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1 Dear Sakura
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2 by Amazoness Duo and G.P.
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3 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
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4 pearsong1954@yahoo.com
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5
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6
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7 “When was the last time we went to the beach together?” Sakura
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8 asked curiously. Sand crunched underneath her sandals as she and
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9 Tomoyo looked for a nice spot on the beach. She turned to make sure
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10 the dark haired woman was still there, even though they were holding
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11 hands. Tomoyo’s snow white skin looked so out of place on the beach.
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12 Sakura was almost afraid the poor woman would get burnt to a cinder
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13 in the bright late morning sun. The toy designer smiled back happily
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14 to Sakura, seeming far removed from any such worries. Tomoyo wore a
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15 simple white sundress, her bathing suit underneath. A wide-brimmed
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16 hat lay atop her head, a blue ribbon trailing from it. Her hair
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17 underneath was done up in buns. She wore large sunglasses tinted a
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18 rosy pink color. They looked cute on Tomoyo, but Sakura was a little
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19 disappointed that she couldn’t catch the enticing stormy blue of her
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20 best friend’s eyes because of them. Sakura was already in her bathing
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21 suit, a red two piece that she was currently wearing a blue jacket
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22 with.
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23 “A year and a half ago when mother invited you to come with us out
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24 to the beach house,” Tomoyo replied without a moment’s hesitation, as
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25 if all facts regarding Sakura were relevant to keep track of at all
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26 time. She pushed the sunglasses up from the tip of her nose, smiling
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27 cheerfully at the Cardmistress. Despite being able to embarrass
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28 Sakura with some of the things she said and did, it always delighted
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29 her to know that Sakura was completely at ease with her. If it
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30 weren’t for that, she would have quit making such embarrassing
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31 comments years ago. But Sakura took it all in stride, blushing
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32 considerably but never feeling awkward in Tomoyo’s presence. That had
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33 allowed her to remain close to Sakura over the years, to treasure the
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34 brunette’s company like the finest wine and the world’s greatest
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35 riches. It had also given her best friend status some perks as well.
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36 She knew firsthand how beautiful Sakura had grown over the years,
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37 never actually outgrowing the cuteness about her, but gaining a
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38 completely new aspect as well. Though at the moment, Tomoyo didn’t
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39 need years of close hand study to know such on obvious fact. “You
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40 look gorgeous in that, Sakura-chan,” her musical voice practically
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41 sang, followed quickly by a happily contented sigh. “I can’t wait to
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42 start videotaping you.”
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43 Blushing faintly, Sakura smiled in return. “Arigato, Tomoyo-chan.
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44 I’m glad you think so.” Brushing fingers back through her brunette
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45 hair, Sakura scanned the area for a nice place to put their towel and
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46 basket. A picnic lunch had been Tomoyo’s idea. Seeing Tomoyo standing
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47 with the basket reminded her of all the picnics they used to go on
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48 when they were younger. She felt a pang in her heart at the thought.
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49 Now these picnics were such a special occasion, something that
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50 happened only very rarely now that they no longer lived in the same
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51 country. Once upon a time she had taken those wonderful moments
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52 together for granted, assuming that they, like Tomoyo, would simply
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53 always be there. Something she could always enjoy. She knew now that
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54 that wasn’t the case and that she would have to burn these memories
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55 into her soul while she could.
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56 “Right here looks nice, Sakura-chan.” Drawing the cute gym
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57 teacher’s attention, Tomoyo motioned towards a fairly empty section
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58 of beach. Of course, that wasn’t Tomoyo’s main reasoning for
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59 selecting it. The light was perfect at that spot to videotape Sakura.
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60 And she just so happened to have brought her camcorder along with
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61 lunch. Her poor, abused camcorder had been relegated to the attic for
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62 quite some time, Tomoyo having lost the will to videotape anymore
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63 after Sakura’s departure. It had gained renewed life when she had
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64 pulled it out to use in her cooking lessons for her friend. But this
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65 was what it existed for, in much the same way Tomoyo existed for
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66 these special moments with Sakura. A hand went absentmindedly to her
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67 right cheek as she watched Sakura start to spread out the beach
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68 blanket. Love was a cruel mistress, but she wouldn’t give it up for
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69 the countless stars in the sky. She couldn’t live without the
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70 wonderfully sweet caress that thoughts of Sakura sent fluttering
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71 across her heart.
