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1 Title: Seal Cards
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2 Subtitle: Epitomes of Love
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3 Author: Matthias Engel aka MysticMew
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4 Feedback: Solarsenshi@gmx.de
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5 Status: Alpha
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6 Fandom: Card Captor Sakura (manga)
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7 Rating: PG-13 (with some scenes bordering on R)
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8 Category: Romance, Action/Adventure
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9 Pairing: Sakura/Tomoyo
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10 Timeline: Sequel to "Happy Years"
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11 Summary: There are two more cards Clow created. Our couple must learn
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12 that even great mages are not prone to mistakes.
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13 Sub-Summary: When a vacation goes a little different than planned, can
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14 Sakura control herself from loving Tomoyo "too much"?
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15 Distribution: MSD (www.catstrio.de), Shoujo Ai.com (www.shoujoai.com),
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16 ff.net (www.fanfiction.net), Mediaminer (www.mediaminer.org), Moonlit
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17 Nights (http://jrem.net/moonlit/tsFics.html) others may follow. If you
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18 like this fic for your story, please tell me, I'm not likely to put
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19 stones in your way, but I like to know where it goes.
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20 Legal Disclaimer: This story features two females romantically
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21 involved with a few (hinted) mature notions. If that is illegal where
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22 you are or entirely not your thing, turn around and leave now.
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23 Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura belongs to CLAMP and assorted
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24 companies, I claim no right on the characters and original storyline.
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25 Story Disclaimer: Seal Cards: Epitomes of Love(c)2003 by Matthias
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26 Engel
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27
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28 ******************************
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29
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30 Foreword
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31
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32 And it's time for the last one. This one will be done in two parts.
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33 That has more something with style than necessity though. This is the
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34 first part and this one will have a few more mature themes, the
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35 delicate stuff will be handled in special, additional file though.
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36
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37 ******************************
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38
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39 Seal Cards: Epitomes of Love
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40 Based on the works of CLAMP
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41 Story Concept by Matthias Engel
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42
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43 ******************************
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44
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45 <July of 1997 (Sakura>
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46 There was a lasting silence in the small room. The curtains were
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47 closed and only the soft glow of daylight shining through their veil
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48 illuminated the table in front of me. But I could see perfectly well.
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49 I wouldn't even need to see the eight cards spread in front of me.
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50 This was a much more complex method of card reading than the simple
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51 one Kero hat shown me all the years back. Yet, judged by the situation
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52 at hand, this was rather appropriate.
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53 I stared intently at the two middle rows and the top card. Once
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54 again the same. Just like every time I attempted to see what the cards
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55 could tell me. I had tried this countless times in the past but the
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56 big picture would just not change, nor would it completely make sense
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57 to me. There was just one thing that was for sure. The premonition,
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58 beyond doubt, was about Her.
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59 I squeezed my eyes shut. I thought I had conquered those
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60 memories but after telling Tomoyo three months ago, I couldn't help
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61 but recall some of the horrible scenes that had driven me straight
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62 from that future into this one. Kuso, I hated myself for making Tomoyo
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63 worry so much. The accusations had cut right through my heart. I knew
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64 on some level they were mostly frustration but...
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65 *Don't you trust me?*
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66 That one had hurt. Of course I did trust her. She was the cause
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67 of why I had come back here, she was why Time had even let me, she was
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68 the sole reason that I was able to settle back into a remotely normal
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69 life - as normal as life can be for one of the most powerful people on
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70 Earth. I had long since given up on the notion that I was the most
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71 powerful person. Maybe being the strongest mage was true. However, in
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72 my old time I had met enough other groups of magic users to which my
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73 power seemed to be a trifle... And none of them had stood a chance
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74 against Pandora.
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75 Amazingly enough, after the talk with Tomoyo the tension within
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76 us had pretty much been turned upside down and nowadays we were almost
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77 inseparable. I feared that closeness a little since that had been one
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78 of the things that had troubled me back then. It still did. I would
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79 feel embarrassed but my mind was too old to be ashamed of the
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80 thoughts. And I wouldn't think twice about letting Tomoyo know just
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81 how much I loved her if not for the simple fact that we were both only
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82 fourteen. I had never quite imagined this would become a major problem
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83 of the transition but it seemed I had miscalculated. Lately my
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84 feelings for the lavender-haired girl had blossomed more and more into
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85 something greater and more passionate. My adult mind and teenager body
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86 were having a hard time coming to terms how to react to this.
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87 Kami, I am a little pervert!
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88 Okay, maybe it wasn't this bad but I was wondering what the hell
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89 was wrong with me. This had begun about a year ago, slowly at first
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90 but then more steadily. At first I thought it was just my teenage body
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91 beginning to mature but at times the love, and the desire spreading
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92 from that love, became so strong I was barely able to keep my hands
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93 off of Tomoyo when we were snuggling or something. I had to put some
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94 distances between us, yet I had chosen the wrong method as it seemed.
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95 The resulting frustration from both sides nearly drove a wedge between
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96 us. That was dealt with and resolved now, the feelings between us
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97 though had only been intensified and I was silently already preparing
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98 a last will, because if I should really lose control and Sonomi-kaasan
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99 found out...
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100 I chuckled ruefully. I WAS overreacting, not to mention
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101 distracting myself from the reading and its expected and depressing
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102 outcome. Compared to that, my little physical problems were rather
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103 insignificant. Sighing audibly, I slowly turned around the last card.
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104 Woody was the association, the first card. Woody stood for many
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105 things, for which one was nature itself, or Life if you want. In
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106 short, I assumed, it meant Earth itself would face a crisis soon. At
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107 least that made the most sense from what I expected to come. So
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108 basically, it was a call from Earth for help.
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109 Then came Mirror, Time and Illusion. They were the cause of the
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110 current situation. From experience I knew that Mirror and Illusion
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111 often were substitutes for other unknown elements the cards couldn't
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112 represent, or at least couldn't represent with the cards available.
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113 Together with Time at the center it would normally not make much
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114 sense. However, I knew that Mirror and Illusion most likely pointed at
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115 the two other Forbidden Clow Cards, those that were responsible for
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116 Pandora's release in my time. I hadn't known that then but I knew now
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117 after talking to Time - as little as she did reveal -, Kerberos and
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118 Yue. And the more I learned about this, the more my belief grew that
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119 Clow was just as imperfect as any other human being and not nearly as
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120 foreseeing as Eriol said his prior incarnation had been.
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121 The Light, the Dark and Erase in the next row, presenting the
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122 solution. Alright, the solution was not so more like a pointer, a
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123 guide, a way of what had to be done to assure an outcome in the mage's
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124 favor. The solution could point at powers, people, a lot of things. It
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125 could also be a gamble, since the solution could also turn into an aid
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126 for the problem. The combination was a little weird for my taste.
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127 While I could see Light and Dark together, I couldn't really place
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128 Erase. Erase could be another substitute or it could mean something
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129 completely different. I had some vague theories but that is all they
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130 were. Vague.
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131 Which leaves the last card. The location, the Where.
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132 Shadow.
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133 As expected. Once again, the location was clouded into shadows,
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134 unrevealing darkness. I had desperately hoped that for once I would
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135 get a clue where to look for the Seal Cards but once again no hint was
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136 given to me. The thing was I could feel the distant presence of a card
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137 but by their sheer magnitude I suppose they were probably very far
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138 away.
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139 Picking up the cards, I returned them to the book and stretched.
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140 This was getting me nowhere and tomorrow we would all make a small
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141 trip. I had agreed to the idea readily, seeing this as a chance to
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142 make up it up to Tomoyo for our little fight and just relax for
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143 awhile. Summer break had just started and the weather was ideal. A
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144 part of me wished that we could go alone but I didn't really mind the
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145 rest of the family coming along. This was going to be fun and maybe I
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146 could forget about the cards, the uncertain future and dark memories
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147 for awhile.
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148
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149 ******************************
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150
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151 (Tomoyo)
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152 Whistling a happy tune, I made my way to the front of the Kinomoto
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153 residence. It had been a nice day and the evening sun was still warm
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154 and pleasant. Perfect weather for a vacation. Adjusting the bag over
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155 my shoulder I made a note to myself not to pack so many things the
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156 next time. Of course I had reminded myself the last time to do so and
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157 look where it had gotten me
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158 Not that the little problem was of any significance to the more
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159 important things in life at the moment. Sakura and I had finally come
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160 around and while I was pretty sure that she hadn't told me everything,
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161 I was simply too happy right now to care. I had overreacted after all
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162 and chided myself enough about it already. I knew deep down that
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163 questioning Sakura's trust had hurt my girlfriend and I wished
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164 desperately I could take it back somehow. Being confronted with how
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165 much Sakura depended on me when she revealed some of her secrets to me
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166 had made me feel so ashamed of myself. Sakura was quick to scatter
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167 those worries though. And since we both felt too guilty about the
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168 whole matter for different reasons we came to the agreement that this
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169 would simply just not happen again.
