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

pg. 139

In Sakura's room.

Kero: Sakura--you still up?

Sakura: I have to finish this before the night is over.

Kero: *arms crossed* You've been sewing nonstop ever since you came home. What the heck are you making?

The clock shows just after 1 a.m.

Sakura: Kero-chan, you can go to bed.

pg. 140

Kero: Well, it must be something important, huh.

Sakura pauses and meets his gaze, smiling.

Sakura: Yeah.

Kero: And there's nothing I can do to help?

Sakura: I want to make it all by myself.

pg. 141

Kero flies up to pat her on the head gently.

Kero: All right...I'll go to bed so I won't be in the way. But if you need me for anything, you wake me up, you got that? If there's anything I can do, I'll do it.

pg. 142

She grasps his paws in gratitude.

Sakura: .......Thanks, Kero-chan.

Elsewhere in the house, Touya and Yuki are...studying. Together. ^_^

pg. 143

Yuki: *putting down his book* ........I wonder if Sakura-chan's still up.

Touya: Her light's on, so I'd say she is.

Yuki: Do you think she's studying? Or maybe making something she needs for school? (I wish I could do something to help...)

Touya: *anger spark* She's making something, all right. That.

Yuki: (??) That?

He leans forward over the table, blinking cluelessly.

Yuki: You know what it is? The thing she's making?

Touya: *anger spark* Yeah. And what's probably going to happen later, too. *spark spark*

pg. 144

Yuki stands up.

Yuki: Is it okay if I use the kitchen?

Touya: For Sakura?

Yuki: (Yeah.) She must be hungry by now. (I'll go and fix her something warm.)

Touya: I'm coming too.

Yuki: Will you make her something?

Touya: If you're going to.

Yuki: *laughing and leaning on Touya's shoulder* You really are a shy one, aren't you?

Touya: *reddening slightly* Shut up.

pg. 145

The clock in Sakura's room shows almost 1:25. Kero is snoozing away in bed. Sakura looks up quickly as a knock sounds at the door.

Sakura: Y...yes? (Eh? Eh? At this hour?)

Voice from outside: Sorry to bother you so late, Sakura-chan.

Sakura: *wide-eyed* Yukito-san...?

pg. 146

Yukito carries in a tray with a steaming mug and plate. At precisely that moment, Sakura's stomach rumbles audibly.

Yukito: Sounds like I'm just in time.

She blushes.

A short while later, the plate and mug are both empty.

Sakura: Thank you so much. Yukito-san, did you...

Yukito: *smiling* I only helped. Touya made it.

pg. 147

Sakura: Oniichan did?

Yukito: Touya's so shy, he told me to bring it to you, and went back to his room.

[Touya at that moment--> loud sneeze]

Yukito looks down at the pieces of stuffed cloth Sakura is working on.

Yukito: Is that what you're making?

Sakura: Yes.

Yukito: Is it a present for someone?

Sakura: *ducking her head and blushing slightly* Yes...

pg. 148

Yukito: You found him, didn't you? The person you like best.

She clutches her hands to her heart and smiles.

Sakura: ...Yes.

Yukito: Is it somebody I know?

Sakura: Yes.

pg. 149

Yuki: Next time we meet again, will you introduce me?

Sakura: *looking down* I might not be able to.

Yuki: *concerned* How come?

Sakura: He's going...far away.

pg. 150

Yuki: But it's not that you'll never see each other again, is it? Even if you're going to be separated by a great distance, you'll meet again. If you think you want to see each other again, that is.

pg. 151

Sakura: ...I think...we both do.

Yuki: *smiling* Then it'll be all right. ...I've been thinking. About what I would have done if I'd known from the start that if the magical power of my true form, Yue, ran out, both Yue and I would disappear from this world.

pg. 152

Yuki: I'm sure I would have tried to find some way that I could live without disappearing. I think I would have done absolutely anything I could. I couldn't stand it, not to be able to see you and... Touya anymore.

He looks sheepish.

Yuki: Although there really wasn't much that I could do. (Ha ha ha ha.)

Sakura: *shaking her head* (That's not true!)

Yuki: But you know, I think I did the best I could, in my own way.

pg. 153

Yuki: *eyes closed* Because not being able to see the person you love anymore is truly a cruel thing, I believe I did absolutely everything in my power to keep that from happening.

pg. 154

Sakura: *subdued* ...Yukito-san.

Yuki: So, if you want to see that person, and that person wants to see you, you'll meet again.

pg. 155

Yuki: And as long as both of you feel that way, I'm sure it'll turn out fine.

Sakura: *smiling* .......Thank you.

pg. 156

[Some time later; sunlight is creeping in from behind the closed windowshades.]

Sakura: DONE...!