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72 When Sakura was finished with the beach blanket, Tomoyo knelt down
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73 gingerly on it, placing the basket next to her before smoothing out
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74 the skirt of her sundress. Sakura sat next to her, the white jacket
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75 hanging from around the Cardmistress’s shoulders. Sakura watched
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76 Tomoyo for a long moment, her legs curled up under her. The dark
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77 haired woman always told her how pretty she was or how beautiful she
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78 looked or any number of other things. But Tomoyo was truly stunning,
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79 her elegant beauty always shining through whatever myriad styles she
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80 used. Tomoyo always kept her hair long for her mother’s sake, who
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81 treasured it as a reminder of Sakura’s own mother’s beautiful long
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82 hair. But even keeping it long, Tomoyo always seemed to have
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83 something she could do with it, as the pretty buns they were in now
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84 attested to. As the almost deathly pale woman began to take off her
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85 sundress, Sakura stared transfixed. Tomoyo looked like the goddess
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86 Venus ascending from the waves, her white sundress that fell next to
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87 her feet the sea foam around her. She was clad in a black and gray
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88 one piece bathing suit. Her stormy blue eyes seemed to sparkle when
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89 she finally pulled away the rose sunglasses and laid them next to her
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90 hat. Realizing that she had been staring, Sakura turned abruptly,
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91 pretending to busy herself with... anything. She stared at the ocean
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92 while she tried to sort through her tousled thoughts. Unbeknownst to
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93 Sakura, Tomoyo had noticed her friend’s gaze. She was a little
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94 surprised by it, but thrilled nonetheless. To capture Sakura’s
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95 attention so was truly a wonderful prize. She smiled happily, even
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96 more thrilled to be there with the one person who was always in her
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97 thoughts.
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98 Turning her gaze back to Tomoyo, Sakura looked up as the dark
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99 haired woman sat down next to her. Memories from times long forgotten
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100 came flooding back to her. Not just of trips to beaches or picnics.
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101 But of all the wonderful times they had spent together. They weren’t
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102 the little girls they had once been. Sakura was married now and a gym
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103 teacher. Tomoyo was becoming a successful toy designer. But at the
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104 moment, none of that mattered. Tomoyo was still the sweet and gentle
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105 best friend that had always been by her side. They were still just
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106 out for the day to spend time together and to enjoy themselves. For a
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107 brief moment, the hands of time ticked backwards. They were sitting
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108 in a park in Tomoeda discussing the recent events at school while
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109 Tomoyo videotaped her with her camcorder, the future blissfully out
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110 of the way. The moment evaporated as quickly as it had arrived
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111 despite Sakura’s attempts at grasping onto it. What had Eriol told
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112 her long ago? Something about a long absence showing her true
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113 feelings. She couldn’t quite remember exactly. She had always
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114 expected Tomoyo to be there, but now this was an all too brief visit
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115 before Tomoyo was gone once again. And Tomoyo’s absence was pulling
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116 at her heart, making her realize just how much she needed the
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117 beautiful heiress. It seemed Eriol had been right after all.
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118 Tomoyo searched through the picnic basket, finally uncovering the
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119 suntan lotion. She didn’t get out very often except when she was with
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120 Sakura and she had always had an extremely pale complexion. Without
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121 some form of protection, she would easily bake out in the hot sun.
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122 “I’ll get that for you, Tomoyo-chan,” Sakura offered helpfully. At
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123 Tomoyo’s soft thanks, she took the bottle and began to rub some into
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124 her hands. She knelt next to her best friend as Tomoyo lay down on
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125 her back, her stormy blue eyes slipping shut. Sakura got a little
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126 more of the lotion in her hands before trying to decide where to
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127 start. Watching Tomoyo lying in front of her with her eyes closed,
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128 images of the dark haired woman’s sleeping form filled Sakura’s mind.
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129 So peaceful and calm, as if all of her dreams were beautiful. Tomoyo
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130 looked that way now, except for a slight blush coloring her cheeks.
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131 She definitely looked happy.
