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1 Learning to Fly Chapter Four
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2 by
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3 The Amazoness Duo
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4 and
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5 G.P.
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6 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
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7 pearsong1954@yahoo.com
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8
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9
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10
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11 "Where is he?" Sakura whined, hugging herself in an attempt to fight
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12 off the cold evening that was settling in. "He's always late. It's
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13 because he works so much. How does Yukito put up with him?" the
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14 brunette asked, turning to her elegantly dressed friend. As usual,
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15 Sakura thought Tomoyo put her to shame. Though they'd both dressed up
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16 for dinner, Tomoyo's lavender ensemble seemed more refined than
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17 Sakura's more simple green dress. Her pale friend was absolutely
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18 gorgeous. Sakura's heart raced at the memory of helping Tomoyo braid
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19 her beautiful dark tresses before they left. Momentarily forgetting
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20 her complaints, the Cardmistress could only stop and stare. She shot
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21 an angry look at two older boys who were gawking at Tomoyo, stepping
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22 closer to the shorter girl protectively. Ignoring most of the stares
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23 that came her way, with the obvious exception of Sakura's glances,
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24 Tomoyo smiled. "Yukito-san must have boundless patience, then." The
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25 occasion for the night's outing was a dinner with Sakura's brother
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26 and his boyfriend, the object of Sakura's childhood affection. Now
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27 that Sakura no longer lived with her brother, his busy lifestyle made
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28 it hard to stay in touch with him. Little things like going out for
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29 dinner helped keep them close.
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30
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31 "You must be even more patient than Yuki if you can somehow put up
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32 with the monster," Touya deadpanned from behind the two girls, his
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33 white haired lover in tow.
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34
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35 "I'm not a little girl! You can't call me a monster anymore!" Sakura
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36 argued, clenching her fists and shaking them at the imposing image of
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37 her tall, dark haired brother.
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38
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39 The tall man shrugged. "If it looks like a monster and acts like a
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40 monster...""It's good to see you both again," Yukito cut in, smiling
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41 pleasantly at the younger girls.
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42
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43 Lightening up visibly, Sakura smiled and nodded in agreement. "It's
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44 good to see you, too.""Now she's calm. Let's get something to eat
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45 before she snaps again," Touya suggested, pushing the restaurant door
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46 open. Harumphing, Sakura led Tomoyo past Touya and into the warmth of
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47 the restaurant beyond. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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48
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49 The restaurant was spacious but crowded. The group of four sat in a
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50 back corner, a myriad sampling of food spread out before them. "Too
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51 bad Kero-chan's not here. He'd love this," Sakura mused, reaching
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52 over with her chopsticks indecisively. So much food. It was difficult
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53 to decide where to begin."Yuki will be sure to eat enough for him,
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54 too," Touya promised, watching some of the food before him disappear
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55 thanks to his ever hungry boyfriend.
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56
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57 "What have you been doing lately, onii-chan?" Chestnut hair fell to
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58 one side as Sakura tilted her head curiously. "I haven't seen you on
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59 campus much. I hoped I'd get to see more of you.""He's been working
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60 mostly. When he's not in class, he's at work. You know Touya. He has
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61 to keep busy or he's not happy," Yukito replied between mouthfuls.
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62 "Onii-chan is ever happy?" Sakura asked, blinking incredulously. "I
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63 thought that was impossible." She couldn't help but smile as Tomoyo
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64 giggled beside her. "You always look so grumpy.""I'm plenty happy.
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65 It's better than being so excitable. You end up crying over the
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66 simplest things or you're excited over the tiniest details. I'd
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67 rather just sail smoothly through everything," Touya countered."But
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68 it's cute that Sakura-chan's so excitable! It means everything she
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69 encounters affects her in some way. She's so emotive. That's why it's
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70 so much fun to watch her." Sighing dreamily, Tomoyo cast her eyes on
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71 Sakura, watching her friend blush and fumble with her napkin. Sakura
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72 was always so cute when she was embarrassed. And if Syaoran wasn't
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73 going to be around to embarrass her, then it was Tomoyo's duty to get
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74 a blush on Sakura's cheeks whenever possible. Hoping to change the
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75 subject, Sakura looked up at her brother. "So... ummm... What jobs
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76 are you working this week? You're not going ot have to run off to
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77 wait tables in a minute, are you?"
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78
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79 Touya shook his head, sipping some tea before replying. "No, I don't
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80 work here. It's just a nice restaurant. Yuki and I came here to
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81 celebrate some things a while back. I'm working at a bar now.""A
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82 bar?" Sakura repeated.
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83
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84 "He's a bartender there. He's getting pretty good at it, too,"
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85 Yukito answered. "I'll go just to watch him make the drinks. He has
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86 very nimble hands.""So does Sakura-chan." Taking one of Sakura's
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87 hands in her own, Tomoyo let her fingers trace over Sakura's creamy
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88 skin. She could tell Sakura's blush worsened, but the other girl
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89 didn't pull her hand away. Smiling, Tomoyo continued to caress
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90 Sakura's hand. To the heiress's surprise, Sakura's fingers curled
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91 around her own, holding on warmly. Her heart swooned at the
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92 feeling.Raising an eyebrow, Touya watched the two girls for a moment.
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93 "I'm so glad you finally started dating Tomoyo. She's much better for
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94 you than the brat ever was. I've been waiting for you two to get
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95 together since you were kids. It was so obvious."Sakura's faint blush
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96 escalated to near crimson. "Obvious? But..."Touya nodded,
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97 interrupting. "Very obvious. How you were always blushing around her
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98 and getting moony about things. I'm surprised it took you so
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99 long."Simply watching the exchange, Tomoyo continued to nibble on her
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100 food. This was certainly interesting. "But we're not dating..."
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101 Sakura got out at last, her heart pounding. Why did the mention of
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102 them dating get her so excited? Why was her heart beating so fast?
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103 Hoe... Why was this all so confusing? Touya's eyes were still staring
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104 in her direction. She followed his gaze to her hand, still
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105 interlocked with Tomoyo's. Pulling her hand away in a hurry, she
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106 placed both hands on her lap, staring at her plate. Stupid Touya. Why
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107 did he have to mention anything? It felt so nice to hold Tomoyo's
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108 hand like that.
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109
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110 "Oh..." Touya rolled this news over for a moment in his head before
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111 continuing. "So you are still dating the brat?""Yeah..." Sakura
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112 responded, still staring at the table. Why was that answer so
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113 dissatisfying to say? It didn't hold the magic it once did, and none
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114 of the excitement that even her denial of a relationship with Tomoyo
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115 had held. Syaoran was overseas. He was her boyfriend. She felt safe
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116 with him. But Tomoyo... A surge of emotions came at the thought of
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117 her friend, the thoughts exciting and delicious and terrifying all at
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118 once. Tomoyo made her feel so alive. So warm. So loved. It was such a
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119 completely different feeling from the relative safety that Syaoran
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120 offered.
