Epilogue

Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.

Happiness is something to do, something to love, something to hope for.

~ Chinese Proverb

"It's done then?"

Syaoran stared at his and Lei's signatures on the royal edict. The purple-black ink was still damp and glistening. This was the moment he and Eriol had worked day and night for, for the last two years. Now that it was here, instead of a calm washing over him, Syaoran felt a twinge of apprehension. But this edict was what he wanted. It was a way out of a life he cared little for.

"It's done," he said to Lei and he inclined his head to his brother in thanks.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Lei for the millionth and one time. "I'm not you. I'll never be you. Or even our late First Son Renshu."

"You are a reasonable man, Lei."

"China has no need of a reasonable man. It needs a strong one."

Syaoran stood and walked around his large desk to face his brother.

"You will do well. If you ever need my counsel you shall have it. Besides, you have already accepted the position and all the responsibilities that come with it. You cannot go back on your word."

"No. That would be dishonourable."

Syaoran rolled up the edict and slid it into a cylindrical case. He nodded to Lei and left the imperial study. The layers of his hanfu and yuanlingshan dragged behind him as he walked along the towering, scarlet hallways. Ping hobbled behind him with the other servants.

"Where is Lady Sakura?" Syaoran asked him.

"In the courtyard. The Great Imperial Son wanted to go outside."

Syaoran made a beeline for the exact courtyard where he knew Sakura would have taken Xiao Dan. He found them playing a hand game she had taught him last week. Xiao Dan clapped his hands together at the wrong time and Sakura laughed. The boy did not think it was funny and scowled, his long hair blowing behind him in the wind.

Syaoran felt a touch of annoyance. How many times must he tell Sakura to put his son's hair in a braid or tie it up? The boy looked too feminine. If it were not for his thick eyebrows and piercing eyes that were so like his own, he would be mistaken for a princess.

Cerberus in his true form, sat on his own, chomping on preserved fruit. Meilin and Nakuru sat beneath the shade of an umbrella a servant was holding. Meilin cradled a baby in her arms.

Syaoran smiled as he remembered how irate and scared he had been when Sakura told him she was having another child a year ago. He had gone out and punched a tree until his knuckles bled. Believe it or not, Touya was the one to calm him down. When the boy was born, Syaoran had been suspicious because he had black hair. Yukito pointed out that both his and Sakura's mother had black hair. Syaoran had felt incredibly embarrassed then.

Then Hua-Ling had slit her wrists a week later. She had never been the same, though he had tried. They all had tried to make her happy. The one good thing that had come of it was that Syaoran had made a greater effort to spend more time with Meilin and eventually he came to care for her happiness once more. And though she was not his First Wife any longer, she had accepted it because she loved him.

As he approached Sakura, Xiao Dan knelt on the floor, his forehead pressed to the hot stone. He always did that and never got up until Syaoran pried him from the ground. Every now and then he felt like he sucked all the fun out of his son with his presence. It had been two long years of hard work as emperor and Syaoran did not have much time to bond with him as he would have liked.

He picked the boy up, held him on his waist and kissed his cheek. Xiao Dan looked down at his mother, pulling slightly to go back to her.

"You don't like me anymore?" asked Syaoran, feeling a pang in his chest.

The boy's eyes widened, and he shook his head.

"I love you, Otou-san."

Syaoran glanced up at Touya who had appeared as if on cue and was currently being jumped upon by Nakuru. Though he knew some Chinese now, he insisted on talking to Xiao Dan in no other language but Japanese. Syaoran supposed it would save the boy from dreadful tutors in the future.

"And Otou-san loves Xiao Dan," he told his son.

"Otou-san loves Qing Shan?" asked Xiao Dan, looking over at the baby.

"Yes," said Syaoran.

"More than Xiao Dan?"

Syaoran glanced at Sakura who was holding in a laugh with her hands.

"I love you equally," he said but then he cocked his head and pretended to think. "Hmm, maybe I love you just a little bit more."

Sakura hit him on the foot, but Xiao Dan smiled brightly and clapped his hands together, giggling in glee. Syaoran put the boy down and he ran over to Tomoyo and Eriol, the latter of which was cradling a baby girl in his arms. Clutching tight to Eriol's hanfu was Han. Last year, Touya had been visited by Kaho's spirit who had revealed to him that Han was still alive - smuggled out of the palace by a maidservant with the help of Yamazaki Takashi. Eriol had gone in search of him and returned with him from a village miles away. It was the happiest Syaoran had seen him since before Kaho had died.

Sakura made to go after Tomoyo to see her daughter Ai, but Syaoran caught her arm. He led her to a spot on a scarlet bridge below which lay a calm, wide river. They heard a cry and looked over at Meilin who was shooing Xiao Dan away. Apparently, he had pinched his little brother to amuse Han. The two were great companions, though Han was no longer a child who smiled easily - not after the horrors Sheng had brought on his family.

"You could have saved Xiao Dan some sibling rivalry by making a girl," Syaoran told his wife.

Sakura put a hand to her belly.

"Soon."

Syaoran paled.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He stepped back and pointed accusingly at her.