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132 Trying to lie perfectly still, Tomoyo felt her heart pounding
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133 rapidly in her chest, ignoring her attempts to stay calm. She tried
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134 to tell herself that this was just a kind act on Sakura’s part and
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135 that it didn’t mean anything, but she didn’t care. She was too happy
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136 to worry about such trivial things. It was Sakura, that’s all that
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137 mattered. And she would be more than happy to have Sakura apply the
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138 suntan lotion if it only meant she could feel her touch. For a
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139 moment, Tomoyo felt like a teenager again, anxiously waiting during
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140 some of the awkward moments she and Sakura had while growing up.
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141 Though Sakura would never have known, there were some times when
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142 Tomoyo had found herself equally as embarrassed as her brunette
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143 friend. One time she had almost kissed Sakura during a festival. They
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144 could only have been twelve or thirteen at the time. Sakura’s eyes
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145 had been closed as they sat facing each other, a content look across
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146 her features. Tomoyo’s heart had pounded much as it was now as she
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147 watched that cute face for what had felt like an eternity. Her hand
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148 finally going to Sakura’s cheek, she had drawn closer, caught more
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149 deeply by Sakura than she could by any Syren’s call. Their lips
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150 almost touching, Tomoyo had finally pulled away, blushing
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151 considerably herself at what had almost happened. Sakura had smiled
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152 when her eyes opened, unaware of the kiss she had almost received
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153 from her best friend. And so on through the years as they grew up
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154 together, Tomoyo’s love for Sakura barely hidden. And now she was
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155 once again nearly overcome by the surge of emotions the Cardmistress
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156 always managed to lure out of her. She idly wondered if Sakura could
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157 see her beating heart or feel the heat of her blush. She had to ask
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158 herself if Sakura had even the slightest idea of how even these
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159 simple little moments with her were like pieces of heaven.
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160 Reaching out slowly, Sakura began to massage the suntan lotion into
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161 Tomoyo’s right shoulder, marveling at the exquisitely soft feeling of
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162 the skin under her touch. Syaoran’s skin wasn’t nearly so soft and
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163 enticing. Sakura shoved the thought away. Of course it wasn’t. This
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164 was a completely different situation anyway. When she felt his skin,
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165 it meant they were usually going to sleep or... She was glad that
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166 Tomoyo still had her eyes closed as she slowly forced her blush away.
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167 Her fingers followed along Tomoyo’s shoulder, trailing over the silky
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168 smooth skin again and again as she rubbed the lotion in. After
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169 watching Tomoyo’s elegant form for years, Sakura found it a pleasant
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170 experience to actually feel the silken skin and soft contours of her
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171 limbs. Her fingers slowly moved down the dark haired woman’s arm,
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172 careful to cover every inch of her. A soft smile played at her lips
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173 as she looked down at Tomoyo’s resting form. She wanted to gather up
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174 the other woman in her arms and hold her tightly, just to enjoy her
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175 presence as much as she could. That lost and lonely feeling that had
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176 enveloped her for the past several months had all but disappeared
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177 since the dark haired woman’s arrival. Tomoyo brought out feelings in
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178 her heart that she thought had faded away since her arrival in Hong
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179 Kong. Being with her again was like the sweetest dream imaginable.
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180 Sakura’s hand finally stopped at Tomoyo’s. She merely held onto it
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181 for a long moment. Tomoyo’s hand turned in her grasp, gently clasping
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182 Sakura’s hand. Sakura smiled again as the surprise wore off. She felt
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183 Tomoyo’s thumb slowly rubbing her palm. Watching Tomoyo with her own
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184 heart tangled in a web of confusion, Sakura tried to decide what to
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185 say. Once again, her mind returned to something she felt ashamed of
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186 for hoping. Could Tomoyo love someone else? There had to be someone
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187 who could make her happy if her special person couldn’t know of her
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188 feelings. But was that Sakura’s real reason behind wanting to know so
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189 badly? She couldn’t possibly think that she could take all of
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190 Tomoyo’s love. What a silly idea. She laughed off the thought, but it
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191 stubbornly refused to leave her completely. She was getting jealous.
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192 Tomoyo’s special person was the most important person to her. Sakura
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193 had at one time held that spot, she knew. And Tomoyo’s special person
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194 was hurting her, no less. It wasn’t fair that he could be her most
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195 important person and cause her so much agony. “Tomoyo-chan? What type
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196 of boys do you like?”