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121
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122 Tomoyo was her best friend. Syaoran was her boyfriend. So why
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123 couldn't she be happy with the way things were? That question haunted
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124 her throughout the rest of the dinner.
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125
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126 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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127
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128 The cold night air blanketed the dark haired pair, a stark contrast
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129 to the warmth held inside the restaurant. Keeping an eye on the
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130 fragile seeming heiress, Touya offered his jacket. Smiling, she
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131 accepted gratefully, sliding her arms into the protective warmth of
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132 the much too large coat. She was absolutely stunning, a beautiful
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133 princess shimmering under the glow of the moonlight. The years had
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134 been kind on the Daidouji girl. At one time Touya had considered her
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135 a cute kid, but now he had to admit that she was gorgeous. It was a
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136 similar beauty to what he had seen when his mother's ghost had
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137 visited him, ethereal and angelic. He wondered if Sakura was as
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138 blinded to the angel that never left her side as she had been to her
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139 mother's ghost when she was a child.
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140
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141 "I wonder why Sakura-chan wanted to speak with Yuki," Touya stated
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142 after a moment's silence.
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143
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144 Her eyes cast skyward at the glittering jewels that were the stars,
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145 Tomoyo spoke, her soft voice carrying on the crisp night air. "Sakura-
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146 chan is full of mysteries."This caused Touya to furrow an eyebrow. "I
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147 don't think the monster could be mysterious if she tried." He nearly
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148 smiled at the giggle his comment drew forth from the heiress. He
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149 always enjoyed Tomoyo's company. If he'd been Sakura's age, they
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150 would have made great friends.
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151
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152 "I think Sakura-chan's asking for advice about something," Tomoyo
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153 ammended her previous statement, her hands disappearing inside the
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154 long jacket sleeves. A shake of her head freed her face from her long
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155 dark hair, letting the breeze caress her cheeks. "She's asking Yuki's
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156 advice?" Touya glanced questioningly at the short girl. Her silence
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157 told him all he needed to know. "Yue's advice." Nodding, he returned
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158 his gaze to the late traffic. "I wonder what she wants from Yue.
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159 Unless she just wants to see how cute he is one last time before she
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160 runs off and gets married to the brat.""I don't think you have to
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161 worry about that," Tomoyo assured the dark haired man. "Yue-san is
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162 very beautiful, but I think Sakura-chan just wants help figuring
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163 something out." Her mind was drifting elsewhere, back to the dinner.
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164 Sakura had been somewhat distracted. Hopefully Sakura's chat with Yue
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165 would fix things, though Tomoyo doubted it. What was bothering Sakura
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166 was more complex than something she could simply ask the answer to.
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167 Some answers only come to us when we have exhausted all other
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168 possibilities. Some wait til we have nowhere left to turn but inward.
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169 And Sakura's inner world was something that the brunette had always
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170 had trouble understanding.Touya slipped his hands into his pockets,
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171 shaking his head. "Then why isn't Sakura-chan going to you? She's
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172 always run to you whenever she has a problem. Especially when she
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173 needs help figuring things out." Turning to look at the heiress, he
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174 could see that her pale features were set in a serious, somewhat sad
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175 look. "Because I can't help her this time," Tomoyo said simply.
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176 Licking her lips, she busied herself with trying to spot where her
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177 bodyguards had hidden themselves away this time. A helpless feeling
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178 bubbled up, encasing her heart. It was the same feeling she'd always
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179 had whenever Sakura had been in physical danger, the knowledge that
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180 she was helpless to protect Sakura. It was icy cold and devestating.
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181 That feeling was one of the primary reasons she had pushed Sakura
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182 towards Syaoran. Syaoran could protect her from whatever magical
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183 dangers came her way, something Tomoyo couldn't do. But with matters
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184 of the heart, Tomoyo had always been able to comfort Sakura in some
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185 way. Not this time. That thought left her feeling useless to the girl
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186 she loved. Sakura needed her and yet she couldn't lift a finger to
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187 help.
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188
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189 "Why not? You've always steered Sakura well so far. I swear she
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190 would've ended up running into a wall without you there. You've made
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191 my duties as a big brother a lot easier. I can actually get some
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192 sleep when I know you're around to keep her out of trouble." Touya
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193 was grateful for all Tomoyo had done for his sister. Though he teased
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194 her, he was intensely protective of Sakura. Tomoyo had been Sakura's
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195 safety net from almost the day they met. It relieved him to know that
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196 Tomoyo was there for Sakura when he couldn't be. "Because I think I'm
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197 involved." A breeze played with the jacket, making it sway around the
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198 delicate heiress, her long, dark hair following suit. Her pale
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199 fingers peaked out of the sleeves as she held the jacket closer. "I
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200 can't give Sakura any advice on this if it's about me. I have to let
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201 her decide. I can't tell her what's in her heart. Not this time.
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202 Because I'm too close. I made a mistake last time. I won't do that
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203 again. I have to let Sakura find out for herself what's in her
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204 heart.""You were only looking out for her. Few people would have done
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205 what you did, trying to get her with someone else so she'd be happy."
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206 Placing a hand on her shoulder, he looked down into her stormy blue
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207 eyes. "You've always been looking out for her. You've always been
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208 working for her best interests, even when she didn't see that. You've
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209 sacrificed so that she'd be happy. If that doesn't make you worthy of
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210 her love, I don't know what does." Squeezing her shoulder lightly for
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211 emphasis, he continued. "If I'd been the one trying to push her in
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212 anyone's direction, I'd have wanted her with you over the brat
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213 anyday. Don't scare yourself with thoughts of whether or not you're
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214 good enough for her, Tomoyo-chan. Because I know you are. You'd be my
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215 first choice for her."Slowly, a smile spread across Tomoyo's face.
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216 Looking up, she brushed back her hair. "Thank you, Touya-san.""Don't
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217 mention it. I should thank you for trying to take the monster off my
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218 hands." Touya let go, glancing once again around the parking lot.
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219 "Now where are those two? Some lovers they turn out to be, making us
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220 wait in the cold like this."Smiling, Tomoyo cast her eyes to the
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221 stars once more. Touya was right. It was up to Sakura now. And
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222 whatever Sakura decided, she would always be by her side. Doubts
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223 would only hold her back.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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224
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225 Sakura walked nervously alongside her onetime crush and protector,
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226 Yukito. The older man smiled at her, but this only served to make the
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227 young Cardmistress fidget even more. Snow the color of Yukito's hair
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228 began to dance around them, swirling lazily about the two. Hugging
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229 her jacket closer, the athletic girl struggled to make sense of the
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230 maelstrom in her head. She couldn't talk to Tomoyo about this because
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231 Tomoyo was the whole reason her heart was flittering so wildly. She
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232 surely couldn't ask Syaoran. How would the proud future leader of the
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233 Li Clan react to his girlfriend asking him about her feelings towards
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234 another girl? Kero's advice was suspect at best. Her brother's
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235 preferences over the two closest to Sakura's heart was obvious. That
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236 left her stoic guardian, the Judgement himself. "Yukito-san," Sakura
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237 finally got out through numb lips. "I need to speak to Yue."