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170 And the make up was definitely exquisite. I never thought you
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171 could be so close to a person. I had also thought I was already much
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172 more attached to a person than normal, even back then in Elementary
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173 School, at an age there that was rather strange. Especially since the
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174 relationship part hadn't come for another two years. However, seeing
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175 us now, aside from school we barely spent a minute alone anymore. The
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176 strength of our feelings was rather overwhelming even by me. Not that
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177 Sakura wasn't worth every last ounce of attention but it was as if our
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178 guilt over the whole accident had undergone the drastic change from
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179 "turning fire into water".
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180 My thoughts were interrupted as I looked up, coming to a stop a
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181 few feet from the front door. Touya stood there with a grin. "I
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182 suppose saying "Welcome" as if you are a guest, just doesn't do it
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183 anymore, hmm?" It was remarkable how much the two of them had in
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184 common. While physically not all that similar, Sakura and her older
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185 brother had a lot of hidden character traits that often made them more
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186 alike than they'd ever admit being.
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187 He moved forward, taking the bag not even waiting or actually
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188 expecting a request. After all this time I was still a little
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189 surprised - pleasantly so - as how easy Touya had accepted me.
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190 Compared to Syaoran that is. Knowing me prior probably had helped
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191 things a little and even with most of his sight gone - Sakura said it
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192 was returning very slowly - he had always been rather perceptive.
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193 Something I admired about him in a way.
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194 "Arigato," I said, following him into the house and slipping out
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195 of my shoes. Okaasan had made it pretty much clear to Sakura that she
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196 was to treat our home as hers and while it had never been said this
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197 way from the Kinomotos before, the offer was obvious in small things
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198 like this or the way the treatment had gradually changed from that of
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199 a normal guest to that of a permanent houseguest or resident even.
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200 Sakura's home had also become my home and it didn't really matter
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201 anymore where we were or who would stay with whom. Either way, IF we
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202 were together, we were at home.
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203 Touya shrugged, putting the bag down next to the staircase.
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204 "It's okay. I'll bring it up later. The monster has been in her room
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205 for awhile again, maybe you can get her to come down and eat
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206 something."
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207 I wasn't sure whether to give into the humor or the sigh. On one
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208 hand it saddened me to hear that Sakura obviously was still troubled
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209 by her worries. I couldn't fault her, knowing what I did learn so far.
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210 Sakura had such a good heart and she wanted to protect everyone,
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211 especially the people she loved and feeling so helpless had to be
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212 hard. I never really realized how hard it had to be until I learned
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213 the truth of the events of her timeline. Still, I wished she wouldn't
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214 think that she had to take all the responsibility upon herself, almost
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215 as if she was desperately trying to do it all alone. That is why I
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216 insisted so much on the vacation when the idea was brought up one
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217 evening we had all sat together in this very house. The idea for a
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218 little boat trip was spontaneous but once everyone had gotten into it,
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219 the plans were quickly made. Hopefully this could get Sakura's mind
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220 set on something different at least for a little while.
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221 I finally managed a small giggle. I found it funny that Touya
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222 still called her "monster", even more so than when my girlfriend was
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223 younger. I supposed that it had become more of an affective nickname
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224 than the gentle teasing it had once been.
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225 Already a few steps up the stairs I stopped and turned slightly
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226 to look back at Touya. "Doesn't it bother you at all?" I had meant to
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227 ask the question for awhile now. Sakura had come clean about her time
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228 travel by now. While both her brother and father had suspected
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229 something already, Sakura had felt obligated to talk to them about
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230 this after realizing how much concern it had caused me and how much it
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231 had to have an impact on her family. The whole thing was taken
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232 relatively well, she had let out a few things she told me exclusively,
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233 but other then that most of what I learned was revealed to the rest of
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234 the family.
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235 Touya looked at me thoughtful for a moment. "Not really. It's a
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236 little weird sometimes. And I admit I feel helpless knowing all that
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237 has happened already or will happen or... well, you get the point." I
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238 smiled wryly, knowing full well the confusion talking about this
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239 caused me sometimes. "I am just amazed that YOU are taking all this so
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240 well. Doesn't it bother you in the slightest, I mean... She's not
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241 exactly the girl you fell in love with anymore. I believe it is much
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242 harder for you, as her girlfriend, than it is for me, as a brother."
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243 I didn't really need to think about my answer. Staring directly
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244 into Touya's eyes - well, as much as you can from a higher vantage
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245 point -, I said softly but with a firm voice nonetheless, "I wouldn't
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246 be that - her girlfriend - if Sakura-chan hadn't done what she did.
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247 She is still Sakura, all the little details are still there. You can
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248 see it too, I know that. When you truly love someone, you love
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249 everything about that person. The positive as much as the negative.
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250 Tell me, Touya-oniisan, would you turn down Yukito-san if the same
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251 would have happened to him."
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252 The dark-haired, young man stared back stunned for a moment,
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253 then his eyes softened and he shook his head slowly. "No. Never."
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254 I smiled fondly. "Good. Then we understand each other." I turned
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255 back to resume my ascent. "We'll be down for dinner in a few minutes."
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256 I swear I heard him mumbling something along the lines of "if you were
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257 able to separate long enough to walk down the stairs", smiled to
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258 myself and proceeded to Sakura's room.
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259
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260 ******************************
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261
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262 (Sakura)
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263 As I leaned back after putting the cards back into the book, I
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264 realized how stiff I had become. This happened a lot. Often I tried to
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265 figure out a reading for hours not even realizing the passage of time.
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266 It was a good thing I still did physical activities frequently to keep
|
|
rlm@0
|
267 my body in shape. It would be a little early to suffer from back
|
|
rlm@0
|
268 problems...
|
|
rlm@0
|
269 My eyes had drifted close for a moment and now they only
|
|
rlm@0
|
270 fluttered open for a short moment before the movements of skilled
|
|
rlm@0
|
271 hands rubbing my shoulders made me sigh blissfully - though I hadn't
|
|
rlm@0
|
272 made up my mind if it was involuntary or not yet. I had to be pretty
|
|
rlm@0
|
273 absorbed to not even notice Tomoyo coming up or slipping into the
|
|
rlm@0
|
274 room. Usually I could tell from far away already when she was present.
|
|
rlm@0
|
275 Not to mention that I tried not to show her just how much I took the
|
|
rlm@0
|
276 whole thing to heart... and often failing miserable at that task.
|
|
rlm@0
|
277 "Do you have to torture yourself. Even a day before vacation?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
278 Tomoyo asked softly, her voice barely a whisper and close to my ear. I
|
|
rlm@0
|
279 suppressed the shudder wanting to run down my spine at her closeness
|
|
rlm@0
|
280 and the feelings her warm breath tickling my skin invoked. I wished
|
|
rlm@0
|
281 nothing more than to...
|
|
rlm@0
|
282 What was wrong with me?
|
|
rlm@0
|
283 Fighting down the primal urges of my - entirely too young - body
|
|
rlm@0
|
284 I focused on her question, with some effort. "You know I must. If I
|
|
rlm@0
|
285 don't find a way to prevent the seal from breaking than..." I trailed
|
|
rlm@0
|
286 off, not wishing to speak further in fear of calling back the haunting
|
|
rlm@0
|
287 images of a future long since past. A future that might become reality
|
|
rlm@0
|
288 again if I didn't...
|
|
rlm@0
|
289 "I know you will find a way. You always do. But that you still
|
|
rlm@0
|
290 have a few years, right? Don't push yourself so hard."
|
|
rlm@0
|
291 I let go of another content smile as the hands moved from my
|
|
rlm@0
|
292 shoulders to my neck and further down my back with patient precision.
|
|
rlm@0
|
293 Tomoyo could really give one hell of a massage. "How can you be so
|
|
rlm@0
|
294 calm about this. I told you what happened. I stood no chance against
|
|
rlm@0
|
295 that... thing. I..." I turned around albeit my body's vehement
|
|
rlm@0
|
296 protests, fixing a startled Tomoyo with an intense gaze. "She killed
|
|
rlm@0
|
297 you, right in front of my eyes. I... I won't..." I could feel tears
|
|
rlm@0
|
298 stinging in my eyes and was a little bit surprised at the emotional
|
|
rlm@0
|
299 surge that had triggered such a strong response. I usually was much
|
|
rlm@0
|
300 calmer nowadays but Tomoyo managed with her mere presence alone to
|
|
rlm@0
|
301 create that overwhelming urge to love, to protect, to cherish and
|
|
rlm@0
|
302 always hold onto this incredible gift. I couldn't maintain my shields
|
|
rlm@0
|
303 around her for long. "I will never let this happen again," I finished,
|
|
rlm@0
|
304 trying to make my voice sound firm but it was more a croaked whisper.
|
|
rlm@0
|
305 "Never..."
|
|
rlm@0
|
306 Before I even knew what was happening we were kissing. And not
|
|
rlm@0
|
307 just the chaste kiss of children or young teenagers but laced with a
|
|
rlm@0
|
308 mixture of passion and need. My arms went around Tomoyo's waist on
|
|
rlm@0
|
309 instinct drawing her closer, basking in the heat of the contact. Not
|
|
rlm@0
|
310 just the physical but also the spiritual one. Our kisses had become
|
|
rlm@0
|
311 that much bolder lately and they weren't always initiated by me.