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197 Blinking in confusing, Tomoyo squinted in the bright light to catch
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198 sight of Sakura, the beautiful brunette sitting by her side in the
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199 cool ocean breeze. Her eyes closed again as the light got too bright
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200 for her. “I don’t think I understand, Sakura-chan. There’s only one
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201 person I’ve ever been in love with. I don’t think I could describe
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202 any specific type. Because even someone similar to my special person
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203 wouldn’t be able to take my heart from them.”
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204 Sakura considered this for a moment before nodding. That should be
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205 answer enough. It wasn’t like she knew of any boys to try to set up
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206 Tomoyo with anyway. Maybe Touya, but he was already with Yukito. But
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207 the question still lingered in Sakura’s mind. “Un, I understand. You
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208 must love him very much. But if you had a type of boy, what would it
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209 be?” she asked curiously. Who could be deserving of Tomoyo’s
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210 seemingly boundless love? What man could possibly be wonderful enough
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211 for her?
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212 A melodious giggle escaped the ivory skinned woman as she lay next
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213 to Sakura. One of Sakura’s letters came to mind as she finally
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214 answered. “If I had a type of boy I liked, I would want a boy just
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215 like Sakura-chan. I would want him to be cute and brave and very
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216 energetic. He would have to be warm and very emotional. He would have
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217 to be a little shy, too, because blushing is a very cute habit and
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218 it’s always fun to embarrass Sakura-chan if it means I’ll get a blush
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219 out of it. But even then, he would still want to make others happy,
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220 wearing kawaii costumes or enduring me videotaping him even if he
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221 thought it was strange.” Her smile grew as she moved her head towards
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222 where she new Sakura to be, her dark hair fluttering softly in the
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223 light breeze. “And even if he could be rather dense sometimes, I
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224 would love him all the more for it, because he would be my cute
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225 Sa...” Tomoyo trailed off for a moment, correcting herself. The last
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226 few days had been extremely difficult on keeping up her masks. “The
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227 boy I liked.”
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228 Sakura blushed yet again as she tried to make sense of Tomoyo’s
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229 description. It didn’t exactly sound like the manliest of men. A boy
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230 like her? Sakura couldn’t think of any boys like her. It was
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231 extremely flattering of Tomoyo to say. The dream she had had months
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232 ago tugged at her mind, an image of herself in boys clothes sharing
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233 an intimate moment with Tomoyo seeming to fit with the dark haired
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234 woman’s explanation. ‘If I were a boy, would I have married Tomoyo-
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235 chan?’ Sakura asked herself. A crimson blush began to flare across
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236 her cheeks as she imagined the idea, coming home to her gorgeous wife
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237 every night, sharing her life with her enigmatic best friend. Her
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238 heart began to beat faster in her chest. She almost felt dizzy as she
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239 tried to get a grasp on her thoughts. She stood up a little shakily,
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240 having finished with the suntan lotion during Tomoyo’s explanation.
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241 “Thanks, Tomoyo-chan,” she got out less sure of herself than she
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242 would have liked. She was still confused by all this. If she had been
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243 born a boy, would Tomoyo be her bride right now? Would they be on
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244 this beach as husband and wife instead of as best friends? “I think
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245 I’m going to take a swim.” That would be nice. It would clear her
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246 thoughts. Glancing back at Tomoyo sent another image through her
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247 mind, the two of them in bed after a long day. Wait, she wasn’t a boy
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248 in this one. “Hoe...” Yes, a swim would definitely help. She heard
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249 Tomoyo sitting up behind her, pulling her camcorder out dutifully to
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250 record the Cardmistress’s swimming. Sakura waved to her pale friend
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rlm@0
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251 as she reached the water’s edge. Tomoyo’s voice called out to Sakura
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rlm@0
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252 from years earlier when Sakura had asked why she didn’t videotape
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rlm@0
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253 more interesting things than the brunette. ‘There’s nothing more
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rlm@0
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254 interesting or prettier than Sakura-chan.’ Sakura felt a smile cross
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rlm@0
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255 her lips at the memory. Tomoyo was always so sweet about things like
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rlm@0
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256 that. She decided that that was the reason she let Tomoyo videotape
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rlm@0
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257 her. Not because she felt she had to. But because Tomoyo was always
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rlm@0
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258 so enthusiastic about it and honestly believed that she was the best
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rlm@0
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259 thing to videotape. Now, that thought that had long ago confused her
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rlm@0
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260 so utterly sent a small thrill through her.