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238
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239 In a dazzling display of cool light and wings, the man who had stood
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240 next to her was replaced by his counterpart, the long haired
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241 guardian, Yue. "Yes, Sakura-sama."
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242
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243 That title always made Sakura want to squirm. It felt too heavy
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244 resting on her shoulders. She didn't like the thought of being in
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245 charge. She just wanted to be friends with her 'subjects'. But now
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246 wasn't the time for her discomfort over titles. How was she supposed
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247 to begin? She'd never been good at talking about love. It left her
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248 feeling confused and tongue-tied. The words finally escaped her in a
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249 rush. "How do you know you're in love?"Silence surrounded the
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250 ethereal pair for a long moment. When Yue spoke, he arched an eyebrow
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251 curiously. "Isn't this better asked of Tomoyo? Or perhaps Dark and
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252 Light? Love has never really been my strong point.""But you and Touya
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253 seem so happy. You look like you belong together. When I'm with
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254 Syaoran..." Sakura trailed off, looking down at the gathering snow
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255 for a moment. "It doesn't feel that way. And I can't ask Tomoyo.
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256 She's... I..." The Carmistress blushed and held her hands to her
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257 heart. "Tomoyo's in love with me. But I don't know how I feel. I
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258 thought I was in love with Syaoran. But now I don't know anymore.
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rlm@2
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259 Tomoyo makes me feel so... hanyan... When I'm with her, my heart
|
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rlm@2
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260 starts pounding. It's like I'm short of breath. And the things she
|
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rlm@2
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261 says... The thought of her finding someone else, of someone else
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rlm@2
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262 getting Tomoyo's love, it makes me feel miserable. I don't know what
|
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rlm@2
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263 I'd do without her."Yue smirked, crossing his arms regally. "It
|
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rlm@2
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264 sounds to me like you've answered your own questions, Sakura-sama.
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rlm@2
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265 Perhaps you just needed someone to listen.""What? No, I..." Sakura's
|
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rlm@2
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266 blush deepened as she shook her head. "That wasn't what I meant.
|
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rlm@2
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267 I..." But her words did ring with a certain truth, didn't they? The
|
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rlm@2
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268 way Tomoyo made her feel was something she had taken for granted as a
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rlm@2
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269 child. But now that she understood how her friend felt, it made
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rlm@2
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270 Sakura wonder about her own feelings. Were they the same?
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rlm@2
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271
|
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rlm@2
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272 "Yuki, we need to get going or I'll be late for work." Turning at
|
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rlm@2
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273 the sound of her brother's voice, Sakura saw Touya and Tomoyo walking
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rlm@2
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274 towards them. Yukito walked past to join Touya, already having
|
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rlm@2
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275 reverted back from his true form. Questions still lingered in the
|
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rlm@2
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276 Cardmistress's mind even as Tomoyo approached her. A smile spread
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rlm@2
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277 across her lips nonetheless as she took the few steps to reach her
|
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rlm@2
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278 beautiful friend. Even if questions lingered, she still loved being
|
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rlm@2
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279 with her friend. And that was enough for now.
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rlm@2
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280
|
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rlm@2
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281 "Touya wanted to know if we wanted to go to the bar he worked at
|
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rlm@2
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282 with them," Tomoyo explained, brushing back her dark hair from her
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rlm@2
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283 pale face. She felt better after talking to Touya and could only hope
|
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rlm@2
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284 that Sakura felt the same way after her conversation with Yukito. She
|
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rlm@2
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285 couldn't help but return the smile Sakura gave her, falling alongside
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rlm@2
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286 her athletic friend. "Unless the monster is too little," Touya added,
|
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rlm@2
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287 slipping an arm around Yukito as they walked. Sakura's fists balled
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rlm@2
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288 up as she followed her elder brother. "I am not! I'm plenty old
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rlm@2
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289 enough to go to the bar." Her dreams of one day growing up and being
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rlm@2
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290 taller than him were hampered by the fact that he was still
|
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rlm@2
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291 incredibly taller than her. Sakura could only claim to be taller than
|
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rlm@2
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292 Tomoyo, and even then it was only by a few inches. "Come on, Tomoyo-
|
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rlm@2
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293 chan. We don't have work tomorrow. It'll be fun." Whether she really
|
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rlm@2
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294 thought it would be fun or she was just trying to prove her brother
|
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rlm@2
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295 wrong, Sakura couldn't rightly say. The two thoughts bled together
|
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rlm@2
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296 until they were practically the same thing.
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rlm@2
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297
|
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rlm@2
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298 Still, seeing her brother with his arm around the slender white
|
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rlm@2
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299 haired man made her own heart years. Her fists unclenched as she
|
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rlm@2
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300 found herself gazing sidelong at her friend. It would feel so nice to
|
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rlm@2
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301 hold Tomoyo like that, to feel the soft, frail girl in her arm,
|
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rlm@2
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302 moving against her as they walked. The heiress was so elegent, so
|
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rlm@2
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303 gorgeous. Her steps seemed almost perfect, making her seem to glide
|
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rlm@2
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304 along barely touching the floor. How would it feel to hold onto her,
|
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rlm@2
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305 to feel Tomoyo melt against her side? "Are you coming with us or are
|
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rlm@2
|
306 you going to walk the whole way?" Touya asked, shattering Sakura's
|
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rlm@2
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307 thoughts. "What?" Embarrassment colored the brunette's cheeks as she
|
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rlm@2
|
308 saw Touya and Yukito getting on their bikes. Tomoyo slid up behind
|
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rlm@2
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309 her brother, her arms going around his waist to hold on. "Oh... Yeah,
|
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rlm@2
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310 I'm coming." Sakura climbed up behind Yukito, holding on as the
|
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rlm@2
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311 taller boy pushed the bike into motion. For some reason this didn't
|
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rlm@2
|
312 hold the excitement it once had. Her eyes found their way back to
|
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rlm@2
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313 Tomoyo, the heiress sitting demurely on the back of Touya's bike just
|
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rlm@2
|
314 as she had once sat on the back of Sakura's staff when they would fly
|
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rlm@2
|
315 through the night. A pang of loss struck Sakura as those memories
|
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rlm@2
|
316 resurfaced. She missed gliding through the air with Tomoyo so close
|
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rlm@2
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317 to her. When she flew with her wings, it could feel so lonely. But
|
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rlm@2
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318 when she had flown on her staff with Tomoyo, they were sharing the
|
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rlm@2
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319 night sky together. But now that seemed so long ago. They weren't
|
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rlm@2
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320 children anymore. That magic seemed far away. She longed to be on the
|
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rlm@2
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321 bike near Tomoyo, the two of them free as the wind. Catching Sakura's
|
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rlm@2
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322 gaze, Tomoyo smiled at her friend. Sakura's nostalgic look was
|
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rlm@2
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323 replaced by a smile of her own. They watched each other for a long
|
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rlm@2
|
324 time as the snow and lit up streets zipped past around them. The
|
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rlm@2
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325 beauty around them couldn't compare with the beauty of her best
|
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rlm@2
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326 friend, the wind and snow playing through her hair. For a moment,
|
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rlm@2
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327 Tomoyo wished that she had her camcorder with her. But Sakura was
|
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rlm@2
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328 always a beautiful sight. For now she was content to simply watch,
|
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rlm@2
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329 their eyes never breaking for more than a few seconds. Did Sakura
|
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rlm@2
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330 have any idea how she affected her? How her heart would swell just by
|
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rlm@2
|
331 being near the brunette? Even the Cardmistress couldn't know just how
|
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rlm@2
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332 strong her spells could be. "I love you, Sakura," she whispered to
|
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rlm@2
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333 her friend, knowing Sakura couldn't hear her as they sped along on
|
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rlm@2
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334 the bikes. She thought she saw Sakura's mouth move shortly afterwards.