"You need to stop that!"

"No," said Sakura, grabbing his finger and pulling his hand down. "You need to stop."

Syaoran grimaced. He really was the guilty one.

"It's not my fault you are irresistible," he said, resting his hand on the bridge handrail. "But you are going to give me a heart attack someday if you keep giving me this kind of news. The rate you are going, I'm going to have four more children in the next eight years. And all those months of celibacy are incredibly frustrating."

Sakura shoved him slightly, a blush on her cheeks.

"You know you're dancing on the inside, anata." Then she grew solemn and said, "And as I've mentioned before, there is always Meilin."

"How can I when I know it will sadden you?" he asked.

"You can because you're Huangdi."

"I am also a man who loves his wife dearly. And I want her to be happy with me."

Wrapping his hands around her waist, Syaoran pulled her closer and kissed her on the lips.

"I know you have been upset that I've been distant and busy these past months," he murmured against her lips.

"Not months. Years." Sakura pulled away to look up into his face. "Xiao Dan thinks you don't want to be around him. So you stay away."

Syaoran's eyes went wide.

"That is not true." He sighed. "I will make it up to him. I swear."

"I believe you."

He took Sakura's hands in his own.

"The truth is I have been making plans for a proper successor."

Sakura gasped.

"But Xiao Dan is the Great Imperial Son. You don't want him to be emperor? Is it because of me? Because I'm Japanese?"

"No, it's not you." He touched her cheek. "I do not want him to be emperor. I want him to be free of that burden. It is not a nice life Sakura. I want him to be happy. To have a happy childhood like you had. Like I never did. I do not want him to have more enemies than he has friends. And in truth, emperors cannot have friends because there is no one they can trust."

Sakura was silent for a while and it disturbed him. Did she not approve?

"Who's your successor?" she asked finally.

"Lei." Syaoran brushed a loose lock of hair from her face. "I will renounce my title as emperor. We will leave the Forbidden City."

Sakura squinted.

"What...?"

"Eriol, Yukito, my mother... we are all leaving. I had an old compound extended in Hong Kong. It's like a miniature palace really. We will live there. All of us. Together."

Sakura smiled and Syaoran's mood lightened.

"For a moment," she said. "I thought I had to leave Tomoyo-chan and everyone behind. But can you really stop being Huangdi? You're China's leader. Their greatest soldier. They need you."

"There will always be men willing to sit on the throne and die for a cause." He smiled. "Lei and I signed an agreement. His power and the future emperors' powers over my clan will be limited. Sakura, this is a good thing."

"This is what you want?"

"Yes. I want it for all of us."

"Then if it makes you happy, I'm happy as well."

Syaoran pulled her into a tight embrace his heart swelling with love. Something else was swelling on him and he pressed it against her.

"Let's go to our chambers," he said, his grip on her tightening.

Sakura pried his hands off her.

"No no."

Syaoran sulked but then he gave a lazy grin.

"You want to make love in the gardens?"

Sakura smiled apologetically at him even as she bit back a giggle.

"Kissing only."

Syaoran put his hands in his sleeves. They had not been together in a week. Kissing was not going to suffice.

"Why?" he asked.

She patted her belly and Syaoran groaned. Right. Sakura would be with him if he asked but he was the one who still thought it was dangerous to be with her when she was in that condition. Perhaps next time around he would be brave enough to change his mind on that tradition.

Sakura and Meilin looked out at the countryside. The journey to Hong Kong was especially thrilling to Meilin who had never been outside the Forbidden City before. Now she was travelling the entire day in a palanquin carried by several men and sleeping in the houses of nobles at night when it was possible.

Syaoran rode on horseback with Eriol, Nakuru, Touya and Yukito, eyes ever shifting and searching for signs of danger. It did not matter to them that Syaoran had his own little private but formidable army at the front and back of the procession. Kero however, could not be bothered. He sat in the palanquins eating all day long to Syaoran and Touya's annoyance.

"Eriol told me you do not have to eat," Syaoran had said at one point.

"I am a Guardian Beast," said Kero, drawing himself up proudly. "As such, you should treat me with more respect gaki. If I want to eat, I'll eat. Unless my Mistress commands me otherwise."

Then both he and Syaoran had turned to Sakura and sent burdening stares her way. Sakura had looked at Meilin for help, but she pretended to be deaf.

"Hoe..."

In the end, she told Kero that he could no longer overeat since it was like wasting food. Other than that, the trip was enjoyable and uneventful. Save for Nakuru's jealousy of Yukito. It was amusing watching her insert herself between them whenever they were speaking. She had struck up a deep friendship with Eriol however, and that at least had lowered the number of times she jumped on Touya's back every day though her goal was still to be his wife.

"Are we there yet?" asked an irritated Xiao Dan in a whiny voice, as he looked out the palanquin's window.

"No, Xiao Dan," said Sakura. "Soon we'll be there."

"Soon. Soon Soon Soon! Always soon!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, awakening Qing Shan and sending a gust of wind through the palanquin.

"Xian Dan!" said Syaoran, riding up next to the window. He shook his head, a warning expression on his face.

