Key:
() = hand-written text (not printed)
** = action/description
[] = clarification
{} = editorial comments

pg. 25

Sakura gapes as Mizuki Kaho steps through the doorway, smiling.

Sakura: MIZUKI-SENSEI!?

pg. 26

Eriol rises and takes her hand as she seats herself in his big "throne" chair. She smiles up at him.

Kaho: ...And well done, Eriol.

He gazes warmly into her eyes.

Eriol: Thank you... Kaho.

Observing the two of them, Tomoyo smiles a very significant smile.

{Traumatized Translator's Note: While not necessarily obvious from the dialogue, it is perfectly evident from the illustration that there's some cradle-robbing going on here. UGYAAAAA! I guess Kaho really IS into younger men... *massive sweatdrop*}

pg. 27

Sakura: *wide-eyed* Mizuki-sensei, you knew, too? About Eriol-kun?

Kaho: Yes. We met while I was studying abroad in England.

Sakura: So even the things I wrote to you in my letter...

Kaho: I did wish to tell you the truth, but if I had, I was afraid it would interfere with you doing your best.

She bows her head.

Kaho: I am sorry.

Sakura: *shaking her head vigorously* If I had known the truth, I'm sure I wouldn't have tried as hard as I did!

pg. 28

Sakura: And because you encouraged me in your letter, I did my best!

They both smile. Kero, however, is still having issues.

Kero: *scowling* Somehow it seems like eeeeverything just went according to Clow's plans, huh?

Eriol: That's not the case at all. As I said before, things certainly happened that even I couldn't predict.

pg. 29

He turns to Sakura.

Eriol: No matter how powerful one's magic, making predictions about matters of the heart seems to be difficult to do. Especially about matters of "love."

He glances deliberately toward the window. Outside, Yue swiftly turns away.

pg. 30

Tomoyo: ...So Sakura-chan now has stronger magical power than Clow-san did, is that right?

Eriol: Yes.

Tomoyo: *worried* If that's true, then has Sakura-chan now become able to see all of the events coming in the future, the way you and Clow-san could?

Sakura is astonished. Consternation from Kero and Shaoran.

pg. 31

Eriol smiles reassuringly.

Eriol: It's all right.

Kaho: *winking* If that would've happened, I wouldn't have given Eriol a hand.

Eriol: As Daidouji-san said, Sakura-san is now in possession of magical power strong enough to surpass mine... no,that of Clow Reed himself.

pg. 32

Eriol: Because of that, she can control the power that Crow Reed was unable to.

Kero: Which means the power to be able to see the future, too...!

Eriol: That power won't operate unless Sakura-san wishes it to.

pg. 33

Tomoyo: *smiling* That's a relief to hear.

Eriol: *smiling at her* You really are a very kind person.

He turns to the group.

Eriol: You all must be hungry. Ruby, Spinel, could I ask you to bring some tea and cookies for everyone?

Ruby Moon: SURE! *heart*

Sakura: Oh, I'll help!

pg. 34

Shaoran: *raising his hand* (Me too.)

Tomoyo: (Me too.)

Ruby Moon: (It's all right, all we have to do is bring in the things Eriol has already fixed.)

Sakura: (But-- but--!)

As the others retreat, presumably to the kitchen, Eriol turns to the garden doors and steps out into the night. Yue is standing a short distance away, his back to the house.

Eriol: ...You won't come in, Yue?

pg. 35

Yue: ...You still haven't answered me.

He lifts his head and turns hurt eyes on Eriol.

Yue: Why didn't you tell me that you'd been reborn?

His face falls back into shadow.

Yue: To go as far as to change my memories... why...?

pg. 36

Eriol: If I hadn't, you would have kept on searching for Clow forever, wouldn't you?

Yue: I was searching! If I'd known you had been reborn, I would have kept searching until I found you! But in spite of that...! Why did you let me choose a new master?

Eriol's face hardens slightly.

Eriol: Because even if I am his reincarnation, I am not Clow Reed himself.

pg. 37

Yue gazes at him.

Eriol: It's true that I have all the memories of Clow Reed's past life, but that doesn't mean that Clow himself has reappeared.