|
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rlm@2
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335
|
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rlm@2
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336 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
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rlm@2
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337 "I think you've just been around your sisters so long that you don't
|
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rlm@2
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338 know how to treat a girl's heart," Fanren explained, sitting on an
|
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rlm@2
|
339 ornamental stone as Syaoran continued practicing, his limbs moving
|
|
rlm@2
|
340 nimbly about in the different poses. "And what makes you think that?"
|
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rlm@2
|
341 Syaoran asked dryly, switching his balance as he moved. Martial arts
|
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rlm@2
|
342 was one thing he could count on. Overemotional girlfriends and pissed
|
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rlm@2
|
343 off cousins were far away when he was training. Unfortunately, his
|
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rlm@2
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344 big sister wasn't about to let him escape completely."Because Meiling
|
|
rlm@2
|
345 hasn't been here in days." She leaned forward and spoke in a
|
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rlm@2
|
346 conspiratorial whisper. "I heard she punched a whole in her wall."
|
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rlm@2
|
347 Sweatdropping, Syaoran tried not to lose his balance. "That's just a
|
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rlm@2
|
348 rumor. So what can't I figure out a girl's heart if I grew up with so
|
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rlm@2
|
349 many girls, huh?"Fanren grinned, watching her intent little brother.
|
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rlm@2
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350 "Because you think like a girl, silly."
|
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rlm@2
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351
|
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rlm@2
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352 Syaoran nearly stumbled at this bit of news. Whirling about, his
|
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rlm@2
|
353 eyes narrowed. "I what?""You think like a girl. You've grown up with
|
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rlm@2
|
354 all your big sisters and mom. You don't think like a boy. A boy would
|
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rlm@2
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355 be expected to try to figure out a girl's heart so they could one day
|
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rlm@2
|
356 marry so you'd have someone to help you with the Li Clan. But you
|
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rlm@2
|
357 practically grew up as a girl. Boy's hearts are easier for you to
|
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rlm@2
|
358 understand because they're simpler. Like that boy you had a crush on
|
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rlm@2
|
359 who ate all the time."Syaoran's cheeks flushed as he went back to his
|
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rlm@2
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360 training. Let Fanren air her crazy theory if it would make her feel
|
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rlm@2
|
361 better. She was his big sister, so he was obligated to at least
|
|
rlm@2
|
362 listen. "That was different. I liked him because his magic attracted
|
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rlm@2
|
363 mine."Laughing, Fanren shook her head. "You keep telling yourself
|
|
rlm@2
|
364 that, Syaoran. Anyway, it's the same way the rest of your sisters
|
|
rlm@2
|
365 think. They don't have to deal with the subtleties of a girl's heart.
|
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rlm@2
|
366 They can work their feminine wiles on a boy and more often than not,
|
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rlm@2
|
367 he'll be theirs. You can't expect the same tricks to work on girls as
|
|
rlm@2
|
368 boys.""And just how did you get to be so insightful?" Syaoran asked,
|
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rlm@2
|
369 shooting her a glance.
|
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rlm@2
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370
|
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rlm@2
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371 A smirk crossed the elder siblings lips as she shrugged. "I like
|
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rlm@2
|
372 boys and girls, so I needed to learn the rules for both."
|
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rlm@2
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373
|
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rlm@2
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374 Syaoran didn't know how to answer, his cheeks flushing."So I think
|
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rlm@2
|
375 I'm in a unique position to understand how difficult things must be
|
|
rlm@2
|
376 for my little brother. You're having the same problems I did when I
|
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rlm@2
|
377 was first trying to figure out how to go about winning a girl's
|
|
rlm@2
|
378 heart. You're still too used to falling for boys, so it's confusing
|
|
rlm@2
|
379 you. Meiling doesn't work the way you're used to.""I'm dating
|
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rlm@2
|
380 Sakura!" Syaoran finally shot back. "She's a girl, or did you just
|
|
rlm@2
|
381 forget that?" His pride was wounded and he only knew to fight back.
|
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rlm@2
|
382 His sister thought he had grown up as a girl, that he didn't know how
|
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rlm@2
|
383 to figure out a girl's heart. Of course he did. He was dating the
|
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rlm@2
|
384 Cardmistress. "No offense, Syaoran, but that hardly counts. Sakura's
|
|
rlm@2
|
385 more tomboyish than you are." She saw him wince at that and quickly
|
|
rlm@2
|
386 moved to reassure him. "It's not a problem. It's not like you're any
|
|
rlm@2
|
387 less a person for it. You're my wonderful little brother. It's just
|
|
rlm@2
|
388 that you grew up more like a little sister, so these things that boys
|
|
rlm@2
|
389 have to deal with end up being confusing. But that isn't your fault.
|
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rlm@2
|
390 Who was supposed to explain them to you? One of your sisters? Mom?
|
|
rlm@2
|
391 And Wei's too old for that sort of thing."
|
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rlm@2
|
392
|
|
rlm@2
|
393 "So you're supposed to teach me how to be a man?" Syaoran asked
|
|
rlm@2
|
394 incredulously. What would she know about being a man? And having the
|
|
rlm@2
|
395 nerve to call him, the heir to the Li Clan, her little sister. But he
|
|
rlm@2
|
396 couldn't get himself to just leave or to quit listening to her. Maybe
|
|
rlm@2
|
397 it was that he felt so off balance with Meiling angry at him. Or
|
|
rlm@2
|
398 maybe he sensed some truth in her words. Yukito had been so much
|
|
rlm@2
|
399 easier to have a crush on. That had made sense to him. Sakura was a
|
|
rlm@2
|
400 little more confusing and it always felt like he was doing the wrong
|
|
rlm@2
|
401 things with Meiling.