|
|
rlm@0
|
312 Tomoyo proved very quickly that this important aspect of life was as
|
|
rlm@0
|
313 much one of the skills she was so good with, just like all the others.
|
|
rlm@0
|
314 And so I found myself relenting briefly as the kiss began to involve
|
|
rlm@0
|
315 tongues rather quickly, that sweet scent, so distinctive Tomoyo,
|
|
rlm@0
|
316 filling my mouth, literally drinking up all the troubles, concerns and
|
|
rlm@0
|
317 fears of only a few moments ago.
|
|
rlm@0
|
318 Finally Tomoyo drew away but only a few inches. I am sure my
|
|
rlm@0
|
319 face was flushed since hers definitely was. A part of me was
|
|
rlm@0
|
320 disappointed at the lack of contact and wanted to reengage right away,
|
|
rlm@0
|
321 taking this to places I steadfastly refused to even let myself think
|
|
rlm@0
|
322 about. The beautiful lavender-haired girl had her fingers tangled in
|
|
rlm@0
|
323 some strands of my hair falling in disarray over my face. "I know,
|
|
rlm@0
|
324 Sakura-chan. I know you will always be there to protect me. I told you
|
|
rlm@0
|
325 that a long time ago and my belief has not changed. You have taken all
|
|
rlm@0
|
326 those risks and changed your future already. Your beautiful heart will
|
|
rlm@0
|
327 find a solution when the time is right. Please, don't burn yourself
|
|
rlm@0
|
328 out. That won't get us anywhere and brings you only more pain. I hate
|
|
rlm@0
|
329 to see you suffer."
|
|
rlm@0
|
330 I stared in amazement at this magnificent creature. What in all
|
|
rlm@0
|
331 the world had I done to earn such trust, such loyalty, such love from
|
|
rlm@0
|
332 this gentle and kind girl. When I was young and unknowing of her
|
|
rlm@0
|
333 feelings I had often felt a little embarrassed. But never scared. I
|
|
rlm@0
|
334 knew some people who experienced our interaction wondered why I wasn't
|
|
rlm@0
|
335 scared of Tomoyo's devotion. Yet, I could never be scared of such a
|
|
rlm@0
|
336 wondrous thing. Now, I was simply amazed and every time she looked at
|
|
rlm@0
|
337 me like this, so completely without doubt, utter faith in her gaze
|
|
rlm@0
|
338 that I would never let her come to harm, I knew that I wasn't worth
|
|
rlm@0
|
339 it. But yet, it always created a confidence in me so strong that I
|
|
rlm@0
|
340 felt like being able to strike down any foe ever trying to harm this
|
|
rlm@0
|
341 otherworldly creature that I could dare call my girlfriend.
|
|
rlm@0
|
342 "I don't deserve you," I whispered, one hand softly stroking the
|
|
rlm@0
|
343 pale skin of her cheek. I had never felt like this before. Not with
|
|
rlm@0
|
344 Syaoran, never with him. That realization had come gradually but by
|
|
rlm@0
|
345 now I was certain that while a part of me would always love him, my
|
|
rlm@0
|
346 statement that the love for him and Tomoyo was an equal one had long
|
|
rlm@0
|
347 since expired. The magnitude of love I felt for Tomoyo know had
|
|
rlm@0
|
348 definitely exceeded what I ever had felt for the Chinese boy. "But I
|
|
rlm@0
|
349 love you more than anyone or anything else in this world," I said,
|
|
rlm@0
|
350 making sure she understood completely what I was implying.
|
|
rlm@0
|
351 Tomoyo's smile was radiant, her blue eyes sparkling as if the
|
|
rlm@0
|
352 sun was reflecting on the clear surface of a lake. I leaned forward
|
|
rlm@0
|
353 again, touching my lips to hers, leaving my gaze glued on those
|
|
rlm@0
|
354 brilliant orbs. Sensual at first I felt that inner fire once again
|
|
rlm@0
|
355 igniting with renewed intensity and for several seconds I completely
|
|
rlm@0
|
356 lost myself in the feelings, tongues meeting in a slow dance,
|
|
rlm@0
|
357 passionate but not forceful. So much unlike Syaoran's kisses. This
|
|
rlm@0
|
358 was... softer, slower and at the same much more intense.
|
|
rlm@0
|
359 "Hey, monster! Get down here, dinner is ready!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
360 I blinked my eyes, realizing only now that somehow Tomoyo had
|
|
rlm@0
|
361 found her way into my lap and my hands were resting on her buttocks,
|
|
rlm@0
|
362 Tomoyo's arms were around my neck, clinging tightly as if afraid to
|
|
rlm@0
|
363 fall apart if she should let go. I blinked again, slowly drawing away
|
|
rlm@0
|
364 and tentatively altering my grip from my girlfriend's behind to hold
|
|
rlm@0
|
365 her around the waist again. I didn't want to let go but there was that
|
|
rlm@0
|
366 slight spark of embarrassment that I had let myself go so far. But I
|
|
rlm@0
|
367 didn't really feel all that bad about it, after all Tomoyo seemed
|
|
rlm@0
|
368 quite content where she was.
|
|
rlm@0
|
369 "Wow..." I whispered, my breath a little shallow from the
|
|
rlm@0
|
370 exchange. I could feel some sweat on my forehead and was rather aware
|
|
rlm@0
|
371 that both of our body temperatures had definitely risen to a
|
|
rlm@0
|
372 noticeable degree. "That was..." I wanted to say "too close" but
|
|
rlm@0
|
373 honestly, I had to agree with Tomoyo's definition.
|
|
rlm@0
|
374 "Intense. Amazingly intense..." Tomoyo responded, equally
|
|
rlm@0
|
375 breathless and I was fascinated at how much that sparkle in her eyes
|
|
rlm@0
|
376 had even more increased but now it was more like... I wasn't sure I
|
|
rlm@0
|
377 actually wanted to know the answer to that because I wasn't sure right
|
|
rlm@0
|
378 now if I could control the following consequences.
|
|
rlm@0
|
379 "We should... uh, get downstairs... Dinner, you know...?" I
|
|
rlm@0
|
380 tried lamely, my mind not yet fully restored from one of the most
|
|
rlm@0
|
381 passionate moments between us yet. Tomoyo just nodded, also a little
|
|
rlm@0
|
382 out of it.
|
|
rlm@0
|
383 It was only with a lot of effort and after another few minutes
|
|
rlm@0
|
384 of regaining some composure that we managed to follow my brothers
|
|
rlm@0
|
385 request. Touya was giving me the most annoying smirk all evening.
|
|
rlm@0
|
386
|
|
rlm@0
|
387 ******************************
|
|
rlm@0
|
388
|
|
rlm@0
|
389 <About two days later (Tomoyo)>
|
|
rlm@0
|
390 There was one thing that was for sure about life with Sakura. It never
|
|
rlm@0
|
391 was boring. I had known this right away when I met her. I knew that I
|
|
rlm@0
|
392 just had to put an effort into at least befriending the genki brunette
|
|
rlm@0
|
393 or my life would be so much duller. This experience had only grown
|
|
rlm@0
|
394 when Sakura came back for me and devoted her attention almost solely
|
|
rlm@0
|
395 upon me. The things we did on a regular basis when going out, other
|
|
rlm@0
|
396 couples probably never even encounter half the excitement and the
|
|
rlm@0
|
397 wonders Sakura managed to produce.
|
|
rlm@0
|
398 I had noticed that Sakura liked to use the cards rather often
|
|
rlm@0
|
399 for those special occasion but also other everyday life stuff. For
|
|
rlm@0
|
400 example creating a nice atmosphere with Glow or Flower, lightening
|
|
rlm@0
|
401 candles with Firery or often just flying around with Fly. Sakura had
|
|
rlm@0
|
402 developed a close bond with her cards, that much was for sure. "Don't
|
|
rlm@0
|
403 they mind doing all those things for you?" I asked, turning my head
|
|
rlm@0
|
404 towards Sakura. The question was more a rhetorical one with just a
|
|
rlm@0
|
405 touch of curiosity I could guess the answer already.
|
|
rlm@0
|
406 Sakura laughed lightly and I could feel just the tiny bits of a
|
|
rlm@0
|
407 ripple around us that felt like... giggling. "Don't worry about that.
|
|
rlm@0
|
408 The cards actually want to get out and play whenever I let them. While
|
|
rlm@0
|
409 they don't mind being in the book, they like to do things outside,
|
|
rlm@0
|
410 interact with the world, you know." Sakura gazed at me adoringly and I
|
|
rlm@0
|
411 felt my cheeks flush, a reaction the lovely girl had managed to bring
|
|
rlm@0
|
412 forth more and more in the last days. The passionate scene from the
|
|
rlm@0
|
413 evening two days ago was still present in my mind and this hasn't been
|
|
rlm@0
|
414 the only occasion. "And they like you, too, so they like to do things
|
|
rlm@0
|
415 that make you happy." The blush deepened and I melted into the
|
|
rlm@0
|
416 following kiss that was much to brief and chaste for my taste...
