My Husband's Wedding- Epilogue

My Husband’s Wedding

Witch-Mistress-Animaru

A/N: Now I understand why some writers don’t approve of flame reviews; I just received one hate review and I can’t see why I deserve it. I don’t want any bitterness left, though, so I won’t dwell on the thought much.

Once more, I have broken my promise of update. Sorry, but unexpected events turned up. Anyway, here’s the epilogue, and, well, use your search engines to find the sequel, “My Happy Ending.” I stuck to the “My…” formula. It’s rather straightforward. Though now that I think of it, My Husband’s Wedding is a perfect title for the sequel if told in the Kaho Mizuki POV. Ha-ha. Sorry I wasn’t able to stick much to the title; believe me, I’m every bit as surprised as you are about this fic. I didn’t imagine this to turn up this way; in the original plan, nobody’s bound to die and Keira’s not an all-out bad person. But then, many things are better unexpected, right? And everything else considered… I loved the way I ended the story. So idealistic in the midst of reality. To those who still find this ending rather…sad, all I have to say can be summed up in this sentence: Sacrifice is the reality of it all. So…it ends here, officially. Allow me to give you the closing credits:

To all the reviewers, followers, time-to-time readers, and everyone who supported me from beginning to end, thank you very much.

To CLAMP, of course. (Though I doubt if they’d be reading this… Ha-ha.)

And… to…uh, I ran out already.

Minna, Arigatou Gozaimasu!

Special thanks to my family and friends who served as inspiration for some of the characterizations you find here. Co-Otaku Joyce, see you on January 3rd! Same goes for Jaevee (Adiik!). Not that you visit FFnet, so I’m safe. And to Cherry of Augustine ’06-’07.

Dedicated to Augustine ’05-’06 of SLCV, especially to Jewel and Brenda, co-CCS addicts (Though not as addicted as I am.) Special mention SHAKEWELL (Don’t ask).

And…yes, last but DEFINITELY not the least, to my best friend, Jann. Hope you get to read this someday. Say hello to my goddaughter for me.

To my mentor and also to my co-Writers Ate Lalai and Ecka.

I guess that’s it.

We’ve reached the end, but the beginning of something else.

Here we go! (Listening to Mienai Chizu (Invisible Map, I found out), one of the CCS songs I like the most. Besides Ashita e no Melodii, Arigatou, Blue as the Sky, Catch You Catch Me, Groovy, Tobira Wo Akete, Platinum, Koko ni Kite, Fruits Candy, Honey. Wahaha.)

Epilogue: All’s well that Ends well

(AKA: The Homecoming)

Five Years Later

Sakura smiled sadly as she laid down fresh flowers on Kaho’s grave. It was their fifth wedding — tenth, if you count from their first wedding. It was Kaho’s fifth death anniversary and Syaoran agreed to drop by the cemetery on their way to the gathering that their family and friends prepared for them.

Wherever you are, I hope you’re happy now. I…I still believe you need not have done that, but it’s just as Syaoran says. These things happen for a reason. I’m infinitely indebted to you, and if ever I’m mean to oniichan without reason, please remind me.

She thought of the party later on that day. Everyone they know will be there: Tomoyo (Daidouji) and Eriol Hiiragizawa with four-year-old Mariko; Chiharu (Mihara) and Takashi Yamazaki with their twins Hikaru and Hisashi, both seven of age; Rika Sasaki-Terada, who married their homeroom teacher years back, still had no child of her own. Naoko Yanagisawa was now a devoted teacher and writer of children’s books.

Yelan Li flew all the way from Hong Kong earlier than they did to arrange the party, together with Wei and Syaoran’s sisters. Sonomi and Fujitaka will both be there too. And of course…

“Sakura!” She turned from her musings to see her brother Touya running towards her from the cemetery gates.

“Oniichan!” She whispered, throwing herself into Touya’s arms. “It’s been awhile…we’ve been away for years in Hong Kong. How have you been?”

“Fine, as always. For a kaijuu, you’re kind of looking great.” He said; his voice light and teasing.

This time, his little joke earned no violent response; she’s a bit old for tantrums. She just smiled reminiscently, breathing in the scent of the past. Her gaze fell upon the grave, and her smile vanished as quickly as it went on.

“She needn’t have died…” She said in a sob, and Touya patted her on the back consolingly.

“Listen carefully, Sakura. Don’t go blaming yourself. She…all right, it’s a given that she didn’t deserve to die. But we have to let her go now. Truth be told, you should have dropped the guilt five years ago when we buried her here.”

“Have you let her go?”

“I have, kid sis, I have done so four years ago.”

“But can you blame me for feeling so guilty?”

“Yes. Nobody’s condemning you; why should you condemn yourself? Look at me, Sakura; I want you to look at me!” He added sternly when she wouldn’t raise her eyes to meet his. “Do I look unhappy to you?”

She shook her head, eyes brimming with tears.

“She’s been good to me. I loved Kaho, but I love her even more now. She…I saw the goodness in her when fate threw us together. Kaho may not be here anymore, but she lives on our hearts. She will always have a place in mine. A place not even she can take away.”

“By saying ‘she’ do you mean…?”

“Yeah, she’s outside talking to that kid.”

“Don’t call Syaoran ‘kid,’ oniichan!”

“Whatever. What matters is, I have moved on. It’s time for you to do so too.”

“You’re okay now then?” Touya nodded. “But Kaho-neechan…”

“Have you forgotten? All these things…they happen for a reason.”

