Dozens of lights dotted the water's surface when they reached the river, most couples having gathered to pray to the twin star lovers.
"It's so pretty! Isn't it pretty, Syaoran-kun?"
He was staring at her again when he answered, transfixed by the way the soft glowing lantern lights reflected off her jade eyes.
"Yeah. . ."
She giggled at his consistently blunt answers, before tugging him over to the water's edge.
Finding a strong point of the current, Sakura filled the petals of their paper lotus with the colored slips of paper containing the written wishes, and placed it reverently atop the water. It drifted languidly downstream until it joined the other lights and was no longer distinguishable from its brethren. They both watched it go contentedly, before Syaoran looked at Sakura again, noticing she seemed deep in thought.
Sakura finally tore her eyes away from the sea of lanterns to fix her gaze on the similarly glimmering mass of stars, where two bright sapphires shone from separate sides of the Milky Way. 'Thank you for letting me stay beside Syaoran-kun, and not keeping us separated like you were forced to be.'
"Is something bothering you?" his concerned voice broke her out of her thoughts.
Shaking her head slowly, she smiled warmly. "No, just thinking about them."
Lifting his eyes to the two stars she'd just been looking at, he caught her meaning. "I guess it's a sad story," he agreed, "But it teaches couples not to take each other for granted and live every day together to the fullest."
"It's not just that. . . I'm glad we didn't end up like them," she stated somberly.
His hand was suddenly on her shoulder, prompting her to look up at him. "I never would have told you I loved you if I'd planned to just leave you, Sakura. Even if my family was against it, I would have found a way to come back to you."
"Syaoran-kun. . ."
Blushing a little at the utter adoration in her eyes, he cleared his throat and stroked his thumb over the shoulder he rested his hand on. "Anyway, you've been carrying that little package around since we left your house. Are you planning to tell me what it is?"
It was her turn to blush this time, as she looked between him and the parcel like she'd forgotten she had it. "Uh, here!" she stammered, and offered it to him awkwardly.
"For me?" he sounded surprised, "Thank you. . . Can I open it?"
She nodded stiffly. "I know it's off-season, but last time I was at your apartment I noticed yours was so worn out. . . You've had it about eight years, after all."
He pulled away the carefully wrapped paper, revealing a dark green scarf. Running his fingers over the knitted kanji for his name, he smiled.
"I-If you don't like it, I can make you something else. You just seemed to use the last one I made you so much that I-"
He leaned in to capture her lips with his own, effectively silencing her. When he pulled away, she was positively crimson. "I like it. And you're right, I did need another one. This is perfect, Sakura."
If she could glow any brighter – both in color and figuratively – he didn't know, but he held on to the image, embracing her tightly and kissing her forehead. He hoped she would look like this on their wedding day.
The stars sparkled down at them tonight.
* * * * *
School the next day passed by in another blur, students flocking out the door to try and beat the heat on their respective ways home. Sakura and Syaoran proceeded to his apartment, since Sakura didn't have any chores to do with her brother at home.
"You were right, Syaoran-kun. Kero-chan didn't leave a single bite to get him through today," the girl giggled.
"Cerberus is a glutton; yet somehow you're always surprised," he responded, rolling his eyes at the mental image of an overstuffed winged lion. "Bet he really looks like a stuffed animal, now."
Sakura laughed and was about to reply, when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," he said, pushing her down with a gentle hand on her shoulder when she started to rise, "You just relax."
Hearing the door open in the other room, Syaoran spoke only one word after the soft 'click'. "Daidouji?"
Getting up regardless of what he'd said, Sakura made her way to the door, surprised to find her best friend indeed waiting there. "Tomoyo-chan? What are you doing here?"
"I'm glad you're both here! I'm terribly sorry for the intrusion, but I was so excited that I felt this couldn't wait," the dark haired girl was positively aglow, radiant smile in place.
"Wh-What couldn't wait?" Syaoran sounded rightfully nervous, considering what Tomoyo usually got excited for.
She didn't disappoint, whipping out a colorful bag and handing it to the both of them.
"M-More clothes? My Card days are over, you know, Tomoyo-chan," Sakura sounded a little guilty about that fact in the face of her friend's enthusiasm.
"Yes, I know. But these are not just any clothes, Sakura-chan."
Pulling out the white material, Sakura gasped and nearly dropped the garment. It had of course already been decided that Tomoyo would custom make their wedding clothes – provided she kept to a more modest design than usual – but the white creation was a beautiful style of shiromuku; the embroidered phoenix that blazed across the front of it nearly took her breathe away with the sheer skill that made it almost look alive.
Syaoran noticed the phoenix as well. "That's-"
Sakura looked at him in confusion, but Tomoyo just smiled warmly.
"There's one more in there."
Syaoran carefully lifted the silk black tangzhuang, and wasn't surprised to see a dragon coiling its way over the front of that as well.
"I did some research, and found what suited you both best. I hope they're to your liking."
"Tomoyo-chan, they're beautiful! What do the dragon and phoenix symbolize?"
To her surprise it was Syaoran who answered.
"They're wedding symbols from China. They represent yin and yang, balance, and eternal love."
Cradling the dress to her at that, Sakura felt tears well up in her eyes as she looked at the friend who had always been there for her through thick and thin, and was now bestowing her with the best wedding blessing she could have given.
Pulling Tomoyo into a fierce hug, Sakura thanked her quietly, Syaoran voicing his gratitude as well, still a little in awe at the gift, himself.
"No matter what happened, even in the past, you two were always able to get through it because you were together," Tomoyo stated softly, smoothing her hands over Sakura's back. "I fully believe in you both, and I know you'll make it through any future hurdles as well. I wish you all the best in your life together."
The tears overflowed and poured down Sakura's cheeks as she and Syaoran looked at each other. Tomoyo was right; no matter what awaited them in this new adventure, at least they would always be together. And if anything ever tried to separate them, well. . . They still had magic to take care of that.
* * * * *
(A/N)
And are first double feature, as well as are second arc, comes to a close.
This chapter and pretty much the the Festival Arc as a whole, was meant to complete the last of the character development for our couple before their big day.
And if you've read the manga and have seen the anime, this chapter gives a bit of closure for Tomoyo, because despite her own personal feelings, she was in fact the very first person to ship Sakura and Syaoran. Technically she's the creator and captain of their ship.
Next up is the Marriage Arc, which will consist of four chapters.
Originally I'd wanted to name it the Wedding Arc, then have a Honeymoon Arc, with the Marriage Arc being the finally. But with my long break away from Wattpad, those ideas were scraped along with the extensions of the Illness & Festival Arcs.
My first idea of having a ten chapter per Arc story, has become a short thirteen chapter epilogue story.
There are still some more character developments to be had from our favorite couple, and even a little for one more character. Read the next chapter to found out.