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1 Learning to Fly
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2 Chapter 1
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3 by
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4 The Amazoness Duo- amazonessduo@hotmail.com
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5 G.P.- pearsong1954@yahoo.com
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6
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7
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8
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9 The breeze off of the nearby ocean meandered playfully about on a path it neither knew nor
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10 understood. It was free in a way that Syaoran Li, the heir to the illustrious Li Clan, could
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11 never be. He felt some contempt for it as it's gentle, invisible fingers caressed his shirt to
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12 his chest. What made it worse was that the breeze didn't know, nor care, for his jealous regards.
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13 With all the power his position levelled him, with all the magical strength he possessed, he was
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14 still as nothing to the wind. Oh, to be that free...
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15
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16 “You haven't said a word since the banquet. I hope it didn't fry your brain. And you were doing
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17 so well, too. I had you all trained and everything.” A snap of fingers and an exhale of breath
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18 followed a dark haired woman's exclamation as she feigned frustration. “Ieran is going to be so
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19 disappointed that I broke her son.” Meiling Li, one time fiancee of Syaoran, walked along the
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20 small stone fence aside and above her cousin. Long wisps of beautiful raven hair trailed behind
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21 her, almost as one with the wind.
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22
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23 Whereas the wind seemed to fight against Syaoran, finding a barrier in him, it seemed to flow
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24 effortlessly about his female companion, offering her no barriers. Perhaps it was because she was
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25 at peace with the wind, with the very nature of the world we live in. Or at least at peace with
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26 herself and her place within the world. Syaoran still found himself trying to find his place in
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27 it all, which seemed unneccessary what with his destiny as the head of the Li Clan preordained.
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28 Yet still he found himself unsure of his future and his place within it.
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29
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30 “I'm fine.” His voice was rough, strong. He liked how it sounded. No longer the child he had been
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31 back during his time assisting with the Clow Cards, he was a man now. It was known throughout
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32 China that he was the premiere wizard, nearly as strong as his mother in the ways of his families
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33 mystical arts. With a lean body, handsome looks, and enormous potential as the next heir to the
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34 most powerful family of magicians in China, he was heavily sought after to wed the daughters of
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35 many different influential families. Yet none of them managed to sway the admittedly headstrong
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36 young master of the Li Clan. The one and only Cardmistress was his lover, the one who would one
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37 day join him. He was happy with his strength, with the man he was now.
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38
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39 In many ways, Meiling had made his transformation possible. Or was transformation too strong of a
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40 word? It was more subtle than that. He held a confidence he had been lacking when he was younger.
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41 No longer was he a slave to his fears of not being good enough for his mother, for the Li Clan.
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42 It had taken all of his courage to tell his mother that he was dating the Cardmistress. Back
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43 then, he had been afraid she would turn her icy, disappointed eyes into him and the small amount
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44 of love he had garnered from her over the years would wither and die. But the great and all
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45 powerful Ieran had simply agreed and asked him if there was anything else of import he wished to
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46 discuss. Perhaps it was then that he discovered his mother had never expected him to be stronger
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47 than Sakura. She had never expected him to be the one to take back the cards of their ancestor,
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48 Clow Reed. Anger and relief in equal parts had flooded him until he had been almost unable to
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49 excuse himself and collapse on his bed back in his room. His whole life, he had been the only boy
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50 in his family, the heir to the head of the household, the one expected to handle the family's
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51 problems despite being the youngest. All that time, his mother had treated his sisters with
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52 warmth and caring while she had granted him a somewhat disappointed indifference. He had thought
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53 it was because he hadn't been strong enough, that she had expected more from him, that he had to
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54 be better to gain her approval. But it seemed to be something altogether different. Perhaps she
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55 had only been preparing him for the harsh life that awaited him as the head of the Li Clan.