His expression softens into what might be sympathy.

Eriol: Someone who has died cannot truly return to life. That is why Clow entrusted all of you to Sakura-san.

pg. 38

Eriol rests a hand on Yue's bowed head.

Eriol: ...Yue, do you not like Sakura-san?

Yue: ...I don't hate her.

Eriol: *smiling* Which means, in Yue terms, "I like her a lot."

pg. 39

Eriol: ...Yue. I think I'm very glad that I came to this place.

Yue is quiet under Eriol's hand, his head still bowed, his eyes closed with pain.

Eriol: Because by doing so I was able to meet Sakura-san, and you and Kerberos who were made by Clow. And also...

He smiles.

Eriol: Because of the things that I couldn't predict.

Yue looks up in surprise.

pg. 40

Eriol: One was the "heart" of your other form. I had thought that Yukito, whose true form is you, would come to love Sakura-san best, and that Sakura-san would also forever love Yukito.

[Images of Yuki and Sakura and lots of flowers. ^_^;]

Eriol: But... I was wrong.

He smiles down at Yue.

Eriol: You understand Yukito's heart best, don't you?

pg. 41

Eriol: And Yukito chose Sakura's brother.

[Image of Touya, still asleep... awwwww.]

Eriol: And as to who Sakura will choose... we'll soon know.

He turns to gaze through the window at the group within the house.

pg. 42

The next morning, at the Kinomoto house, Sakura has just put on her rollerblades.

Fujitaka: Do you have everything?

Sakura: (ACK! I overslept again--!) *spiral eyes* Yeah!

She pauses, blinking up at her father's smiling face, seeing an image of Clow's beside it.

Sakura [thinking]: That my dad, along with Eriol-kun, is one of the two separate reincarnations of Clow-san... it's still hard to believe.

pg. 42

Fujitaka: ? Something wrong?

Sakura: *shaking her head* Huh-uh! It's nothing!

She waves and sets out for school.

Sakura: See you laaa-ter!

Fujitaka: Take care!

pg. 43

Watching over Fujitaka's shoulder as he waves goodbye is the winged spirit of a woman with long, flowing dark hair. When he turns to one side and sees her, his eyes widen.

Fujitaka: Nadeshiko...san?

His wife's spirit smiles warmly.

Nadeshiko [silent voice]: Yes.

pg. 44

Fujitaka: *rubbing his eyes* How... how is it that I can see you?

He reaches to take her hand in his.

Fujitaka: I don't have the kind of power that Touya-kun...

Nadeshiko [silent voice]: As for that, I'll tell you soon. But first...

With loving arms and white wings, she wraps him in a floating embrace.

Nadeshiko [silent voice]: I'm so glad to see you again, Fujitaka-san.

pg. 45

He reaches up to hold her, smiling with great joy.

Fujitaka: I am, too.

pg. 46

Arriving at school, Sakura bursts into the classroom, still spiral-eyed.

Sakura: MORNING!!!

The other girls applaud her entrance.

Tomoyo: Impressive as always, Sakura-chan.

Chiharu: That was quick.

Naoko: *holding a stopwatch* That's a record sprint from the school grounds to the classroom!

Reika: Sensei's not here yet, so you're fine.

Sakura: (Thank goodness.) *sighing* I'm last again, aren't I?

Yamazaki: Nope, not last.

Sakura: HUH!?

pg. 47

Shaoran: *bursting though the door* MORNING!!

Yamazaki: Hey.

Sakura: Shaoran-kun!? (It's pretty weird for you to be later than me.)

Shaoran: *panting* I had a phone call this morning...

Sakura: From who?

pg. 48

Shaoran: From my mother in Hong Kong.

Sakura: *concerned* Your mother? How come?

Shaoran gazes at her, his expression somber.

pg. 48

Sakura: Shaoran-kun...?

Before he can reply, Terada-sensei enters the classroom.

Terada: Everybody take your seats!

Kids: (Okaaaay!)

Sakura goes to her seat, but looks back worriedly over her shoulder at Shaoran.