|
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rlm@2
|
402
|
|
rlm@2
|
403 "Well, I can't teach you how to be a man. I think you're fine the
|
|
rlm@2
|
404 way you are. Though you could smile a bit more." The older girl
|
|
rlm@2
|
405 winked at her brother. "I can, on the other hand, help you figure out
|
|
rlm@2
|
406 how to understand a girl's heart. Which might help patch things up
|
|
rlm@2
|
407 with Meiling. And if you're going to stop her from getting
|
|
rlm@2
|
408 married...""That isn't my problem. If she's going to get married,
|
|
rlm@2
|
409 that's her business," Syaoran said frostily.
|
|
rlm@2
|
410
|
|
rlm@2
|
411 "It's not her choice, Syaoran," Fanren reminded him gently."She
|
|
rlm@2
|
412 could fight it. I know Meiling. She's a fighter. So why would she
|
|
rlm@2
|
413 just give up?" Anger fueled his motions as he kicked and punched at
|
|
rlm@2
|
414 the air in front of him."Because she doesn't feel like she has
|
|
rlm@2
|
415 anything to fight for. Why keep fighting if she has no reason? What
|
|
rlm@2
|
416 good would arguing the wedding be? I think she's tired of fighting
|
|
rlm@2
|
417 it." A small smile passed across Fanren's lips. "But I'm sure we
|
|
rlm@2
|
418 could change that.Syaoran couldn't help himself. He turned quickly,
|
|
rlm@2
|
419 his eyes burning with intensity.
|
|
rlm@2
|
420 "How?"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
|
421
|
|
rlm@2
|
422 Though Tomoyo was fairly certain her mother had ended up in bars
|
|
rlm@2
|
423 several times for various reasons, either while talking to business
|
|
rlm@2
|
424 associates or lamenting her beloved Nadeshiko, Tomoyo herself had
|
|
rlm@2
|
425 never been to one. It was a bit exciting to be in such a different
|
|
rlm@2
|
426 atmosphere. She somehow didn't think it would be nearly as exciting
|
|
rlm@2
|
427 without Sakura so near. Staying close to the other girl, Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@2
|
428 followed right behind Sakura. Touya, meanwhile, took his blace behind
|
|
rlm@2
|
429 the bar dressed in his uniform, relieving a fellow employee. He
|
|
rlm@2
|
430 wasted no time in getting to work. Sakura slid up onto a stool near
|
|
rlm@2
|
431 the bar, followed closely by Tomoyo. Emerald eyes looked all about
|
|
rlm@2
|
432 the nicely decorated yet dimly lit bar. People mingled about all
|
|
rlm@2
|
433 over. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves.
|
|
rlm@2
|
434
|
|
rlm@2
|
435 "You have to order something if you're going to sit there," Touya
|
|
rlm@2
|
436 cautioned, cleaning out some of the glasses.Nibbling on her lower
|
|
rlm@2
|
437 lips, Sakura nodded after a moment. "Okay. Get me whatever the usual
|
|
rlm@2
|
438 is.""I'll have one, too," Tomoyo followed. One certainly couldn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
439 hurt. And she could call her bodyguards to drive them home.
|
|
rlm@2
|
440
|
|
rlm@2
|
441 "Are you sure?" Touya asked, raising an eyebrow. When the two girls
|
|
rlm@2
|
442 nodded, he went about getting them their drinks. Seeing his sister
|
|
rlm@2
|
443 drunk was an awkward thought, but if she did anything stupid, at
|
|
rlm@2
|
444 least he'd have stories to hold over her for the rest of her life.
|
|
rlm@2
|
445 And if she was going to try it, he felt a lot better about it being
|
|
rlm@2
|
446 when he could keep an eye on her rather than somewhere else. "Here
|
|
rlm@2
|
447 you are, ladies." He produced the two glasses, sliding them to his
|
|
rlm@2
|
448 sister and her friend. Taking her glass, Sakura examined the amber
|
|
rlm@2
|
449 liquid for a long moment. Catching sight of her brother watching her
|
|
rlm@2
|
450 even as he helped another customer, the Cardmistress decided to throw
|
|
rlm@2
|
451 caution to the wind. She wasn't going to look like a stupid little
|
|
rlm@2
|
452 kid in front of him. Raising the glass, she took a long drink. And
|
|
rlm@2
|
453 almost coughed it back up. The liquid tasted vile, almost burning her
|
|
rlm@2
|
454 throat as it went down. She swore she saw Touya smirk as he walked
|
|
rlm@2
|
455 past. Harumphing, she tried again, closing her eyes this time as the
|
|
rlm@2
|
456 liquid burned down into her belly. Having accomplished that much, she
|
|
rlm@2
|
457 made she he was watching the next time she took a drink. 'I'm not a
|
|
rlm@2
|
458 little kid anymore, Onii-chan,' she thought triumphantly.
|
|
rlm@2
|
459
|
|
rlm@2
|
460 Tomoyo watched her friend take her first few drinks before trying
|
|
rlm@2
|
461 her own. Sakura was so cute even while trying to prove that she was a
|
|
rlm@2
|
462 big girl. The heiress took a sip of her own drink. So that's why
|
|
rlm@2
|
463 Sakura was having a hard time with it. She could see why businessmen
|
|
rlm@2
|
464 would talk business over such hearty drinks. It must show how intent
|
|
rlm@2
|
465 they were to drink such strong things. And if it helped them loosen
|
|
rlm@2
|
466 up while they were at it, they probably wouldn't complain. Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@2
|
467 decided on the slow and steady approach to finishing her own drink,
|
|
rlm@2
|
468 rather than the occasional gulps that Sakura seemed to favor. The two
|
|
rlm@2
|
469 stayed that way for some time. Tomoyo kept sipping at her drink while
|
|
rlm@2
|
470 Sakura would take big gulps of hers when Touya would come past. Touya
|
|
rlm@2
|
471 would occasionally refill Sakura's glass when it would near the
|
|
rlm@2
|
472 bottom. The music played around them, enveloping them in the almost
|
|
rlm@2
|
473 mysterious atmosphere around them. Tomoyo kept watching Sakura as she
|
|
rlm@2
|
474 absentmindedly nursed her drink. Watching Sakura was, after all, her
|
|
rlm@2
|
475 favorite hobby.Meanwhile, Sakura was getting a bit tipsy. She hadn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
476 quite gotten used to the taste of the stuff, but it had stopped being
|
|
rlm@2
|
477 so difficult to drink. By now Touya surely wasn't thinking of her as
|
|
rlm@2
|
478 a kid. She grinned at the thought. Good. That would show him to treat
|
|
rlm@2
|
479 her like a child. Her head moved slightly in tune to the music
|
|
rlm@2
|
480 surrounding her, letting her mind wander. She forgot all about Touya
|
|
rlm@2
|
481 and trying to prove anything to him. Stormy blue eyes caught her own
|
|
rlm@2
|
482 emerald eyes like a magnet, reeling her in. She smiled brightly at
|
|
rlm@2
|
483 Tomoyo, swiveling to look at her friend. It felt so nice to have
|
|
rlm@2
|
484 Tomoyo's eyes on her, to have all of Tomoyo's attention like that. It
|
|
rlm@2
|
485 made her feel special. And not special because of any magic or power
|
|
rlm@2
|
486 she had, but special simply for who she was in the eyes of her best
|
|
rlm@2
|
487 friend. Tomoyo was so sweet.