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56
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57 With that experience, Syaoran had slowly taken up more and more responsibilities within the
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58 household. Oddly enough, it had been Meiling who stood behind him throughout it all. His
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59 beautiful, dark haired cousin had given him the confidence in himself to perform his duties as
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60 well as to cultivate an air of authority he had long lacked. When other family members had
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61 giggled at his attempts to take charge of a situation, Meiling had barked at them to listen to
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62 him. Meiling had supported him unfalteringly every day for the past few years, despite the fact
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63 that she knew he had cancelled their engagement. Even then, she was always the first to support
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64 him, the first to tell him how great he was, how strong and smart and capable he was. She was the
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65 one to make him feel as if he could accomplish anything.
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66
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67 Meiling was his backup when he couldn't finish things on his own. When he had been told to
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68 search through some family records for an important document, she had stayed up all night with
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69 him, helping him through all the large, musty volumes that filled the huge library. Bringing them
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70 tea every few hours, Meiling had been right alongside him as they poured through the thick,
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71 boring manuscripts.
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72
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73 So much of his newfound sense of self, his gained self-confidence, came from Meiling's unwavering
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74 support. He felt like he could handle taking over the household, which was slowly becoming a
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75 reality. All thanks to the help of his strongwilled cousin. All of his self-doubts, his fears and
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76 weaknesses, felt as if they were being ironed away, smoothed out of himself. He was pleased with
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77 what he saw in the mirror and what he heard when he spoke. It was strong and honorable and he
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78 liked it. Sakura would be so glad when she saw him again. He would show her how he had grown, how
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79 much more in control he was. He would sweep her off her feet.
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80
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81 “So you can speak!” Meiling clapped her hands delightedly, grinning as she startled Syaoran from
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82 her thoughts. From personal experience, she knew she was one of a few lucky people who could drag
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83 Syaoran from his moody thoughts. He came kicking and screaming sometimes, but she could force him
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84 into the here and now nonetheless. It was for his own good, she always told herself. Better to
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85 make him pay attention than to be ignored.
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86
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87 Glancing up at his cousin, resplendant in her beautiful red and yellow dress, he nodded. “Thanks
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88 for your help at the banquet, Meiling. I really thought Fanren was going to argue about my idea
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89 for a minute.”
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90
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91 Amber eyes seemed to sparkle gleefully as slim shoulders shrugged. “She was going to. But she
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92 wasn't going to fight the both of us. She still doesn't like the idea, but she doesn't have to.
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93 You're the new head of the household, not her. Besides, if she really wants to fight over it, you
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94 can always bring up her plethora of lovers. That would shut her up real quick. Your mother
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95 tolerates it because she keeps it quiet. You could make a big fuss over it once you're in charge
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96 though. She'd stop fighting with you just so you'd leave her alone about it.
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97
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98 ”Silence followed for
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99 a moment. It was at this moment that Syaoran realized Meiling could fight extremely dirty when
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100 she wanted to. The revelation was both exciting and frightening at the same time. He decided to
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101 push that away for the moment. “I'd... rather not piss off Fanren if I can help it. She's still
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102 my big sister. If we can resolve it without her hating me for the rest of my life, I'm happier.
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103 Besides, it all seemed to get resolved when you threw in with me. She didn't want to have to
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104 argue with both of us.”
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105
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106 “If you say so. She'll have to get used to you being in charge sooner or
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107 later, no matter how much older she is,” Meiling stated. Her arms spread out like wings, keeping
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108 her balance despite the increasingly harsh sea wind.
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109
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110 A part of Syaoran's mind flinched at the thought. Fanren was his eldest sister. Memories of his
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111 older sisters dressing him in their old clothes, going through their makeup to make him look like
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112 their pretty little sister, their personal dress up doll, made his cheeks turn a light shade of
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113 crimson. The thought of threatening Fanren with the knowledge of her many lovers seemed
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114 impossible in the light of those memories. She was still his older sister. He'd always be the
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115 baby to her, which was why it was so hard for her to entirely defer to him. But at least Fanren
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116 had given in with Meiling's help. The thought of trying to force his fiery older sister to submit
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117 in any situation didn't strike him as pleasant. Whereas his mother had an icy strength to her,
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118 Fanren's spirit was fiery. He liked to think that he himself held his mother's reserve of ice
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119 cold strength, but he couldn't be entirely sure.