The boy blinked back tears. He did not like travelling. He did not like sitting for hours. It did not help that his magic burst out when he was feeling strong emotions. It always amazed Sakura how intimidating he could be sometimes. He was only two after all.

"I want out, Otou-san," he said pitifully, referring to the palanquin.

Syaoran scooped him up through the window and planted him on the horse's saddle, a hand firmly wrapped around his tiny waist the entire time. Xiao Dan was quite intelligent, and he was usually well behaved. Sometimes he used words Syaoran had no idea he knew which always made him proud. So, to see him so distressed was upsetting. It was his fault the boy was exhausted and uncomfortable. Long, hot days outside were never fun. Even for seasoned warriors.

"Look over there," said Syaoran. "You see those red things? They are roof tiles. That is your new home. We'll be there in a little while. I know you're hot and tired. But can you be patient for just a little while longer?"

Xiao Dan nodded.

"Hai!"

"Good boy," said Syaoran, a soft smile on his lips.

Their new compound was like a palace. Dozens of servants were waiting outside to meet them. There were guards in every direction like a fortress. Her eyes lit up at the pink blossoms floating through the air. She had just passed through the gates and held tight to Tomoyo's hand when she saw the flowers. There were many trees, freshly planted and their petals smelled heavenly.

"Kawaii! said Tomoyo. "Sakura-chan, I must paint you against such beautiful scenery as soon as I can. It will be so splendid!"

Sakura smiled coyly. Tomoyo was always thinking about painting her. Syaoran and Touya walked up behind them. Xiao Dan was sitting against Syaoran's side, his head turning all around in wonder.

"We have a surprise for you," said Syaoran to Sakura. "Come."

"A surprise?" asked Sakura as she attempted to take Qing Shan from Touya. But he shook his head and gestured for her to follow Syaoran.

At the edge of the beginning of a beautiful garden, Touya paused, seemingly breathless.

"What's wrong onii-chan?" asked Sakura.

He glanced at Syaoran and a message passed between them. Syaoran nodded.

"Come," he told her. "He will join us later."

He took her hand and pulled her along. She and Xiao Dan glanced back at Touya and Qing Shan in confusion.

"Where are you taking us?" asked Sakura.

Syaoran was looking around like he was lost. Sakura would not be surprised if he was because she was. Very much so. He did not answer her, but a smile crossed his face as he saw something up ahead.

"Come," he said again and tugged on her long sleeve.

They arrived at a soaring cherry blossom tree. She looked up at it while Xiao Dan said, "WOW..."

"It's... beautiful, Xiao Lang."

He smiled.

"The surprise isn't a tree," he told her. "Do you recall our agreement? If you were a good wife... had my children... and raised them well...?"

Just then a figure walked out from behind the trunk of the cherry blossom tree. Sakura's breath caught.

"Otou-san?"

The man was thinner and greying, but he had those spectacles and that same loving smile. It was him. It was her father.

"Otou-san..." murmured Xiao Dan, watching the man intently.

Tears burst from Sakura's eyes as she ran into her father's arms. He wrapped his arms tight around her and when she breathed in his scent, so familiar and comforting, her legs gave out. It really was him!

"Sakura-san," he said, against her hair. "I'm so sorry."

"You're here! I've missed you," she said, emotions flooding her, tears blurring her vision. "I've missed you so much."

Syaoran felt a twinge of jealousy, seeing Sakura with her father. Xiao Dan must have felt the same way because he pouted and asked in a tone Syaoran had never heard from him before, "Who is he?"

"Your grandfather. Okaa-san's father."

Behind them, Touya approached. Fujitaka looked at him as he held fast to Sakura. Touya nodded to his father and Fujitaka returned the motion. Their relationship was strained but Syaoran knew Sakura would mend it. She was good at things like that.

Syaoran set his son down and took Qing Shan from Touya, walking off with the boys to give the Kinomoto's time alone together.

"Otou-san?"

"Yes, Xiao Dan."

"I like it here."

Syaoran smiled.

"I like it here too."

The boy tripped on a pebble and Syaoran bent down to pick him up.

"Are you happy?" he asked his son.

"Yes," Xiao Dan answered.

His face was innocent and honest. Syaoran caressed his soft, chubby cheek.

"That makes me happy."

They gazed at Sakura who was in the middle of her father and brother, hugging them tightly to her like she never wanted to let them go again. But then she ran over to her new family and dropping to her knees, swept all three of them into a big hug, her tummy giddy.

"Everything is perfect," she said. "This is really our home now!"

Everyone as far as Syaoran could tell was happy. Whatever he needed to do to keep things like this, he would do it in a heartbeat. For Sakura, for his children and for himself.

Sakura kissed him on the lips - an act that made Xiao Dan crinkle his little nose - and pressed their foreheads together.

"Yes," said Syaoran, kissing her again. "This is our home."

Sakura ran back to her father's arms and there was never again laughter so sweet and a smile so big as in that moment.

A/N

Hey Tomodachi! We have come to the end. Thank you for reading, enjoying, complaining (lol), critiquing but most of all waiting for this terrible updater to post her chapters.