|
|
rlm@0
|
417 Blinking I tried to clear my foggy mind, snuggling closer to
|
|
rlm@0
|
418 Sakura who had one arm around my waist so that we wouldn't be
|
|
rlm@0
|
419 separated, not that any of us minded the contact. The water around us
|
|
rlm@0
|
420 was cool but not freezing. I believed this to be an added side effect
|
|
rlm@0
|
421 of Watery other than providing an air bubble to breath and right now
|
|
rlm@0
|
422 the movement as well. We already had been swimming quite some while
|
|
rlm@0
|
423 but right now we were content to enjoy each other's presence and let
|
|
rlm@0
|
424 Watery do the stirring, so to say.
|
|
rlm@0
|
425 The ocean down here was a captivating sight. Especially this
|
|
rlm@0
|
426 way, without diving gear or other such limitations. Only our bodies
|
|
rlm@0
|
427 and normal senses experiencing what no ordinary human would usually be
|
|
rlm@0
|
428 able to do. Not for that long and surely enough not as deep as we were
|
|
rlm@0
|
429 already. This definitely had been one of Sakura's best ideas involving
|
|
rlm@0
|
430 the cards up to now. We had left the world above the surface already
|
|
rlm@0
|
431 far behind, exploring the wondrous depths of the ocean.
|
|
rlm@0
|
432 I hadn't expected something like that - Sakura always managed to
|
|
rlm@0
|
433 surprise me with those things - when we set out yesterday morning for
|
|
rlm@0
|
434 the beach and then a trip with our family yacht. Okaasan had actually
|
|
rlm@0
|
435 been glad to have a use for it after all that time. In all my life we
|
|
rlm@0
|
436 had only gotten to make use of it once and I had been almost too
|
|
rlm@0
|
437 little to remember it then. Now, the yacht served as the perfect tool
|
|
rlm@0
|
438 for some nice, relaxing days. Okaasan had been excited to participate
|
|
rlm@0
|
439 in the family vacation and readily provided the boat even though it
|
|
rlm@0
|
440 visibly got to her to spend so much time in close company to Sakura's
|
|
rlm@0
|
441 father. They managed to behave most of the trip but a few hours ago
|
|
rlm@0
|
442 the tension had escalated and everyone had retreated hastily to other
|
|
rlm@0
|
443 parts of the yacht to evade the coming war zone. Yukito and Touya had
|
|
rlm@0
|
444 went below deck and Sakura came up that we should probably go even
|
|
rlm@0
|
445 deeper with a twinkle in her eyes. I had had barely enough time to
|
|
rlm@0
|
446 prepare myself - thankfully we already had been in our bathing suits
|
|
rlm@0
|
447 for the purpose of sun bathing - before Sakura grabbed me and jumped
|
|
rlm@0
|
448 into the calm ocean, activating Watery in the process.
|
|
rlm@0
|
449 The feeling was extraordinary. The ocean was calm on this clear
|
|
rlm@0
|
450 summer day and the flow was gentle, encompassing the two of us.
|
|
rlm@0
|
451 Somehow Watery had managed to make it so that we could breathe
|
|
rlm@0
|
452 underwater but still feel the water and move freely. Therefore we were
|
|
rlm@0
|
453 treated by the embrace of the wet element, washing over our skin. It
|
|
rlm@0
|
454 didn't even sting in the eyes!
|
|
rlm@0
|
455 Right now we were resting from swimming so much, gently floating
|
|
rlm@0
|
456 through the vast ocean, letting Watery push us forward. And once again
|
|
rlm@0
|
457 we found ourselves in one of those moments. The place was a little
|
|
rlm@0
|
458 odd, I admit, but as usual neither of us cared very much and while we
|
|
rlm@0
|
459 weren't even kissing, just the contact was enough to hold us captured
|
|
rlm@0
|
460 in the moment. I could feel Sakura's hand lightly stroking my bare
|
|
rlm@0
|
461 skin and shivered. Not from the cold of the water but from the sudden
|
|
rlm@0
|
462 heat coursing through my body, making my skin tingle.
|
|
rlm@0
|
463 Oh, I wasn't stupid. I was pretty much aware of the sexual
|
|
rlm@0
|
464 tension. There was just no other way to describe it. Both of us were
|
|
rlm@0
|
465 rather mature for our physical age and that was even more true in
|
|
rlm@0
|
466 Sakura's case. It had taken me some time to figure out that the whole
|
|
rlm@0
|
467 Pandora issue hadn't been all that had my girlfriend bothered lately.
|
|
rlm@0
|
468 I hadn't been totally sure at first but the level of passion in our
|
|
rlm@0
|
469 kisses, the lingering touches, the closeness. The encounter the
|
|
rlm@0
|
470 evening before our departure wasn't the only one and they had become
|
|
rlm@0
|
471 even more heated. No, by now I was pretty sure that Sakura had
|
|
rlm@0
|
472 definitely trouble suppressing urges she surely felt entirely to
|
|
rlm@0
|
473 improper for our physical age.
|
|
rlm@0
|
474 How did I feel about this? I honestly wasn't sure. I would lie
|
|
rlm@0
|
475 if I said that the rising passion between us didn't scare me a little.
|
|
rlm@0
|
476 Just a little. I hadn't thought in this direction at all until a few
|
|
rlm@0
|
477 months ago but now I found myself wishing at times that Sakura would
|
|
rlm@0
|
478 just go ahead and... See, that's what I meant. Where I could
|
|
rlm@0
|
479 understand and tolerate that Sakura's older mind might harbor such
|
|
rlm@0
|
480 thoughts, I know that for me they were rather... early. Not
|
|
rlm@0
|
481 impossible, but early in their appearance. And entirely too strong to
|
|
rlm@0
|
482 be natural.
|
|
rlm@0
|
483 At the same time the feelings were exhilarating and I felt
|
|
rlm@0
|
484 myself craving the attention, the sensations of drowning in Sakura's
|
|
rlm@0
|
485 love and passion, wishing nothing more than to just let go and feel.
|
|
rlm@0
|
486 This was frightening in itself but more like a thrill, a good,
|
|
rlm@0
|
487 exciting thrill I had entirely no idea how to deal with. I just knew
|
|
rlm@0
|
488 if Sakura as much as asked I would jump at the chance and that scared
|
|
rlm@0
|
489 me again, just a little.
|
|
rlm@0
|
490 Out of the corner of my eye I spotted something and was
|
|
rlm@0
|
491 partially grateful for the interruption of the moment. Because as much
|
|
rlm@0
|
492 as a big part of me wouldn't object I think the setting would be more
|
|
rlm@0
|
493 than a little awkward. Not too mention, we'd probably traumatize poor
|
|
rlm@0
|
494 Watery!
|
|
rlm@0
|
495 "Hey, there's a cave down there!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
496 Sakura blinked, a look of disappoint crossing her features that
|
|
rlm@0
|
497 almost made me giggle. I suppressed that reaction though and pointed
|
|
rlm@0
|
498 down. We were rather close to the bottom I think. The water was
|
|
rlm@0
|
499 getting murkier here. Less light was reaching us from the surface and
|
|
rlm@0
|
500 it was a little hard to make out the cave's entrance. Sakura and I
|
|
rlm@0
|
501 looked at each other, confirming our mutual curiosity and made our way
|
|
rlm@0
|
502 into the cave.
|
|
rlm@0
|
503
|
|
rlm@0
|
504 ******************************
|
|
rlm@0
|
505
|
|
rlm@0
|
506 (Sakura)
|
|
rlm@0
|
507 Emerging from the water we were both surprised and amazed to find a
|
|
rlm@0
|
508 cave that huge. Sure, there probably were enough on the ocean floor
|
|
rlm@0
|
509 but when did you ever get the chance to see them. Not that any of us
|
|
rlm@0
|
510 was paying much attention to our surroundings. Watery went back into
|
|
rlm@0
|
511 card form and then to subspace for the moment with nothing more than a
|
|
rlm@0
|
512 thought. My eyes were pretty much glued to Tomoyo and there was a
|
|
rlm@0
|
513 conflict inside of me whether to praise or curse myself for my
|
|
rlm@0
|
514 impromptu idea. Kuso, Tomoyo was sexy in that dark blue bikini,
|
|
rlm@0
|
515 drenched by the ocean water and therefore highlighting the young
|
|
rlm@0
|
516 girl's curves pretty well.
|
|
rlm@0
|
517 This was ridiculous. Something was definitely going on here. I
|
|
rlm@0
|
518 mean something other than my dirty adult mind and developing teenage
|
|
rlm@0
|
519 body. As much as I did love Tomoyo this was getting out of hand and I
|
|
rlm@0
|
520 was pretty sure that my control was only a few percent from
|
|
rlm@0
|
521 evaporating into thin air. I mean, I had actually kicked Touya for
|
|
rlm@0
|
522 flirting with Tomoyo. He did that sometimes and I know very well that
|
|
rlm@0
|
523 it was never more than teasing. And still I had actually hit him, he
|
|
rlm@0
|
524 had been throwing wary glances my way the whole trip. And the poor boy
|
|
rlm@0
|
525 from when we arrived at the beach who dared to... wanted to ask Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@0
|
526 out or something. I swear he must have run straight to his mommy after
|
|
rlm@0
|
527 the menacing look I had given him - thankfully that had been all. My
|
|
rlm@0
|
528 emotions couldn't suddenly be so out of control. Not naturally...