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120
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121 “....ting engaged soon. He's from that Chang family. That one with all the scholars? I hear
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122 they've got some magic in the family, too. So I guess it makes sense,” Meiling was finishing, a
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123 few paces ahead of Syaoran by now. The wind continued to play with her hair, sending the pigtails
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124 trailing behind her, almost far enough out for Syaoran to reach if he tried.
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125
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126 “Hmm?” Syaoran gathered himself, looking up to his slightly younger cousin. Thoughts swirled in a
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127 fragmented pattern as they tried to piece themselves back together. What had she been saying? A
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128 touch of anxiety began eating at him. He quashed it immediately. If there was anything he hated
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129 with a passion, it was fear. He never wanted to fear, to worry, again. Such a feeling was
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130 unfitting someone of his post. But all the same, Meiling's next words left him shaken.
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131
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132 “What are
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133 you going to do when I'm not here to force you out of your thoughts? You'll never go do anything
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134 fun. I'm the one who drags you out to go dancing or to see movies or even to go to the park.
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135 You're hopeless.” The smile on her lips didn't meet her eyes as she walked backwards along the
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136 fence, eyeing her onetime fiancee. “I'm getting married,” she said after a brief pause. She
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137 hurried before Syaoran could respond. “I'm my mother's oldest daughter and I'm unmarried. Mom
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138 doesn't have as many kids as your mother has, so she can't afford to squander her bargaining
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139 chips. She's been looking for someone for me to marry for a while now. To 'bolster the strength
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140 of the Li Clan' is how she put it, I think.” Another shrug of her athletic shoulders. “It got to
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141 the point where she began to arrange my marriage to the only son of the Chang family. I think
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142 we're getting married in August.”
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143
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144 “But... you can't!” His voice wasn't as controlled as he wanted it to be. When upset or angry, he
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145 still lost a bit of that vital control he longed for. His voice had come out harsh, too harsh.
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146 Too... afraid? No, it was Meiling's life. It didn't concern him. Maybe it was that she was
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147 getting married off. But hadn't she always been in a situation where she would be married off?
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148 First him and now this Chang boy. His stomach clenched at the thought of this person taking away
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149 his... best friend. Another realization. Meiling was his best friend. Perhaps his only friend.
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150 And she was being taken away from him. Fear and anger and frustration all threatened, crashing
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151 like stormy waves against the walls of control he had so diligently crafted. Now he wasn't so
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152 sure they would hold. His mind raced desperately for a way to solve the problem. “You don't have
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153 to have an arranged marriage. I stepped out of mine. I told mother I was going to be with
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154 Sakura.” As soon as it was out of his mouth, he immediately regretted it. In an unspoken pact, he
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155 and Meiling rarely discussed his love life with Sakura. Meiling didn't want to hear about it,
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156 didn't want to think about it. And this scenario was infinitely worse. He had stepped out of his
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157 engagement to Meiling in order to be with Sakura. Unlike himself, Meiling had not wanted to end
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158 their engagement.
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159
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160 Amber eyes that would be beautiful in almost any light got incredibly frosty in the blink of an
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161 eye. Though Syaoran couldn't tell what had changed about Meiling's posture or demeanor, her aura
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162 was much, much crisper now, matching the biting wind that had risen. “This is political. The
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163 family is strengthened from my marriage to the heir to the Chang Clan. And, whether you want to
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164 believe it or not, you being with Sakura is also political. You want to know why your mother
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165 didn't put up so much as an argument for why you couldn't be with her? Because she's the
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166 Cardmistress. She has the book that belonged to our ancestor. Having you marry her, to bring both
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167 her magic and her Sakura Cards back into our family, is the next best thing to if you had managed
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168 to get the Cards in the first place.” Turning to look forward, she continued to walk briskly
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169 along the stone fence. Syaoran had to hurry to keep up. “So my mother probably wouldn't care even
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170 if I told her I 'didn't want to' marry him. And I have no reason not to marry him.”