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rlm@0
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261 Watching from the beach blanket, Tomoyo zoomed in with her
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rlm@0
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262 camcorder. Sakura seemed to lose whatever she had been thinking about
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rlm@0
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263 as she began to swim through the gentle waves. From experience,
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rlm@0
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264 Tomoyo knew that probably wouldn’t last long. Sakura often got
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rlm@0
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265 sidetracked by things, but it often caught back up with her. Like
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rlm@0
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266 when she used to be on cheerleading. A soft giggle joined the ocean
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rlm@0
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267 breeze as she kept the camcorder trained on Sakura. She hoped that
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rlm@0
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268 Sakura still occasionally got sidetracked while teaching her
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rlm@0
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269 cheerleading club. It would be nice for them to see her like that,
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rlm@0
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270 even if it did mean flying pompoms. Two beautiful pink dolphins leapt
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rlm@0
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271 into the air some distance behind Sakura. The wonderful creatures
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rlm@0
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272 were new to Tomoyo. “They must live in Hong Kong. Just like Sakura-
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rlm@0
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273 chan. Hong Kong has some cute residents.” Her free hand went to her
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rlm@0
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274 cheek as she continued to watch her best friend in the lapping waves.
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rlm@0
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275 “Kawaii...”
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rlm@0
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276 “Tomoyo-chan!! Come swim with me, Tomoyo-chan!!” Sakura yelled from
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rlm@0
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277 waist deep in the water. She had come back closer to shore after
|
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rlm@0
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278 thoroughly drenching herself in the ocean. Now that she was thinking
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rlm@0
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279 more clearly, she knew that she would be much happier to be spending
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rlm@0
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280 her time at the beach with Tomoyo than swimming alone.
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rlm@0
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281 Putting away her camcorder, Tomoyo quickly walked across the hot
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rlm@0
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282 sand to meet up with the energetically waving brunette. The cool
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rlm@0
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283 water felt nice against her feet after the hot walk. She moved her
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rlm@0
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284 toes around in the water, enjoying the soothing feeling on her pale
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rlm@0
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285 skin as she drew closer to Sakura, her dark bathing suit clinging to
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rlm@0
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286 her as it got wet. "I would love to swim with you, Sakura-chan, but I
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rlm@0
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287 never learned how. I can watch you from here, though. As long as I
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rlm@0
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288 don’t go too deep, I’ll be fine.” She smiled at the other woman. She
|
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rlm@0
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289 was happy to get a closer vantage point, even if it did mean leaving
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rlm@0
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290 her camcorder behind. Being close to Sakura seemed more important
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rlm@0
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291 than getting the other woman alone on video. It surprised Tomoyo at
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rlm@0
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292 how little she had actually videotaped of her visit. It wasn’t for
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rlm@0
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293 lack of wanting to. She still loved catching the Cardmistress on
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rlm@0
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294 video. But rather, it was that she wasn’t behind the camera lens as
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rlm@0
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295 much during her trip. She had always managed to videotape Sakura
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rlm@0
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296 while she was doing other things, but now she was busy doing things
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rlm@0
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297 with Sakura. Now that she thought about it, she had expected to
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rlm@0
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298 videotape Sakura with Syaoran during her trip, once again a
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rlm@0
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299 background character in her own life. But Sakura hadn’t allowed that,
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rlm@0
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300 dragging her out from behind the camera’s lens and into what was
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rlm@0
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301 happening. So even if she didn’t have much videotape of this visit
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rlm@0
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302 (which she would still pour over what little she had religiously), it
|
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rlm@0
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303 was hardly a waste. It meant that she would have to hold certain
|
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rlm@0
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304 lovely events solely as memories, but that was more than enough for
|
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rlm@0
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305 the experiences. But still, a videotape of the kiss had to be worth a
|
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rlm@0
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306 king’s ransom...