|
|
rlm@0
|
529 "Sakura?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
530 Gah!
|
|
rlm@0
|
531 Tomoyo was standing right in front of me, blue eyes focused on
|
|
rlm@0
|
532 me in a wordless, yet demanding expression. I was being drawn into the
|
|
rlm@0
|
533 liquid pools, drowned in a sea of happiness and love. I might have
|
|
rlm@0
|
534 jumped at the touch, her hand on my cheek, caressing slightly in a
|
|
rlm@0
|
535 circular pattern. "What are you afraid of?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
536 Crap, she always knew me so well, that hadn't changed in the
|
|
rlm@0
|
537 most aspects of my life even after traveling back in time. With the
|
|
rlm@0
|
538 exception of the Pandora happenings and my growing desires she had
|
|
rlm@0
|
539 always managed to read me like a book. It seemed the latter was about
|
|
rlm@0
|
540 to experience the same fate.
|
|
rlm@0
|
541 "Tomo-chan... I..." I breathed, my voice taking on a husky tone,
|
|
rlm@0
|
542 feeling her other coming around me, one hand settling on my back. A
|
|
rlm@0
|
543 surge of immediate desire rushed through me and my mouth couldn't
|
|
rlm@0
|
544 decide whether to be dry or the complete opposite. I couldn't finish
|
|
rlm@0
|
545 the sentence but looking into her eyes, I knew it wasn't necessary.
|
|
rlm@0
|
546 "You don't have to be afraid for my sake, Sakura-chan." I gasped
|
|
rlm@0
|
547 when she dipped her head slightly to the side and moved forward to run
|
|
rlm@0
|
548 her lips over the skin on my neck. My arms tightened around her,
|
|
rlm@0
|
549 almost crushing her lithe form against mine even if that small voice
|
|
rlm@0
|
550 that was calling me names was still there. It was fading fast.
|
|
rlm@0
|
551 "I... I don't want to hurt you... This is not how..."
|
|
rlm@0
|
552 Tomoyo looked up again and before I could even guess her
|
|
rlm@0
|
553 intentions her lips were upon mine. The kiss was sending hot waves of
|
|
rlm@0
|
554 tiny flames through my whole body. Her lips were crushed against mine
|
|
rlm@0
|
555 and I leaned into the passionate, desperate contact without even
|
|
rlm@0
|
556 thinking. The last bit of rational thought was more or less leaving me
|
|
rlm@0
|
557 right now.
|
|
rlm@0
|
558 Coming up for air after almost a full minute, I realized that
|
|
rlm@0
|
559 our hands had become much bolder. Tomoyo's hands were just resting
|
|
rlm@0
|
560 under the hem of my bikini top and mine were already all the way
|
|
rlm@0
|
561 there. The desire created between us had reached the force of a
|
|
rlm@0
|
562 tornado. I could see the desperation and need reflected in Tomoyo's
|
|
rlm@0
|
563 eyes.
|
|
rlm@0
|
564 "Do you really want to fight this?" Tomoyo asked in her usual
|
|
rlm@0
|
565 soft, lightly musical voice but still somehow managing to let it sound
|
|
rlm@0
|
566 seductive. "We can't fight this any longer, you know that."
|
|
rlm@0
|
567 Can't fight...? A jolting sensation of recognition passed
|
|
rlm@0
|
568 through me and for just a single moment I managed to tear myself away
|
|
rlm@0
|
569 from the powerful thrall both of us were under. No, not so much a
|
|
rlm@0
|
570 thrall as the rise of emotions to its maximum. Right here, right now,
|
|
rlm@0
|
571 around us...
|
|
rlm@0
|
572 Love was here.
|
|
rlm@0
|
573 Love, one of the Seal Cards. Time had told me that the reason I
|
|
rlm@0
|
574 felt its presence nearing was because the original seal was more or
|
|
rlm@0
|
575 less encompassing the whole planet, both elemental powers overlapping
|
|
rlm@0
|
576 each other. It had been a steady stream, unyielding and without a
|
|
rlm@0
|
577 flaw. Until Clow tempered with those ancient archtypes and bound
|
|
rlm@0
|
578 powers where he should have not. After realizing his mistake and that
|
|
rlm@0
|
579 he couldn't control the elemental powers, he had placed the cards
|
|
rlm@0
|
580 inside the original seal, reestablishing the power but not the flow.
|
|
rlm@0
|
581 The flow had been destroyed, its flawlessness lost. To make the flaw
|
|
rlm@0
|
582 as tiny as possible the cards were moving around in the seal in a more
|
|
rlm@0
|
583 or less stable orbit. It was no surprise to realize that this had
|
|
rlm@0
|
584 given Pandora her opportunity. Clow's actions to fix his mistake had
|
|
rlm@0
|
585 not been enough after all.
|
|
rlm@0
|
586 The realization came at a rather bad moment though and most of
|
|
rlm@0
|
587 my thoughts on the matter were just like a background image. I was
|
|
rlm@0
|
588 aware of it, I was aware of the enormous presence so similar to Time
|
|
rlm@0
|
589 back then, yet I couldn't do anything about it. I didn't have the
|
|
rlm@0
|
590 willpower anymore to call upon some counter spell. I simply didn't
|
|
rlm@0
|
591 want to stop!
|
|
rlm@0
|
592 And with a groan of resignation I brought my hands up around
|
|
rlm@0
|
593 Tomoyo's neck, drawing her in. My breath was creating tiny goose bumps
|
|
rlm@0
|
594 against her skin, my voice long since having lost the battle to hold
|
|
rlm@0
|
595 pack the passion and longing. "I love you so much, Tomo-chan. Even if
|
|
rlm@0
|
596 this is not entirely our doing, I want to make you happy. Do you trust
|
|
rlm@0
|
597 me enough with this?" I said the last bit with the utmost seriousness
|
|
rlm@0
|
598 I could still muster in this situation, yet I was unsure if I could
|
|
rlm@0
|
599 take a negative answer anymore.
|
|
rlm@0
|
600 "I told you already," Tomoyo whispered back, her voice mirroring
|
|
rlm@0
|
601 my own open desire. "I will always be safe with Sakura-chan. I have
|
|
rlm@0
|
602 faith that Sakura-chan will always save me and keep me safe."
|
|
rlm@0
|
603 Proceeding to kiss me again, I simply let go, my body almost sighing
|
|
rlm@0
|
604 in relief, welcoming whatever shall come.
|
|
rlm@0
|
605
|
|
rlm@0
|
606 ******************************
|
|
rlm@0
|
607
|
|
rlm@0
|
608 (Tomoyo)
|
|
rlm@0
|
609 Slowly, with the speed of a turtle climbing a hill my senses returned
|
|
rlm@0
|
610 to awareness, my spirit floating back down from that place somewhere
|
|
rlm@0
|
611 far above the heavens where it had climbed to... some time... ago. I
|
|
rlm@0
|
612 really had NO idea how much time had passed, how long we had been in
|
|
rlm@0
|
613 the cave or lying on the cold ground warmed by a small friction of
|
|
rlm@0
|
614 magic - but I really didn't care where it came from right now.
|
|
rlm@0
|
615 The tremors had finally subsided and my body lay in total peace,
|
|
rlm@0
|
616 every muscle relaxed and surely not able to obey any command in the
|
|
rlm@0
|
617 near future. And I felt GOOD. Kami, did I feel good. I had really been
|
|
rlm@0
|
618 a little... unsure when I gave in to my desires. Yet, seeing Sakura
|
|
rlm@0
|
619 suffer even more, trying to hold herself back, inhabitations had been
|
|
rlm@0
|
620 thrown out of the window. Very, very far away. And it wasn't like I
|
|
rlm@0
|
621 had not wanted. We loved each other after all, so it couldn't be a bad
|
|
rlm@0
|
622 thing, just... a little early maybe. It wasn't like we were still ten
|
|
rlm@0
|
623 or something. That would have been rather illogical.
|
|
rlm@0
|
624 Feeling Sakura move slightly from her position spooned up behind
|
|
rlm@0
|
625 me, I shifted slightly and craned my neck to look behind me. Her face
|
|
rlm@0
|
626 was producing a stronger result than the Glow card could... even
|
|
rlm@0
|
627 though I was sure the expression was mirrored on my own. I smiled
|
|
rlm@0
|
628 widely, feeling giddy and in a state of utter bliss. I've never felt
|
|
rlm@0
|
629 so much in the right place like now. I was sure that was what I was
|
|
rlm@0
|
630 meant to be, where I belonged to be. Right here, in Sakura's arms,
|
|
rlm@0
|
631 enveloped in a warm blanket of love. Body, mind and soul.