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171
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172 Continuing on
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173 in silence for a moment, the sounds of the street beneath his shoes sounded distant and false.
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174 Not only had he lost his precious control for a brief moment, but he had also hurt Meiling with a
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175 stupid comment he should have known better than to let slip out of his mouth. “Do you love him?”
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176 It took all his effort to make the question sound casual, to keep it from revealing how concerned
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177 he was for its answer. If she didn't have a reason to not marry him, then maybe...
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178
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179 “No. I haven't even met him. But what do I have to wait around for? Your sisters are starting to
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180 get married off. My brother's already engaged. I don't want to be the only daughter sitting
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181 around here like a dusty old maid. Then what? I get to sit around and watch you and Sakura get
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182 married and have kids while I sit at home? At least I'm doing the family some good by marrying
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183 him. I don't have to like him to have his kids. Who knows. Maybe I'll fall for him.” The last was
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184 mean and she knew it. Part of her still wanted to make him jealous. The rest of her was just
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185 tired and lonely and exhausted. The love she held for Syaoran had blossomed when she had been a
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186 small child. The seedling had grown into something that filled her entire being. And yet, the
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187 past few years she had watched him in love with another. Never once had he seen her crying over
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188 him, tearry eyed in her bed, wishing they had never gone to Japan. She had waited and hoped that
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189 maybe, just maybe, he would eventually choose her. But now that seemed unlikely. She would never
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190 love anyone the way she loved Syaoran, but she wouldn't sit and wait like an old pet.
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191
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192 There was nothing he could say at this point. Words would fail him and he knew it. They had never
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193 been his strong point anyway. Almost all of their arguments were won by Meiling because of that.
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194 But he felt incredibly empty as he watched her ahead of him.
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195
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196 Hopping off the low fence, Meiling landed lightly in her sandals. “I need to get home to help
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197 mother for the preparations. I'll stop by tomorrow to see how things are going. Goodnight,
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198 Syaoran.” With that, she left, not bothering to look back over her shoulder.
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199
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200 “Goodnight, Meiling.” The words were not enough and they sounded tiny and irrelevant in his ears.
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201 The hollow, empty sounds plagued him as he watched her receding back. He should have said
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202 something, done something to make it better. Instead, he had succeeded only in sticking his foot
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203 in his mouth. He was about to lose his best friend to some boy she didn't even know because of
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204 the family honor he had devoted his life to. He felt weak. The support for everything he had
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205 built was suddenly slipping away. He would be strong enough on his own, wouldn't he? Without her,
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206 he could still handle it, right? Doubts nagged at him, doubts he had long suppressed. The girl he
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207 had long depended on without realizing was suddenly getting ready to leave. And there was nothing
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208 he could do about it.
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209
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210 “Fuck!!” Fist cracked against stone in a battle that was shortlived. Pain
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211 crackling through his knuckles, Syaoran hoped Meiling had been far enough away not to hear him.
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212 He hit the stone again. And again. He didn't want to let her go. It was like losing the one
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213 pillar he had to keep things together. But it wasn't his choice to make.
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214
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215 Slumping against the wall, he slid down into a sitting position. 'Don't go, Meiling,' he wanted
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216 to say. 'Stay with me,' his younger voice pleaded. Tears built in his eyes, damned tears he had
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217 long thought dried out. His sisters had been playing with him again, something he had always
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218 loved when he was a child. They'd dressed him up in their most beautiful old clothes, made him as
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219 pretty as any young girl his age, and had played with him all afternoon. And then his mother had
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220 come. His mother never told his sisters to leave him alone back then, never scolded them for
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221 playing with him in such ways. She simply sent them away. It was time for some of Syaoran's
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222 lessons. He had to learn to be strong. He had to learn to be a man because he would one day lead
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223 the Li Clan. And his older sisters all bowed to their mother and made their hasty retreat.