|
|
rlm@2
|
488
|
|
rlm@2
|
489 Her foot swept out, gently pushing against Tomoyo's sandal-clad feet
|
|
rlm@2
|
490 under the stools. The heiress looked only momentarily puzzled before
|
|
rlm@2
|
491 her foot pushed back lightly. Giggling, Sakura continued playing with
|
|
rlm@2
|
492 Tomoyo's foot. Leaning over, she had to speak in a loud whisper to be
|
|
rlm@2
|
493 heard. "Ne, Tomoyo-chan, do you want to dance?" Everyone else was
|
|
rlm@2
|
494 dancing and it seemed a shame to just sit there all night. Besides,
|
|
rlm@2
|
495 it would be so nice to feel Tomoyo so close, to move across the floor
|
|
rlm@2
|
496 holding onto her.
|
|
rlm@2
|
497
|
|
rlm@2
|
498 "I'd love to, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo replied, sliding gingerly off of
|
|
rlm@2
|
499 her seat and taking Sakura's hand. Her heartbeat quickened as she
|
|
rlm@2
|
500 felt Sakura's warm hand holding onto her own, pulling her inexorably
|
|
rlm@2
|
501 towards the dance floor. She had learned to dance with her mother
|
|
rlm@2
|
502 when she was young, danding at first on the tall woman's feet to the
|
|
rlm@2
|
503 music her mother would put on. Being able to dance with Sakura had a
|
|
rlm@2
|
504 dreamlike quality to it. She almost couldn't believe it was
|
|
rlm@2
|
505 happening. Little moments like that gave her a taste of what it must
|
|
rlm@2
|
506 feel like for Syaoran to be dating the beautiful tomboy. She found
|
|
rlm@2
|
507 those little tastes delicious and treasured them deep within her
|
|
rlm@2
|
508 heart. A warm smile lit up her face even as her heart played a
|
|
rlm@2
|
509 staccato beat in her heart while Sakura's arms went around her,
|
|
rlm@2
|
510 pulling her close. Her mind whirled but she made no attempt to stop
|
|
rlm@2
|
511 it. Though she hadn't expected to be dancing so very close to Sakura,
|
|
rlm@2
|
512 she was thankful for the chance to.
|
|
rlm@2
|
513
|
|
rlm@2
|
514 The music danced around them like The Flower Card as Sakura held her
|
|
rlm@2
|
515 dark haired friend close. Their bodies moved together under the the
|
|
rlm@2
|
516 dim lights. Tomoyo's soft figure felt wonderful up close in Sakura's
|
|
rlm@2
|
517 arms. Tomoyo was just as elegant dancing as she was walking, her
|
|
rlm@2
|
518 skirt twirling about as they danced. Sakura's own athleticism helped,
|
|
rlm@2
|
519 though her state of mind made her slip up now and then. Tomoyo hardly
|
|
rlm@2
|
520 seemed to notice the few mistakes. Had dancing ever felt this good
|
|
rlm@2
|
521 with Syaoran? When they danced, Syaoran always felt so guarded, as if
|
|
rlm@2
|
522 he were simply trying to prove his capabilities in the situation. It
|
|
rlm@2
|
523 never felt like he was simply there, dancing alone with her. But the
|
|
rlm@2
|
524 people seemed to melt away as she danced with Tomoyo. The heiress's
|
|
rlm@2
|
525 hands found their way to her back, holding onto her there as they
|
|
rlm@2
|
526 danced, Tomoyo's body unabashedly hers as she led it this way and
|
|
rlm@2
|
527 that in their dance. It was a glorious feeling. Tomoyo trusted her
|
|
rlm@2
|
528 wholeheartedly, adrift in her arms. And Sakura pulled her along,
|
|
rlm@2
|
529 never letting go.
|
|
rlm@2
|
530
|
|
rlm@2
|
531 An eternity later, the two pulled themselves away from the dance
|
|
rlm@2
|
532 floor, finding a nice spot to catch their collective breath. Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@2
|
533 leaned against the wall, her heart still pounding from the whirlwind
|
|
rlm@2
|
534 ride it had been on during their dance. Oh, to be able to dance with
|
|
rlm@2
|
535 Sakura like that whenever. Syaoran was the luckiest boy under the
|
|
rlm@2
|
536 heavens. Slumping against the wall next to Tomoyo, Sakura's green
|
|
rlm@2
|
537 eyes refused to leave the flushed heiress. "You're so beautiful,
|
|
rlm@2
|
538 Tomoyo-chan," Sakura found herself whispering, her fingers stroking
|
|
rlm@2
|
539 through Tomoyo's luxurious hair. Her worries from earlier that night
|
|
rlm@2
|
540 felt like that had melted away, evaporating into nothing. She felt
|
|
rlm@2
|
541 free in that way she'd wished to reclaim with Tomoyo up in the sky.
|
|
rlm@2
|
542 Tomoyo blushed faintly, unable to pull away from Sakura's emerald
|
|
rlm@2
|
543 orbs. "Thank you, Sakura-chan. But you're the beautiful one. Even
|
|
rlm@2
|
544 when you aren't there, your beauty is still burnt into my mind."
|
|
rlm@2
|
545 Reaching out, her lithe fingers brushed past Sakura's cheek softly.
|
|
rlm@2
|
546 "You're so gorgeous. It's no wonder everyone loves you. I can't
|
|
rlm@2
|
547 imagine anyone being able to resist your charms. I know I never
|
|
rlm@2
|
548 could."Giggling, Sakura slid closer to her friend, twirling Tomoyo's
|
|
rlm@2
|
549 hair around her fingers. "But you never tried. I'm sure you could if
|
|
rlm@2
|
550 you wanted to. You're the prettiest, smartest, most talented girl I
|
|
rlm@2
|
551 know. I'm still surprised you haven't found someone better
|
|
rlm@2
|
552 yet.""There can't be anyone better than you. You're the one I love.