|
|
rlm@0
|
632 I could see the hint of regret and shame in Sakura's eyes though
|
|
rlm@0
|
633 and was quick to dispel these feelings. With some effort I managed to
|
|
rlm@0
|
634 command my body to turn around in the tight embrace. Brushing some of
|
|
rlm@0
|
635 the brown hair that had fallen into Sakura's face out of the way, I
|
|
rlm@0
|
636 leaned in to place a soft, lingering kiss on her lips, gazing
|
|
rlm@0
|
637 adoringly into green eyes. Sakura smiled faintly. "You keep giving the
|
|
rlm@0
|
638 most special gifts in the most special ways. You are such an amazing
|
|
rlm@0
|
639 person."
|
|
rlm@0
|
640 Sakura's smiled turned into a more genuine one. "That wasn't all
|
|
rlm@0
|
641 my doing. Don't you feel different somehow?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
642 I was puzzled at her question. "What do you mean? Of course I
|
|
rlm@0
|
643 feel different!" I said lightly teasing.
|
|
rlm@0
|
644 Sakura laughed heartedly and the sound was such a lovely thing
|
|
rlm@0
|
645 to my ears. "No, no, I mean. About the desire between us. Just until a
|
|
rlm@0
|
646 few minutes ago..." She let the sentence linger and I suddenly
|
|
rlm@0
|
647 realized what she meant. The whirlwind of feelings had ceased to be
|
|
rlm@0
|
648 more gradual, more normal. I had first though this was only and effect
|
|
rlm@0
|
649 of the afterglow but there was a little more to it. I didn't know how
|
|
rlm@0
|
650 I could tell the difference, I just did. So when Sakura said this
|
|
rlm@0
|
651 wasn't completely her doing then did that mean...
|
|
rlm@0
|
652 I blinked almost audibly and was already in the process of
|
|
rlm@0
|
653 sitting up despite the protests of my body before Sakura pulled me
|
|
rlm@0
|
654 down again gently but persistent. "Yes, I am sure its one of the Seal
|
|
rlm@0
|
655 Cards. I told you about them, right?" I nodded, wondering why we were
|
|
rlm@0
|
656 still lying here. Not that I WANTED to move, mind you. "It must be
|
|
rlm@0
|
657 Love. But its moving very slowly. We can easily catch up, don't rush
|
|
rlm@0
|
658 now. I, personally, feel like being defiant and not rush after it the
|
|
rlm@0
|
659 way it played with us." Sakura chuckled and run one hand through my
|
|
rlm@0
|
660 open hair, drawing out a sigh from me in the process. I had went to
|
|
rlm@0
|
661 tie it into a ponytail in the last months but was seriously
|
|
rlm@0
|
662 considering to leave it open again in order to experience the
|
|
rlm@0
|
663 wonderful sensations my girlfriend's fingers in my hair produced more
|
|
rlm@0
|
664 often. Hmm, girlfriend didn't seem right anymore. Lover? Mate? It had
|
|
rlm@0
|
665 felt a lot like mating on a level and I couldn't quite believe that
|
|
rlm@0
|
666 this all had been the card's doing.
|
|
rlm@0
|
667 "You mean Love made us do all this?" I asked curiously, showing
|
|
rlm@0
|
668 my disbelief at the possibility.
|
|
rlm@0
|
669 Sakura shook her head slightly, drawing me closer until my head
|
|
rlm@0
|
670 rested contently under her chin, almost nestled comfortingly in her
|
|
rlm@0
|
671 small chest. I let go of another sigh and could practically feel
|
|
rlm@0
|
672 Sakura's smile in response. "No, the way I understand it is that Love
|
|
rlm@0
|
673 cannot produce false feelings. It can only take what is there and
|
|
rlm@0
|
674 amplify them. The stronger the feelings the more they are amplified.
|
|
rlm@0
|
675 And Love doesn't do something on its own since the card is embedded in
|
|
rlm@0
|
676 the seal. It is a natural side effect. Clow played with something you
|
|
rlm@0
|
677 can't just simply control. The magic he bound into a card was so
|
|
rlm@0
|
678 strong that, even ineffective, it puts out incredible power."
|
|
rlm@0
|
679 I listened carefully and would have nodded, had I not been so
|
|
rlm@0
|
680 comfortable right now. Instead I said in a lightly teasing voice, "So
|
|
rlm@0
|
681 you DID want me THIS way..." I grinned to myself, feeling Sakura shift
|
|
rlm@0
|
682 a little... not uncomfortably but surely enough embarrassed. Even if
|
|
rlm@0
|
683 her mind was older she was still such an innocent creature at times.
|
|
rlm@0
|
684 "It's okay. You didn't hurt me and it was the most wonderful gift
|
|
rlm@0
|
685 other than your heart that you could ever have given me."
|
|
rlm@0
|
686 Sakura's arms tightened around me even more. "I love you. I
|
|
rlm@0
|
687 really do. More than anything. That wasn't just because of Love. I
|
|
rlm@0
|
688 promise you, I will always love you, forever."
|
|
rlm@0
|
689 I lifted my head slightly, meeting her downward gaze of
|
|
rlm@0
|
690 unrestrained, unconditional love with one of my own. "I love you, too.
|
|
rlm@0
|
691 More than I could ever put into words."
|
|
rlm@0
|
692
|
|
rlm@0
|
693 ******************************
|
|
rlm@0
|
694
|
|
rlm@0
|
695 (Sakura)
|
|
rlm@0
|
696 You'd expect after the whole mess I'd feel guilty. You'd expect I
|
|
rlm@0
|
697 would want to harm myself for ever letting my urges get the better of
|
|
rlm@0
|
698 me. You know what? I really didn't care anymore. The experience was
|
|
rlm@0
|
699 just so... glorious. And Tomoyo didn't regret it either. You could see
|
|
rlm@0
|
700 it in her body language or every other part of her. She could probably
|
|
rlm@0
|
701 be lightening a Christmas tree right now and I surely wasn't very far
|
|
rlm@0
|
702 behind.
|
|
rlm@0
|
703 I wasn't sure whether or not to give Love a piece of my mind
|
|
rlm@0
|
704 when we caught up with it though. On the one hand I knew that
|
|
rlm@0
|
705 logically seen the card had pretty much no control over its effect.
|
|
rlm@0
|
706 Yet, the timing was rather... inappropriate. I still couldn't believe
|
|
rlm@0
|
707 we did THAT down THERE. I mean, sure, I love to treat Tomoyo to
|
|
rlm@0
|
708 special things in special places. The cards really like to be useful
|
|
rlm@0
|
709 and they really like to make Tomoyo happy too, both of us actually.
|
|
rlm@0
|
710 However, this was rather shooting over the top. As I said, now I
|
|
rlm@0
|
711 didn't regret it anymore. It was done with and I was not about to
|
|
rlm@0
|
712 destroy this eternal memory of a first time with thoughts of
|
|
rlm@0
|
713 self-blame and guilt when my... lover looks like I couldn't have
|
|
rlm@0
|
714 possibly made her happier today.
|
|
rlm@0
|
715 Anyway, after resting a few minutes longer, we finally returned
|
|
rlm@0
|
716 to the surface. The recovery was only one reason why I wanted to stay
|
|
rlm@0
|
717 down there for awhile. No, and the other was NOT to enjoy the feel of
|
|
rlm@0
|
718 Tomoyo's naked form against mine... Kami, I must be blushing madly at
|
|
rlm@0
|
719 this thought, I could tell from Tomoyo's almost smug look - Tomoyo and
|
|
rlm@0
|
720 smug! No, that had not been the reason... although it was an added
|
|
rlm@0
|
721 bonus. Staying still for a short while would allow Love to pass on a
|
|
rlm@0
|
722 little further and therefore lessening the chance of a fallback into
|
|
rlm@0
|
723 emotional overload.
|
|
rlm@0
|
724 I was very glad I decided on that because I REALLY didn't want
|
|
rlm@0
|
725 to know what happened up here on - and mostly likely in - the yacht a
|
|
rlm@0
|
726 few minutes ago while we had our own encounter below the surface. We
|
|
rlm@0
|
727 might have just stood there for another minute or so before either of
|
|
rlm@0
|
728 us could override the shock to our system at the scene playing in
|
|
rlm@0
|
729 front of us. I glanced at Tomoyo with a totally bewildered look and
|
|
rlm@0
|
730 saw my girlfriend - I would stick with that for now, the other term
|
|
rlm@0
|
731 sounded TOO mature for our physical age - equally flabbergasted.
|
|
rlm@0
|
732 "Didn't you say Love only amplifies what is already there?" she asked.
|
|
rlm@0
|
733 I turned pack to the couple at the helm of the yacht, engaged in
|
|
rlm@0
|
734 a - pretty intense - lip lock, blissfully unaware of having an
|
|
rlm@0
|
735 audience... and probably just as unaware of what they were doing in
|
|
rlm@0
|
736 the first place. I shrugged at Tomoyo's question, rather perplexed
|
|
rlm@0
|
737 myself. "I honestly have no idea. It's not like even Clow himself
|
|
rlm@0
|
738 understood what exactly he created there." Grinning slightly I put my
|
|
rlm@0
|
739 hands on my hips and cleared my throat loud enough for the two adults
|
|
rlm@0
|
740 to hear.