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224 Leaving him with his mother's cold, disapproving glare. That glare was so different from the
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225 smiles and giggles of his sisters as they played with him. He hated it. And he had begged his
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226 fleeing sisters to stay. To not leave him alone with those cold, disappointed eyes. But they
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227 always left. And he was always alone with her. Fighting his dragons. Trying to be the man his
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228 mother demanded him to be. And now, when he was fighting again for control of the Li Clan, the
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229 brilliant smile and light that Meiling bestowed upon him was about to flee. And he knew he would
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230 be left in darkness again. 'Don't go...' his voice from years long gone cried out. Sakura. He
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231 still had Sakura. Pulling out his cell phone, her number was speed dialed in seconds.
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rlm@2
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232
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rlm@2
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233 Trrrrrrriiiiil. Trrrrrrrrrrrriiiil. Trrr.... “Hello?” Her soft voice was still as bright and warm
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rlm@2
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234 as it had been when he had fallen for her as a child. “Hello? Syaoran?”
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rlm@2
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235
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rlm@2
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236 “Sakura...” His voice was
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rlm@2
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237 steady, calm, and for that he was glad. His earlier signs of weakness had been erased. He barely
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rlm@2
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238 felt the tears trickling down his cheeks. He was in control again.
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rlm@2
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239
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rlm@2
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240 “Syaoran! How are you? I was
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rlm@2
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241 just talking to Tomoyo-chan about you.” A pause. “I miss you.”
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rlm@2
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242
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rlm@2
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243 “Mmm... I miss you, too. I'm fine.”
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rlm@2
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244 His voice was sounding better by the minute. “Just wanted to check up on you. How've things been
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rlm@2
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245 going?”
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rlm@2
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246
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rlm@2
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247 “Oh, they're fine. We've finally got everything moved in. Oh, Syaoran, you should see the place!
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rlm@2
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248 It's so cute! I really, really have to thank Sonomi-san for finding us such a nice place. And
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rlm@2
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249 it's really close to the campus, too, kind of between my campus and Tomoyo's. I still have to
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rlm@2
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250 take the tram, but... well, I could take the limo that Sonomi has take Tomoyo-chan to school, but
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rlm@2
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251 then I'd feel even guiltier. I mean, she already got this place for us. Hoe... I need to find a
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rlm@2
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252 way to thank her. Can you think of anything?” Sakura finally paused for a breath.
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rlm@2
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253
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rlm@2
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254 “No,
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rlm@2
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255 nothing.”
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rlm@2
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256
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rlm@2
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257 “Well, I'll have to think of something.” Then, away from the phone. “Yeah, right there
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rlm@2
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258 is fine, Tomoyo-chan.” Back to the phone. “You really should come out soon, Syaoran. It's such a
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rlm@2
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259 nice place. The view at night is gorgeous. Tomoyo-chan and I stayed up last night and the city
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rlm@2
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260 looks so beautiful. It's lit up like a thousand different stars. The cars look like little
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rlm@2
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261 shooting stars under us.”
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rlm@2
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262
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rlm@2
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263 “Yeah, I'd like that, Sakura. Maybe I can check it out soon.”
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rlm@2
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264
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rlm@2
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265 “Really?
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rlm@2
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266 I'd love that, Syaoran. It's been so long. It'd be so great to see you again.” Sakura sighed
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rlm@2
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267 softly, the sigh she always gave when she was lonely. He got it a lot on their phone calls.
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rlm@2
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268
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rlm@2
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269 “I'll try to see what I can do, then,” he promised.