Kero, who had been snoring, cracks open an eye and gets up.

Kero: Eh, what'd you say!? You're all finished!?

Sakura: ...Yep!

At that moment, her cell phone rings.

pg. 157

Sakura: Hello, Kinomoto residence. Oh, Tomoyo-chan.

Tomoyo: Today Terada-sensei came to our chorus club general meeting to help out! He said that Ri-kun is leaving for Hong Kong today on a ten o'clock flight!

pg. 158

Sakura: TEN O'CLOCK!?

[It's now just a few minutes before nine.]

Tomoyo: If his flight is at ten, he'll have left the house already!

Sakura: ...No... it can't be........

Tears well in her eyes.

Sakura: I haven't given it to him... I haven't let him know my feelings... it can't be!

Tomoyo: Pull yourself together, Sakura-chan! You can still make it! You possess the invincible spell!

pg. 159

Sakura: *reciting* ...It'll definitely be all right.

pg. 160

Sakura: Tomoyo-chan!! Thank you!

She hangs up and dashes out the door, clutching a gift bag in one hand. Tomoyo closes her eyes and smiles.

pg. 161

[Downstairs in the Kinomoto house, thunderous footsteps can be heard from above.]

Touya: *wearing an apron* ...It's the monster.

Yuki, also in an apron, comes out to the front hall and finds Sakura putting on her rollerblades. {Let us all pause for a moment and contemplate the fact that if Yuki is still here at 9:00 a.m., he has presumably stayed all night. *long pause* Right. Back to story.}

Yuki: *to Sakura* What is it?

Sakura: I only have five minutes! I have to get to the airport bus stop!

Yuki: Five minutes? You'll never make it on rollerblades!

Sakura: But--!

Yuki is visibly distressed. Fujitaka and Touya look on.

pg. 162

Touya sighs and puts a hand to his head.

Touya: ...Everything just as I predicted, huh.

He takes off the apron, a long-suffering frown on his face.

Touya: Fine. I'll take you on the back of my motorcycle.

Sakura: *overjoyed* ONIICHAN!!

pg. 163

At a bustop in Tomoeda, Shaoran is sitting alone on the otherwise empty bus, brooding.

Shaoran: [thinking] ...I never got to hear her answer, but.......

Sakura: SHAORAN-KUN!!

She races toward the bus at top speed; in the background, we can see Touya on his bike.

pg. 164

Shaoran flings open the bus window.

Shaoran: ...Sakura!?

Sakura: I...!

She holds up the winged teddy bear she has made.

Sakura: I figured out my feelings...!!

pg. 165

With tears in her eyes, she hands the bear to Shaoran, who reaches down from the window to take it.

Sakura: ...My number-one person--

pg. 166

Sakura: Is you!

pg. 167

Shaoran: ...Thank you. *blushing slightly* Is it all right if I name the bear "Sakura"?

Sakura: Can I name the bear you gave me "Shaoran"?

Shaoran: Yeah.

The bus begins to move.

pg. 168

Sakura runs alongside it. Shaoran leans out the window, bear clutched in the crook of his arm.

Shaoran: I'll come back!

Sakura: When?

Shaoran: As soon as I'm done with the things I have to do in Hong Kong!

Sakura: *running as fast as she can* When will that be!?

Shaoran: It may take some time. Will you wait for me?

Sakura: ...YES!

pg. 169

At last the bus outpaces her, and she comes to a halt, waving goodbye from where she stands.

Sakura: [thinking] Of course I'll wait. Forever.

pg. 170

Sakura: [thinking] Because Shaoran-kun is the person I like best.

pg. 171-2

Seasons pass; cherry blossoms fall.

pg. 173

On her way out the door, Sakura grabs her bookbag and pulls on her shoes. She is noticeably taller, and dressed in a new uniform, although her hair is much the same.

Sakura: Off to school! Augh, I'm late, I'm late! Oniichan will be saying that even though I'm a junior high student, I still oversleep!

She runs down the street, then stops suddenly, her eyes wide. Standing before her is another student, dark-suited in a uniform bearing the same seal as Sakura's. In his hand is a winged teddy bear.

pg. 174

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

pg. 175

{KYAAAAAA! Chuugakusei no Shaoran-kun, meccha kawaii yo--n!}

He smiles. He, too, has grown taller, and his shoulders are a bit broader than before.

Shaoran: The formalities I had to go through in Hong Kong are finally over. From now on, I can stay here in Tomoeda.

Sakura: *approaching him slowly* Really...?

Shaoran: Yeah.

Sakura: We don't have to be patient, with nothing but letters and phone calls, anymore?

Shaoran: Yeah.

pg. 176

Smiling through her tears, Sakura flings herself into his arms.

Sakura: From now on we'll always be together!

THE END

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