|
|
rlm@2
|
553 Everything about you..." Tomoyo kicked herself after the words had
|
|
rlm@2
|
554 escaped. Yeah, good job. How was Sakura supposed to believe that
|
|
rlm@2
|
555 Tomoyo would be okay when Sakura married Syaoran if Tomoyo still
|
|
rlm@2
|
556 believed Sakura was her perfect person? Well, it was out now. Sakura
|
|
rlm@2
|
557 already knew that she loved her. But Tomoyo didn't want Sakura to
|
|
rlm@2
|
558 think she could never fall in love with someone else. She didn't want
|
|
rlm@2
|
559 to make Sakura feel guilty. "Hoe... Tomoyo-chan, you always say the
|
|
rlm@2
|
560 sweetest things," Sakura crooned, burying her nose in Tomoyo's hair.
|
|
rlm@2
|
561 Tomoyo's eyes closed while she nuzzled the wonderfully soft hair,
|
|
rlm@2
|
562 enhaling Tomoyo's wonderful scent. Tomoyo shuddered almost
|
|
rlm@2
|
563 imperceptibly against her. The Cardmistress loved hearing that, even
|
|
rlm@2
|
564 if she felt guilty about having Tomoyo's love so completely. But it
|
|
rlm@2
|
565 was such a wonderful sensation knowing that the other girl loved her
|
|
rlm@2
|
566 so much, that Tomoyo would see her as an angel. Tomoyo was the most
|
|
rlm@2
|
567 amazing girl she knew. Having Tomoyo see her like that always made
|
|
rlm@2
|
568 her feel like she could move mountains. "We should get home, Sakura-
|
|
rlm@2
|
569 chan," Tomoyo said after taking a moment to compose herself. "It's
|
|
rlm@2
|
570 getting late." Gracing Sakura with her patented smile, she dug in her
|
|
rlm@2
|
571 purse to pull out her cellphone, quickly dialing her bodyguards. Even
|
|
rlm@2
|
572 as she spoke into it, she could feel Sakura's gaze caressing her skin
|
|
rlm@2
|
573 and her hair being twirled around Sakura's nimble fingers. It took
|
|
rlm@2
|
574 some effort to keep her voice steady on the phone. "They'll be here
|
|
rlm@2
|
575 in a few moments," she said at last, turning her eyes once more to
|
|
rlm@2
|
576 the pretty brunette against her side. Her heart nearly stopped when
|
|
rlm@2
|
577 Sakura slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. "We should
|
|
rlm@2
|
578 probably go wait outside for them," she suggested. 'Because if we
|
|
rlm@2
|
579 stay in here, I don't know what will happen. If I can get you home
|
|
rlm@2
|
580 and in bed, then everything will be fine. You're dating Syaoran. I
|
|
rlm@2
|
581 will not damage that. I love you too much to damage that,' Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@2
|
582 thought, even as Sakura walked her to the door. It felt so very good
|
|
rlm@2
|
583 to be in Sakura's strong arms, held against her side. Tomoyo let
|
|
rlm@2
|
584 herself give in for the time being, resting her head on Sakura's
|
|
rlm@2
|
585 shoulder. Sakura smiled happily as she felt Tomoyo's long hair spill
|
|
rlm@2
|
586 down across her back. The warm breath from the heiress felt so good
|
|
rlm@2
|
587 on her shoulder. She couldn't resist nuzzling Tomoyo's hair one more
|
|
rlm@2
|
588 time, enjoying the way it tickled her nose. Stepping out into the now
|
|
rlm@2
|
589 frigid outdoors, the Cardmistress protectively pulled Tomoyo closer.
|
|
rlm@2
|
590 Melting into her grasp, the heirss placed a hand against her heart,
|
|
rlm@2
|
591 standing neslted in Sakura's arms as the snow fell like pieces of
|
|
rlm@2
|
592 clouds from the heavens. The two stayed that way until the limo
|
|
rlm@2
|
593 finally arrived, Tomoyo enraptured by the feel of Sakura's heartbeat
|
|
rlm@2
|
594 against her palm.
|
|
rlm@2
|
595
|
|
rlm@2
|
596 Climbing in, Tomoyo leaned back against the seat, trying to will her
|
|
rlm@2
|
597 heart to regain some sense of normalcy. That night had been like a
|
|
rlm@2
|
598 surreal dream, taking her on a tour of a heaven that could not be. If
|
|
rlm@2
|
599 only she could have taped it! She sighed, slipping her sandals off
|
|
rlm@2
|
600 her aching feet. At least there would always be the memories, though
|
|
rlm@2
|
601 CDs last twice as long and are ten times clearer. She needed to hire
|
|
rlm@2
|
602 someone to follow them around constantly to get everything on tape.
|
|
rlm@2
|
603 The best things always happened when she just happened to be away
|
|
rlm@2
|
604 from her trusty camcorder. Whatever god lived in the heavens above,
|
|
rlm@2
|
605 he certainly loved irony.
|
|
rlm@2
|
606
|
|
rlm@2
|
607 Tomoyo was yanked out of her daydream as her bare foot was pulled up
|
|
rlm@2
|
608 onto Sakura's lap. Staring blankly for a moment, Tomoyo could only
|
|
rlm@2
|
609 watch as the brunette began to rub her foot and ankle. Her toes
|
|
rlm@2
|
610 wiggled absentmindedly as she watched Sakura. First priority: Hire
|
|
rlm@2
|
611 someone to bring her camcorder along at all times so when dreamy
|
|
rlm@2
|
612 things like this happened, she'd have proof they weren't just a
|
|
rlm@2
|
613 wonderful dream she was having. "Do your feet hurt?" Sakura asked.
|
|
rlm@2
|
614 Tomoyo nodded weakly. The brunette rubbed more intently, trying to
|
|
rlm@2
|
615 massage the tenseness out of them. "Mine would get like that after
|
|
rlm@2
|
616 lots and lots of track. And yours are so much more delicate. It must
|
|
rlm@2
|
617 hurt a lot more for you." "It was worth it. I got to dance with you
|
|
rlm@2
|
618 for so long. I'd do it again even if they'd fall off," Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@2
|
619 promised, watching the curious Cardmistress. Sakura made a face,
|
|
rlm@2
|
620 working on Tomoyo's delicate foot with both hands, caressing over the
|
|
rlm@2
|
621 soft skin and rubbing wherever she could get. "I hope not. You have
|
|
rlm@2
|
622 such cute feet. I'd hate to see anything happen to them." Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@2
|
623 stared at the roof of the limo for a moment, borrowing from Sakura's
|
|
rlm@2
|
624 library a word she thought expressed the situation perfectly.