Terada: Today I'm afraid I have bad news for all of you. Hiiragizawa Eriol-kun will be returning to England.

Class: (EHHHH?)

Eriol stands smiling as everyone reacts in distress.

Sakura: EHH??

Later, the two stand outside the school, talking.

pg. 49

Sakura: And I haven't even had the chance to do anything to thank you...

Eriol: I'm the one who ought to be thanking you.

Sakura: But...

Eriol: Sakura-san, when you heard I was going back to England, what did you think?

Sakura: Eh? I thought, "It's too bad..."

Eriol: ......... I have a favor to ask.

Sakura: Huh?

Eriol: When the same thing happens again... when a person who is close to you ends up going someplace far away, please think hard about how you feel then, and how it differs from how you feel about my going.

pg. 50

Eriol: Because if you do that, you'll know who the person you truly think of as your "number one" is.

Sakura: *wide-eyed* What do you mean?

He smiles kindly.

Eriol: You'll know soon.

pg. 51

After school, Sakura has started on her way home. A short distance behind her, Shaoran is standing. He lifts a hand as if to reach out to her, then hesitates, looking nervous. Then suddenly Sakura turns and sees him.

Shaoran: (EH?)

Sakura: *skating up to him, smiling* SHAORAN-KUN!!

pg. 52

Sakura: I thought it was you--!

Shaoran: *heart thumping* How... how'd you know?

Sakura: (Hee hee hee) I just did!

He blushes furiously.

Sakura: Shall we go home together?

Shaoran: Su...sure.

She rollerblades alongside him as he walks.

Sakura: Eriol-kun will be lonely when he goes back to England, won't he?

Shaoran: *heartbeat* ...Yeah.

pg. 53

Sakura: (Oh!) You had something to tell me.

She smiles.

Sakura: The thing you wanted to tell me after all the Tsukimine Shrine stuff was over-- what is it?

Shaoran takes off his hat and stops in his tracks, a few feet ahead of her...

pg. 54

...then turns around to face her. She smiles back, tilting her head expectantly.

Sakura: ?

Shaoran: I... like......

pg. 54

Shaoran: I like... you.

pg. 55

Sakura's eyes are wide.

pg. 56

Sakura: ....Eh?.......

Shaoran: *looking vaguely proud* The person I like best of all is you. That's all I wanted to say.

He turns away, leaving her standing frozen with astonishment.

Shaoran: ...Take care on your way home.

pg. 57

Later, at the Kinomoto house, Touya and Yuki are in the kitchen, cooking. Both of them are wearing aprons. ^o^

Yuki: So Mizuki-sensei is coming back here.

Touya: Yeah.

Yuki: And she knew Hiiragizawa-kun, huh.

Touya: That Clow Reed. Man, he must have gotten a kick out of scaring people.

Yuki: But I'm grateful to him. Because he created my true form, I was able to meet Sakura-chan and everybody... and you...

Touya smiles at him. Little sparklies float though the air. ^o^

pg. 58

Yuki: Is Sakura-chan still shutting herself up in her room?

Touya: Yeah, ever since she came home.

Yuki: *concerned* Do you think something happened?

Touya: ...Something happened. Today.

Yuki: You know about it, Touya?

Touya: *frowning* I've known for a long time.

pg. 59

He folds his arms and looks pissed.

Touya: That's why I never could stand that brat.

Upstairs, in her room, Sakura is hiding under the covers in bed, with a worried Kero sitting next to her.

Kero: Sakura, what's wrong? Do you have a stomach ache? A fever?

Sakura: *refusing to show her face* ...... No, it's not like that. I'm fine.......

Beneath the blanket, she is blushing uncontrollably.

pg. 60

Sakura [thinking]: ......Shaoran-kun... I... what do I think about him?

She envisions his face, and thinks of all the times he has helped her.

Sakura [thinking]: I like him. As a friend? Yes. But only that? No. No, but--

pg. 61

Sakura [thinking]: This feeling, it's different from how I felt with Yukito-san. This feeling... ...what can it be?

She pulls the covers back a little, remembering the time he held her as she cried.

Sakura: .......Shaoran-kun.......

To be continued.

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