|
|
rlm@0
|
741 There was a very short silence and it seemed as if the world
|
|
rlm@0
|
742 itself just stopped breathing for a timeliness moment, awaiting the
|
|
rlm@0
|
743 inevitable apocalypse. Then, as if someone dropped a sledgehammer
|
|
rlm@0
|
744 between them the two parental figures of our group literally jumped
|
|
rlm@0
|
745 several feet apart. Otousan looked rather baffled... well, stupefied
|
|
rlm@0
|
746 actually and I could see from the look on Sonomi-kaasan's face that
|
|
rlm@0
|
747 was just about turning from speechless consternation into smoldering
|
|
rlm@0
|
748 rage that he would probably not survive the following moments if I
|
|
rlm@0
|
749 didn't intervene.
|
|
rlm@0
|
750 "Save it!" I shouted, drawing their attention immediately and
|
|
rlm@0
|
751 succeeding in flustering both of them speech- and motionless again.
|
|
rlm@0
|
752 Right now I regretted not explaining to them about the Seal Cards as I
|
|
rlm@0
|
753 had done for Tomoyo but I really didn't want to waste anymore time. I
|
|
rlm@0
|
754 could sense Love was actually picking up speed... which was strange
|
|
rlm@0
|
755 since the paths of the cards were supposed to be stable. "We don't
|
|
rlm@0
|
756 have time for this now. There is a card here I need to catch and its
|
|
rlm@0
|
757 moving away right now. So if any of you would be kind enough to get us
|
|
rlm@0
|
758 moving." Granted, I would normally never take such a... commanding
|
|
rlm@0
|
759 tone with my father or Tomoyo's mother. But I knew where this was
|
|
rlm@0
|
760 leading when I didn't intervene and I really had no time for this. I
|
|
rlm@0
|
761 could feel in every fiber of my being that this was my chance, my only
|
|
rlm@0
|
762 chance to change something about the future I had experienced.
|
|
rlm@0
|
763 Just that moment Kero-chan choose to make his appearance, coming
|
|
rlm@0
|
764 from below deck and looking rather agitated. "What's going on?" He
|
|
rlm@0
|
765 looked around at the scene, arching a tiny eyebrow at the still rather
|
|
rlm@0
|
766 shell-shocked-looking adults and then turned to me. "Sakura? I felt
|
|
rlm@0
|
767 the presence of a card. Is that...?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
768 I nodded at his unfinished question, already trying to track
|
|
rlm@0
|
769 Love. That was funny, I cold feel something else too. Was that the
|
|
rlm@0
|
770 other one? If yes, that would be more coincidence when I believed in.
|
|
rlm@0
|
771 Isolating Love for now I felt it rapidly moving westwards.
|
|
rlm@0
|
772 "Quick, Otousan, turn the boat around, its picking up speed for
|
|
rlm@0
|
773 some reason!" I yelled running to the back of the yacht, staring out
|
|
rlm@0
|
774 over the ocean intently. I could see something moving in the distance.
|
|
rlm@0
|
775 It was to tiny to really make out and for someone without magic
|
|
rlm@0
|
776 probably impossible to see at all.
|
|
rlm@0
|
777 Otousan meanwhile had snapped out of his shocked state long
|
|
rlm@0
|
778 enough to take over the controls and pull the boat around, pushing the
|
|
rlm@0
|
779 engine to top speed. "Tomoyo, get Yukito, I'd rather like everyone
|
|
rlm@0
|
780 together and who knows if I might need Yue. Love isn't actually
|
|
rlm@0
|
781 dangerous - I think - but I'd rather be safe." Tomoyo nodded and took
|
|
rlm@0
|
782 off. I was pretty sure Yue must have sensed what was going on too and
|
|
rlm@0
|
783 was probably already on his way. Hopefully he was because I could more
|
|
rlm@0
|
784 or less guess what Love did to him and Touya, considering what it did
|
|
rlm@0
|
785 to the rest of us. I really hoped Tomoyo wouldn't catch them in an
|
|
rlm@0
|
786 embarrassing situation.
|
|
rlm@0
|
787 "I better take care of this before we all go crazy trying to go
|
|
rlm@0
|
788 near that thing," I said more to myself, only realizing Kero was next
|
|
rlm@0
|
789 to me at his squeak when he obviously figured out what exactly I was
|
|
rlm@0
|
790 implying. Well, that couldn't be helped now.
|
|
rlm@0
|
791 Taking the key from its resting place I invoked its ancient
|
|
rlm@0
|
792 powers and drew Time from subspace. Better to fight Fire with Fire, or
|
|
rlm@0
|
793 something like that. "Time!" I called out. "Encase us in a bubble of
|
|
rlm@0
|
794 your power!" There was a bright flash of crimson-purple energy and the
|
|
rlm@0
|
795 sensitive eye could see the dim, almost completely transparent field
|
|
rlm@0
|
796 of temporal energy enveloping the yacht. I heard Otousan gasp and
|
|
rlm@0
|
797 realized suddenly that he actually could see all this. Of course he
|
|
rlm@0
|
798 could, I told myself, since he has part of Clow's magic now.
|
|
rlm@0
|
799 "Don't worry, just stay on course." I reached out once again,
|
|
rlm@0
|
800 confirming my earlier observation. "See the small object in the
|
|
rlm@0
|
801 distance?" Otousan nodded. "Follow it!"
|
|
rlm@0
|
802 If I could have it any other way I really wouldn't want to
|
|
rlm@0
|
803 endanger everyone. But seeing as if I might never be able to come so
|
|
rlm@0
|
804 close again, I had hardly a choice left. Besides, the Seal Cards were
|
|
rlm@0
|
805 not really... active. Therefore I hoped it wouldn't be all that
|
|
rlm@0
|
806 dangerous.
|
|
rlm@0
|
807
|
|
rlm@0
|
808 ******************************
|
|
rlm@0
|
809
|
|
rlm@0
|
810 (Tomoyo)
|
|
rlm@0
|
811 I found them alright. And I found them just as expected in their cabin
|
|
rlm@0
|
812 doing... err, the same that we did... Not that I would tell them that.
|
|
rlm@0
|
813 Of course I had had the decency to knock or wanted to... until the
|
|
rlm@0
|
814 cabin door was flung open and I was almost flattened by an agitated
|
|
rlm@0
|
815 Yue. Thinking back on it I should really not be surprised but the
|
|
rlm@0
|
816 sudden change from the powerful yet sweet experience below the surface
|
|
rlm@0
|
817 and the serious situation above was rather sudden and I was a little
|
|
rlm@0
|
818 nervous, I admit. I knew this was important for Sakura - heck, it was
|
|
rlm@0
|
819 important for all of us in the long run. I didn't think I've seen
|
|
rlm@0
|
820 Sakura so... confident before. She usually was not the type to give
|
|
rlm@0
|
821 commands like that. That was a fact that was easily reflected onto her
|
|
rlm@0
|
822 cards who she treated more as friends than as tools.
|
|
rlm@0
|
823 I hadn't even realized I complied with her order without a
|
|
rlm@0
|
824 question before I was halfway below the deck. That was an amazing
|
|
rlm@0
|
825 discovery in itself because I found out just then that there was
|
|
rlm@0
|
826 something else to Sakura I was sure neither of us had seen so far. The
|
|
rlm@0
|
827 attributes of a natural leader. Not some great military genius or
|
|
rlm@0
|
828 whatever you want to call the equivalent for a mage. No, years of
|
|
rlm@0
|
829 training had given her an air of confidence that often leaked through
|
|
rlm@0
|
830 in many aspects of every day life but really developed in a serious
|
|
rlm@0
|
831 situation like this one. Making new discoveries about Sakura has
|
|
rlm@0
|
832 always been one of my favorite things, especially since I knew so much
|
|
rlm@0
|
833 about her already, seeing new things was rare and often served to add
|
|
rlm@0
|
834 another special flair to her magnificent personality.
|
|
rlm@0
|
835 As I said, I literally bumped into Yue, Touya following looking
|
|
rlm@0
|
836 a little as if he just woke up - which might be true. I shot him a
|
|
rlm@0
|
837 knowing smirk - to which the older Kinomoto sibling just shrugged and
|
|
rlm@0
|
838 grumbled something - before I turned back to Yue. "You better go up.
|
|
rlm@0
|
839 Sakura wanted you there just in case. I get it, you are quite aware
|
|
rlm@0
|
840 what just passed us?" The faint blush tingling on his cheeks was
|
|
rlm@0
|
841 answer enough for me.