|
|
rlm@2
|
625 "Hoe..." Sakura giggled and continued caressing Tomoyo's foot. Her
|
|
rlm@2
|
626 fingers slowly began making their way upward, over her ankle and up
|
|
rlm@2
|
627 the back of her leg. "Your skin's so soft, Tomoyo-chan. You feel so
|
|
rlm@2
|
628 nice. It's not like this when I'm with Syaoran." Sakura giggled,
|
|
rlm@2
|
629 shaking her head. "I mean, he feels different than you. Well, his
|
|
rlm@2
|
630 legs, anyway." Her hands continued to climb higher until they were
|
|
rlm@2
|
631 rubbing the sides of Tomoyo's thighs under the dark haired girl's
|
|
rlm@2
|
632 lavender skirt, Sakura's body pressed nicely against Tomoyo's.
|
|
rlm@2
|
633 "Everything feels different with you.""That could be because I'm a
|
|
rlm@2
|
634 girl. I hear boys and girls do feel a bit different," Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@2
|
635 reasoned, trying to look as composed as possible under the situation.
|
|
rlm@2
|
636 Sakura's hands felt deliciously good against her bare skin, warm and
|
|
rlm@2
|
637 strong against her soft thighs. Little flitters of reason struggled
|
|
rlm@2
|
638 to take hold, telling her to stop Sakura from doing anything else,
|
|
rlm@2
|
639 that Sakura was drunk and shouldn't be this close. But it felt so
|
|
rlm@2
|
640 wonderful. And she hardly had the heart to deny Sakura anything.
|
|
rlm@2
|
641
|
|
rlm@2
|
642 "You feel so much better. You make me so hanyaan, Tomoyo-chan.
|
|
rlm@2
|
643 'Everything will always be all right.' But it only feels all right
|
|
rlm@2
|
644 when I'm with you," Sakura explained, her weight holding Tomoyo's
|
|
rlm@2
|
645 slender form underneath her. That swirl of feelings that she felt
|
|
rlm@2
|
646 when Tomoyo was close to her felt like a hurricane now, something
|
|
rlm@2
|
647 powerful and unstoppable. There was some magic about the heiress that
|
|
rlm@2
|
648 sparked something deep inside of her that no one else could touch. In
|
|
rlm@2
|
649 her current state, Sakura's thoughts were a swirl of emotions and
|
|
rlm@2
|
650 feelings, logic lost somewhere along the way. There was only the
|
|
rlm@2
|
651 fragile, pale girl undernearth her and the storm of feelings she sent
|
|
rlm@2
|
652 through her. Tomoyo looked up at her, pink lips and stormy blue eyes
|
|
rlm@2
|
653 framed by her raven hair. Sakura pressed further into the smaller
|
|
rlm@2
|
654 girl, her lips finding Tomoyo's. She kissed her friend softly, loving
|
|
rlm@2
|
655 the way Tomoyo's feathery lips felt under her own. Tomoyo was still
|
|
rlm@2
|
656 mildly out of it because of her own drink at the bar, but she knew
|
|
rlm@2
|
657 she was much more lucid than Sakura. Or, rather, she had been before
|
|
rlm@2
|
658 Sakura had kissed her. Tomoyo was rapidly becoming drunk off of
|
|
rlm@2
|
659 Sakura, off the taste of Sakura's lips against hers and the feeling
|
|
rlm@2
|
660 of Sakura's body pressing against hers through their clothes. So she
|
|
rlm@2
|
661 wasn't overly surprised to find herself kissing back shortly, her
|
|
rlm@2
|
662 hands climbling up Sakura's back even as Sakura's hands began
|
|
rlm@2
|
663 questing over her own body. Sakura was kissing her. Sakura was loving
|
|
rlm@2
|
664 her. And it felt so wonderful. Her body squirmed as the brunette's
|
|
rlm@2
|
665 hands quested over her thighs, caressing over her panty-clad lower
|
|
rlm@2
|
666 half. Her own deft fingers were busying themselves with Sakura's top,
|
|
rlm@2
|
667 sliding it down and exposing the Cardmistress's bra. Tomoyo's eyes
|
|
rlm@2
|
668 drew in the whole picture before her, her heart jumping with joy at
|
|
rlm@2
|
669 the sight.
|
|
rlm@2
|
670
|
|
rlm@2
|
671 Kissing Tomoyo quickly escalated to much more, Sakura was pleased to
|
|
rlm@2
|
672 see. Though the logic that may have stopped her from all this was
|
|
rlm@2
|
673 curiously absent, the emotions and feelings that surrounded her
|
|
rlm@2
|
674 spurred her on further. She blushed slightly as she felt Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@2
|
675 unclasp her bra, letting it slide forward and out of the way. Her
|
|
rlm@2
|
676 blush grew as she watched Tomoyo's gaze move over her bare chest. Her
|
|
rlm@2
|
677 embarrassment was shortlived, however, as Tomoyo's hands swiftly made
|
|
rlm@2
|
678 their way to Sakura's chest, fingertips caressing over the soft skin.
|
|
rlm@2
|
679 Sakura purred as she pressed closer to Tomoyo, kissing her pale
|
|
rlm@2
|
680 friend deeper. She wanted to pull Tomoyo closer, to kiss her more, to
|
|
rlm@2
|
681 make love to her. She wanted to never let her go.
|
|
rlm@2
|
682
|
|
rlm@2
|
683 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
|
684
|
|
rlm@2
|
685 "Owwwww..." Sakura awoke the next morning to an angry headache.
|
|
rlm@2
|
686 Moving made her feel even worse. Her feet ached and the sheets felt
|
|
rlm@2
|
687 odd against her. Blinking groggily, the Cardmistress forced herself
|
|
rlm@2
|
688 to sit up. She immediately wished she hadn't. Her head swam and for a
|
|
rlm@2
|
689 moment she thought she would pass out. It slowly passed, but her
|
|
rlm@2
|
690 headache returned with a vengence. The sheets rustled against her
|
|
rlm@2
|
691 bare skin, a strange feeling for her. The only time she'd been in bed
|
|
rlm@2
|
692 naked, she'd been sleeping with Syaoran. Her eyes slowly widened, the
|
|
rlm@2
|
693 headache that had been impeding her thinking now being pushed
|
|
rlm@2
|
694 forcefully to the side. The night before... Tomoyo... in the car...
|
|
rlm@2
|
695
|
|
rlm@2
|
696 Kero didn't bat an eyebrow as he floated in, carrying a mug of
|
|
rlm@2
|
697 steaming tea. He'd seen Sakura get dressed enough growing up that
|
|
rlm@2
|
698 seeing her in just a sheet wasn't particularly bothersome. "Tomoyo-
|
|
rlm@2
|
699 chan says to drink this. She says it'll make ya feel better."
|
|
rlm@2
|
700
|
|
rlm@2
|
701 Taking the cup, Sakura held it close in her hands. Did she...? Had
|
|
rlm@2
|
702 she...? With Tomoyo? The sheets slipped down as she took her first
|
|
rlm@2
|
703 sip. "Hoe..." |