“That’s what Syaoran said, too. I guess…” Sakura looked away from him, gathering her strength to smile with an effort.

“Listen, you didn’t ask her to do that; she did it quite willingly. She wouldn’t want her efforts wasted on a sad life for you.”

“You’re right,” she said, smiling with extreme difficulty. “I guess you really are happy now, oniichan.”

“Very much so, I’ll have you know. Besides, Kaho left me a living reminder…”

Sakura looked up at her brother, who was smiling at her surprise.

“What do you mean?”

“Our child lived, unlike what I led you all to believe.” He looked away from her, looking slightly ashamed. “I am not proud of what I have done. I had her adopted. In the first few months, I couldn’t bear to see her without remembering her mother. It hurt me a lot. She looks a lot like Kaho…”

“But you got her back, didn’t you? You can’t have given her away like that; Kaho-neechan won’t forgive you!”

“I know. And yeah, she’s with me now. With us, actually. She’s the one who got her back for me. She knew I’d regret what I did, and she traced the couple who adopted the child and somehow persuaded them to give her back.”

Sakura stared at her brother’s eyes, full of tenderness as he spoke of her.

“She did that for you? She must…really love you.”

Touya only smiled.

“Why didn’t she come along with you?”

“She wanted me to have some time alone with Kaho. We saw your car and she went to talk with that k…I meant your husband. Kazuki and Haruka are with her.” (A/N: Kazuki is Kaho’s and Touya’s daughter.)

“I see. Well, I’m through with my visit. Since we’re all coming to the party, why don’t we come together? We can talk some more on our way.”

But Touya shook his head.

“I…you can say I’m saying my goodbyes now. We’re going to go soon, though.”

“I see. Very well. Ja ne, oniichan.”

“Ja ne. Say hello to my niece and nephew.”

“Oh, Nakari’s turning three soon! You’ll love her, oniichan.”

“Just as you’ll love Kazuki and Haruka.”

She laughed aloud as she marveled on their tones. Then her laughter died.

“Does…Kazuki know?”

“No, not yet. But we intend to tell her someday.”

“I have to go now, though. I’ll see you later, Syaoran’s waiting for me.” She eyed her brother gently and planted a swift kiss on her cheek.

She turned away from Touya and she made her way to her husband and her children.

What’s done is done. You can’t do anything about the past now but to move on.

She froze; sure that she heard that voice…again. Then she shrugged before taking Syaoran’s outstretched hand as they headed for the party.

I’m ready to go now. I’m sure they can go on without me and my help.

Kaho descended on the ground and gave Touya one final kiss.

‘Say hello to Kazuki for me, Touya.

‘Goodbye, for now…’

“Huh?” Touya stumbled, almost falling as a very cold wind dampened his cheeks.

“What’s the matter? Daijoubu desuka?” A high, worried voice called from outside the cemetery gates.

“I’m okay. I just thought I heard someone.”

“They just left. Are you…I mean, can we go now? Not that I’m hurrying you…I’ll go outside now.”

“There’s no need, I’m done. Let’s go. It’s not wise to keep them waiting…”

“…Meilin.” With that, he wrapped his arms around his wife and they made their way out the cemetery.

“Are you okay? You look shaken,” Syaoran glanced sideways at Sakura who sat stonily, deep in thought, beside him in the car.

“Nani? Oh, well, I’m okay…demo…”

“What is it?”

“I thought I heard Kaho-neechan’s voice back there…”

“Really? She must have been there, watching over you.”

Sakura looked up to see him smiling.

“Daijoubu desu.”

“I know. Don’t let me… bother you.”

“It bothers me to see you like that.” He said as they neared the building. “Won’t you share your worries with me?”

“Nandewanai (It’s nothing). I just wondered if…if oniichan heard her too, and if he did, if he’s sad again because of it.”

“Are we there yet, Mom, Dad?” A tiny voice behind them said. They both turned. Green-eyed and strawberry-blonde, three-year old Nakari stared at them with her sparkling, still-sleepy eyes.

“Almost,” an older boy’s voice answered beside Nakari.

Xiao Chen sat beside his sister with his arms folded. He resembled his father so much that Sakura can’t help but smile. Sakura is reminded so much of her own brother when she considers Xiao Chen’s attitude toward Nakari.

“What do you mean by ‘almost’, oniichan?”

“Don’t bug me, kaijuu!”

“Mom! Oniichan called me a ‘kaijuu’! Oniichan is mean!”

“I’m not!”

“Yes you are!”

“I’m not!”

“You are!”

“That’s enough, both of you. We’re here.”

Xiao Chen glared playfully at his sister while Nakari stuck out her tongue at him.

WELCOME HOME, EVERYONE

Sakura’s eyes strayed on the streamer that hung on the entrance hall.

“We’re finally here again, aren’t we?”

“Yes. I’m sure everyone’s excited to see us.”

“I’m nervous!”

“Don’t be,” he smiled as he took her hand, his other hand holding Nakari. Xiao Chen walked a little ahead of them. (Xiao Chen’s the first-born male of his generation, so he’s the next leader of the clan, like his father. He began training when they arrived in Hong Kong five years ago, and he inherited a bit of his father’s pride so…)

“I’m with you, so don’t be.”

“I suppose we’ll be okay. There’s so much that happened in the last few years…Nothing I expected. But we’ll be okay; after all, it’s only them.”

“Yes. Let’s go…”

“…it’s time to be home after years of wandering.”

END