|
|
rlm@0
|
842 Yue nodded and was already up the stairs before I could make any
|
|
rlm@0
|
843 more comments. I glanced back at Tomoyo and raised an eyebrow at his
|
|
rlm@0
|
844 questioning stare. Oops, he isn't suspecting anything, is he? The
|
|
rlm@0
|
845 young man didn't elaborate on the look, just grinned and then shrugged
|
|
rlm@0
|
846 his shoulders. "Let's go up as well. I must admit I am curious. I have
|
|
rlm@0
|
847 heard about all this from Sakura and you but I've never really had the
|
|
rlm@0
|
848 opportunity to see it."
|
|
rlm@0
|
849 Emerging outside a short while later I spotted Sakura standing
|
|
rlm@0
|
850 in the middle of the spacious deck, her star wand transformed into a
|
|
rlm@0
|
851 size I had never seen before. It was reaching a bit over her head and
|
|
rlm@0
|
852 was planted firmly into the ground below. Sakura had her eyes closed,
|
|
rlm@0
|
853 seemingly in deep concentration. Kerberos - transformed into his real
|
|
rlm@0
|
854 form - and Yue stood a couple of feet behind her and seemed a bit
|
|
rlm@0
|
855 unsure about their actual purpose.
|
|
rlm@0
|
856 "What's that?" Touya asked next to me and pointed ahead of the
|
|
rlm@0
|
857 yacht speeding westwards towards the small group of little isles in
|
|
rlm@0
|
858 the distance. Funny, I hadn't noticed them before. There were several
|
|
rlm@0
|
859 things I took note of that I know I definitely shouldn't. First of all
|
|
rlm@0
|
860 their was a very faint glimmer around the ship. Like a force field of
|
|
rlm@0
|
861 some kind. I had felt the emotional increase fade when I went under
|
|
rlm@0
|
862 deck and was pretty sure now that whatever Sakura did was responsible
|
|
rlm@0
|
863 for it. But I didn't think I should be able to see the magic at all.
|
|
rlm@0
|
864 Yet I did and I also saw the sparkling sphere in the distance,
|
|
rlm@0
|
865 coming closer very quickly. The orange-golden orb seemed to radiate
|
|
rlm@0
|
866 purest light to my eyes.
|
|
rlm@0
|
867 "Um... That's Love, I think. I hope the shield is going to hold
|
|
rlm@0
|
868 its effects off." I said, not sure why I revealed my knowledge of
|
|
rlm@0
|
869 actually seeing all this. I guess I was subtly seeking confirmation
|
|
rlm@0
|
870 that I wasn't going crazy. Sakura had told me that Touya's second
|
|
rlm@0
|
871 sight was gradually returning so he should be able to pick up those
|
|
rlm@0
|
872 things.
|
|
rlm@0
|
873 "Yeah, it's heading straight for that isle. I have the feeling
|
|
rlm@0
|
874 that is no... wait a second... You can see all this?"
|
|
rlm@0
|
875 I shrugged helplessly.
|
|
rlm@0
|
876 There was no time for further research on the subject though.
|
|
rlm@0
|
877 Sakura's father had finally managed to catch up with what was
|
|
rlm@0
|
878 apparently the card. Suddenly the boat jerked, the engine almost
|
|
rlm@0
|
879 coming to a complete spot. I flashed Touya a grateful smile for the
|
|
rlm@0
|
880 steadying hand but my attention was quickly drawn back to the glowing
|
|
rlm@0
|
881 sphere. Love was hanging in the air looking for all it was worth like
|
|
rlm@0
|
882 a tiny star in the middle of the day. I was a little surprised at the
|
|
rlm@0
|
883 sudden stop in movement but either the card realized that she couldn't
|
|
rlm@0
|
884 escape - not that the term was accurate in the first place - or she
|
|
rlm@0
|
885 sort of knew what was going to happen. Kero-chan told Sakura once and
|
|
rlm@0
|
886 she told me in return that all the Clow Cards were automatically drawn
|
|
rlm@0
|
887 to the new Master or Mistress. There was a connection between the one
|
|
rlm@0
|
888 that was chosen to become their wielder and the cards themselves. I
|
|
rlm@0
|
889 had no idea if this was the case with Love but I believed it to be
|
|
rlm@0
|
890 very likely.
|
|
rlm@0
|
891 I could see the sprite-form of the card - another thing I wasn't
|
|
rlm@0
|
892 sure whether I was supposed to do this or no - and Love looked a
|
|
rlm@0
|
893 little confused and uncertain. There was something else there though.
|
|
rlm@0
|
894 I didn't know how I could tell. It wasn't my observations skills that
|
|
rlm@0
|
895 much I was sure of. However, somehow I just KNEW that Love was
|
|
rlm@0
|
896 tremendously lonely.
|
|
rlm@0
|
897 Glancing at Sakura I waited to see what she would do or if she
|
|
rlm@0
|
898 detected the same thing I just did. The Card Mistress had applied a
|
|
rlm@0
|
899 lot of unorthodox methods capturing some of the Clow Cards, often
|
|
rlm@0
|
900 rather trying to make the cards trust her and let themselves be
|
|
rlm@0
|
901 captured rather than to engage into a heated battle. Therefore I
|
|
rlm@0
|
902 wasn't really surprised seeing Sakura's tense and concentrated
|
|
rlm@0
|
903 demeanor suddenly change. For a moment confusion crossed her features
|
|
rlm@0
|
904 before she relaxed, her eyes softening and her grip around the staff
|
|
rlm@0
|
905 not so firm anymore.
|
|
rlm@0
|
906 Kerberos and Yue were about to move forward when without even a
|
|
rlm@0
|
907 command Fly's wings materialized on Sakura's back. My girlfriend
|
|
rlm@0
|
908 looked back with a reassuring smile that halted the two guardians even
|
|
rlm@0
|
909 though one could tell they weren't really fond off the idea.
|
|
rlm@0
|
910 The winged girl was about to ascend, then stopped and turned a
|
|
rlm@0
|
911 look in my direction. Her eyes finding mine. Quite frankly I had no
|
|
rlm@0
|
912 idea what exactly happened but when Sakura held out a hand towards me
|
|
rlm@0
|
913 I stepped forward and took it in my own without a word. There was not
|
|
rlm@0
|
914 even the thought of hesitation or surprise when I felt something wash
|
|
rlm@0
|
915 over and through my body. Identical wings to the ones Sakura was
|
|
rlm@0
|
916 sporting burst into existence but my movements were almost
|
|
rlm@0
|
917 trance-like. Only one thing was for sure that I trusted Sakura,
|
|
rlm@0
|
918 complete and unconditional trust. The level of communication at this
|
|
rlm@0
|
919 moment was higher than anything before and somehow we just knew what
|
|
rlm@0
|
920 we had to do.
|
|
rlm@0
|
921 To the casual observers though - even the magical-apt ones - the
|
|
rlm@0
|
922 moment we were on a level with the spectral figure of Love, we
|
|
rlm@0
|
923 literally vanished from sight.
|
|
rlm@0
|
924
|
|
rlm@0
|
925 TBC (soon)
|
|
rlm@0
|
926
|
|
rlm@0
|
927 Author's Notes
|
|
rlm@0
|
928
|
|
rlm@0
|
929 Yes, I know I am evil.
|
|
rlm@0
|
930 I said it would be two parts and I actually planned this out a little
|
|
rlm@0
|
931 differently. The second part was supposed to take place some time
|
|
rlm@0
|
932 later. Love was supposed to be captured already... I just realized
|
|
rlm@0
|
933 that for what I wanted to do I had to do it in a shorter period of
|
|
rlm@0
|
934 time and the ending was just such a nice point to end the first part.
|
|
rlm@0
|
935 Don't worry though. I suppose I'll be out with the next part very
|
|
rlm@0
|
936 soon. Maybe even before Christmas (don't hold me to that).
|
|
rlm@0
|
937 I hope I managed to describe the emotions in here in the way I wanted
|
|
rlm@0
|
938 them to be represented. This installment started a little slow on the
|
|
rlm@0
|
939 writing side but began to pick up pace and intensity fast.
|
|
rlm@0
|
940 I admit the moment I chose to reveal about what the Seal Cards are was
|
|
rlm@0
|
941 rather... odd. Forgive me please, Maia decided to let this story run
|
|
rlm@0
|
942 wild halfway through, I actually planned on... say, two more scenes
|
|
rlm@0
|
943 from the start of the trip... I really think it's awkward and maybe I
|
|
rlm@0
|
944 actually add those later on. Please tell me if it seems too out of
|
|
rlm@0
|
945 place and I change that.
|
|
rlm@0
|
946 Anyway, things are slowly picking up on the suspense end. The last
|
|
rlm@0
|
947 part will probably actually have some action and wrap things up for
|
|
rlm@0
|
948 that little pre-series.
|
|
rlm@0
|
949 I am not sure if I’ll write the actual lemon scene or not. I planned
|
|
rlm@0
|
950 to but am not so certain right now.
|
|
rlm@0
|
951
|
|
rlm@0
|
952 I hope you enjoyed yourselves again. If you did, then leave me a note
|
|
rlm@0
|
953 (mail, review whatever).
|
|
rlm@0
|
954
|
|
rlm@0
|
955 Ja ne, yours
|
|
rlm@0
|
956
|
|
rlm@0
|
957 Matthias |