|
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rlm@0
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307 “Oh, that’s right.” Sakura frowned, disappointed. Tomoyo had never
|
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rlm@0
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308 learned to swim and apparently she hadn’t gotten around to it anytime
|
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rlm@0
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309 recently. Though her lack of ability to swim hadn’t stopped her from
|
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rlm@0
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310 trying to jump into a lake after Sakura when she had been tricked by
|
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rlm@0
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311 Illusion, Kero had later told her. She had been surprised that Tomoyo
|
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rlm@0
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312 was so ready to risk her life for her, even thought she very well
|
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rlm@0
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313 could have died. If Yukito hadn’t happened along, they both could
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rlm@0
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314 have died. A shiver went through her at the thought, but she quickly
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rlm@0
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315 suppressed it, imagining it as nothing more than the breeze. Her
|
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rlm@0
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316 frown deepened. She had really wanted to go out swimming with her,
|
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rlm@0
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317 not to leave her near the beach. But just because Tomoyo couldn’t
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rlm@0
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318 swim didn’t mean they couldn’t still go together. A smile replaced
|
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rlm@0
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319 her frown quickly. “I can take you with me. It might be a little
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rlm@0
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320 scary, but I promise that I’ll hold on real tight.”
|
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rlm@0
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321 “That sounds wonderful, Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo’s soft voice said
|
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rlm@0
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322 happily. It sounded like a great idea to her. Instead of only
|
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rlm@0
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323 watching Sakura swimming from a distance, she could actually be apart
|
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rlm@0
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324 of it. Sakura’s arms went around her waist, holding her close. Tomoyo
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rlm@0
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325 sighed happily in the near lover’s embrace and wrapped her own arms
|
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rlm@0
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326 around Sakura. As Sakura began to swim with the added weight, Tomoyo
|
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rlm@0
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327 could feel the sandy floor drop away from her. “Sakura-chan is a very
|
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rlm@0
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328 strong swimmer,” Tomoyo remarked enthusiastically, still holding on
|
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rlm@0
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329 tightly. It wasn’t out of fear that she held on. She knew that Sakura
|
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rlm@0
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330 would hold on to her. It was because she just wanted to be near her.
|
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rlm@0
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331 Sakura pushed further out into the water, it’s gentle caress
|
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rlm@0
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332 passing over the two women. Tomoyo’s heartbeat felt steady and calm
|
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rlm@0
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333 against her chest, her hands firmly holding onto her, but not
|
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rlm@0
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334 clutching at all. The pale woman wasn’t afraid in the least. She had
|
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rlm@0
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335 no more fear of drowning here than she had on the beach. The thought
|
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rlm@0
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336 surprised Sakura. She had expected something, but Tomoyo seemed
|
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rlm@0
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337 completely peaceful, happy to be out there with her. Another
|
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rlm@0
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338 statement of Tomoyo’s rang in her ears. ‘I knew you would save me.’
|
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rlm@0
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339 That belief had never wavered during the years. Tomoyo still held on
|
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rlm@0
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340 with the same faith she had all those years ago. ‘She’s not scared
|
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rlm@0
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341 because she has faith in me,’ Sakura thought to herself in sudden
|
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rlm@0
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342 realization. She had the thought that if she were holding onto Tomoyo
|
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rlm@0
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343 from above some ledge that Tomoyo’s attitude would be much the same.
|
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rlm@0
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344 There simply wasn’t anything for her to be afraid of because they
|
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rlm@0
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345 were together. Sakura held Tomoyo closer, hugging her as they swam.
|
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rlm@0
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346 It was amazing that she could still have that much faith after all of
|
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rlm@0
|
347 those years. Tomoyo’s gentle form against her was a testament to her
|
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rlm@0
|
348 belief in the Cardmistress. Sakura had never grasped the full extent
|
|
rlm@0
|
349 of that faith in her until now. She swam deeper, but Tomoyo’s
|
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rlm@0
|
350 heartbeat didn’t flutter. It amazed Sakura that the dark haired girl
|
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rlm@0
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351 could feel so safe in her arms. ‘I knew you would save me,’ the words
|
|
rlm@0
|
352 echoed again. Did she deserve that unwavering faith? Tomoyo was still
|
|
rlm@0
|
353 lonely, her love bound in a cage. ‘I’ll make things all right, Tomoyo-
|
|
rlm@0
|
354 chan. I will save you. I promise,’ Sakura vowed to herself, before
|
|
rlm@0
|
355 letting the sweet feelings Tomoyo was projecting encompass her.
|
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rlm@0
|
356
|
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rlm@0
|
357
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rlm@0
|
358
|
