess.  And he could just kill himself for all the stupid mistake he's made."

Was that just him, or was Sakura smiling?

"And now this prince has just one option left.  He doesn't know what may happen in the future, but he wants you to know something."

Syaoran smiled slightly and brushed his lips against the Card Mistress' pale lips.  "I love you, Sakura Kinomoto."

With that said, he stood and prepared to leave.  A small noise made him pause, but he shook his head and put his hand on the doorknob.  Then a clear voice rang out.

"Li."

He turned slowly.

Sakura was sitting up, her hair slightly tousled.  She looked pale, but her eyes were clear and deep.  He hesitantly took a few steps towards her, not believing what he was seeing.  Syaoran cleared his throat, bowing slightly.

"Kinomoto."

Her smile grew.  Swinging her legs over the side of the cot, she stood on wobbly legs, bracing herself with one hand against the wall.  She took one step forward, but started to fall.  Syaoran was at her side in a moment, his hands carefully steadying her, and holding her upright.  She smiled up at him.

"Sakura," he began, searching her face.  "I—"

Sakura shook her head, silencing him as she released his hands from her waist and stood on her own.  "Syaoran," she interrupted him as he opened his mouth to protest, tilting her head up to see his face.  "I love you, too."

He closed the space between them and enveloped her in his arms.  He lowered his head, a brief smile flitting across his features, and then closed the distance between their lips. This time, Sakura was awake for his kiss.  For a while, it seemed like the entire world consisted only of her, Syaoran, and their deep love for each other…

"YES!  CONTACT HAS BEEN MADE!"

They stopped immediately and sprang apart.  Sakura pulled out her Key while Syaoran lifted his head and glared dangerously at the intruder.

Ahem…intruders.  Plural.

Calliope and the eight other Muses were seated comfortably in some folding chairs.  Well, actually, some of them were not seated.  Polyhymnia and Thalia were now dancing a jig around the room while Urania provided a heavenly spotlight on the annoyed couple in front of them.  Melpomene was simply aghast at all the commotion, her hand clasped to her heart melodramatically. 

"Such noise!  She'll have a heart attack for sure…"

Calliope stood, bowing slightly.  "I am happy to see you well again, Miss Kinomoto." 

There was something in his smile that made Sakura frown suspiciously.  Syaoran raised his eyebrows, still rather annoyed.  "Who are these people?"

"They are the Nine Muses.  They sent me on the mission to retrieve the Amulet."

"Really?"

The young man's tone of voice was rather disturbing.  His glare darkened further as the handsome Muse of romance (Erato) stepped forward and kissed Sakura's hand gallantly.

"Mistress of Cards!  My life has been a desolate wasteland without the light of your glorious emerald eyes, your lips to warm and inviting…angels weep for envy of you!  Seeing you stranded on the lake only furthered my—"

Sakura stepped back, wrenching her hand away.  "What did you say?"

Erato realized his mistake a bit to late.  "Erm…I mean, seeing you so sick and…um…"

Terpsichore slapped a hand to his forehead.  "He's such an idiot.  Why do we even allow Erato to be in our presence?  Calliope—"

Calliope was holding his hands up, looking rather nervous for once in his immortal life.  "Now, Sakura…" he began.

"What the hell does he mean by seeing me stranded on a lake?"

He winced slightly.  "Well, it was only to help you, you know.  We just…to repay what you did…since you rid the world of an evil influence…"

"Spit it out."  Syaoran had the chief Muses pinned to the wall with one hand, his dark eyes decidedly calm.  Calliope lay still and gulped.  Finally…

"Umm…the coma was…er, how shall I say it…"

Clio, Muse of history, was getting annoyed at the delayed explanation. "We made your unconsciousness prolonged until the time of your beloved's confession of his undying love."  He adjusted his spectacle with a professional flair.  "And I must say it worked out quite nicely.  Even your friends thought it a wonderful idea…"

"What?"

Some things are best left unknown.

~Finis ~

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ta-da!

I hate this chapter.  *Grumbles.*   It really sucks.  Sure, I tried and all, but it really, really bites the dust.  This chapter is subject to some huge, astronomically sized revisions.  Gomen nasai for my lack of talent.  And my damned mood swings.

*Tries to throw computer out window*  Fry in Sheol, instrument of bad writing ability!  DIE, evil contraption of un-enlightenment!  DIE!

Erm…  Sorry.

Well, I was going to put all my happy thank-yous and stuff, but as I started writing them all up, I realized that they were going to be roughly the size of half this chapter.  Which is long.  For thank yous, I mean.  Not to mention it was talking a while, and I have to go somewhere at 8:00 tonight.  I told myself I'd have this chapter updated today.  So my thank-yous will be included in the blooper chapter, if it's alright with you guys.  ^_^  I adore you all!  You've been fantastic people and I have really enjoyed writing this fic, knowing that some people out there were laughing their heads off, or getting great visuals.  ^_^  Merry Christmas!

And a Happy New Year~!