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rlm@2
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270
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rlm@2
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271 “Thanks, Syaoran,” her cheerful voice responded. “Ack... I have to go now. Tomoyo-chan needs my
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rlm@2
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272 help to move something. Well, she didn't say she needs my help, but you know how skinny and
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rlm@2
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273 fragile she is. She's trying to lift it herself, but....” Away from the phone, he can still hear
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rlm@2
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274 her voice. “Tomoyo-chan, let me help you with that. You're going to get hurt if you try to carry
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rlm@2
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275 that by yourself.” Pulling the phone to her ear, her voice was clear again. “We sent the
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rlm@2
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276 bodyguards her mother had sent home after they helped get everything up to the apartment. We
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rlm@2
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277 didn't want them to have to wait for us to figure out how we want the layout.”
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rlm@2
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278
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rlm@2
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279 “Go
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rlm@2
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280 ahead and help Daidouji. I'll call you later.”
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rlm@2
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281
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rlm@2
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282 “Syaoan, I hope I can see you soon,” Sakura said,
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rlm@2
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283 her voice a lot whisper.“Me too, Sakura-chan.” Maybe if she were near, he could stave off this
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rlm@2
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284 collapse. And then the phone went silent as he let it turn off.Nothing was better. Icy tears
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rlm@2
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285 rolled down his cheeks as the wind got more and more violently, making the leaves scractch
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rlm@2
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286 against anything like distant, insane laughter. No one heard the cries in his head. Or perhaps
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rlm@2
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287 they didn't care. Nonetheless, he was left all alone in the cold.
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rlm@2
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288
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rlm@2
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289 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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rlm@2
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290
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rlm@2
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291 “And that one? Does it have a name?” After all of her years as the head of a large toy company,
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rlm@2
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292 Sonomi Daidouji still managed to hold onto an almost childlike glee at times. Her harshly cut
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rlm@2
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293 diagonal hairstyle and her business suit seemed at odds with the thin violet bow she had tied
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rlm@2
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294 around her neck. She was, as her employees would attest, eccentric. As Tomoyo would be quick to
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rlm@2
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295 add, she was also an extremely caring woman. Like a lioness, she would care for her cubs with the
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rlm@2
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296 utmost care. But if ever any harm threatened one of her love ones, she would sink her claws in
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rlm@2
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297 faster than the blink of an eye.
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rlm@2
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298
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rlm@2
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299 Currently, the brunette was in one of her former moods, as she often was when around her lovely
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rlm@2
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300 daughter. The particular business they were doing could have been delegated to others, but Sonomi
|
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rlm@2
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301 hadn't assigned anyone to that particular task yet, so she had decided to do it herself. It was
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rlm@2
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302 well known that she was the hardest worker at Daidouji Toys. And since she was never one to miss
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rlm@2
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303 out on time she could spend with her daughter, Tomoyo, she had dragged her daughter along.
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rlm@2
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304
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rlm@2
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305 “Yes,
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rlm@2
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306 this one is to an Inaka Tsushimoto,” Tomoyo soft, singsong voice replied, reading off the list.
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rlm@2
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307 “It's one of the working toy camcorders. It fits with the hobbies she listed. I think she'll like
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rlm@2
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308 it.” The pale girl smiled beautifuly when she looked up, a sight that always stunned her mother
|
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rlm@2
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309 for a second or two. Tomoyo bore a stunning resemblence to the late love of Sonomi's life.
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rlm@2
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310
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rlm@2
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311 “I'm sure she will,” Sonomi replied, pulling up the next box. They were getting toys ready for
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rlm@2
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312 delivery to a children's hospital. Children's hospitals were not an unfamiliar sight to the elder
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rlm@2
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313 Daidouji woman. Her cousin, Nadeshiko, ever accident-prone and always eager to try anything,
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rlm@2
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314 despite the danger involved, mixed with a weak constitution to begin with, sat in the small
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rlm@2
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315 hospital beds more times than Sonomi would like to count. But being her protective older cousin,
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rlm@2
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316 Sonomi had always been there, sometimes staying the night with Nadeshiko when they would let her.
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rlm@2
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317 'I don't want Nadeshiko-chan to stay here alone,' she had once told her mother. 'She'll get bad
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rlm@2
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318 dreams.' And so Sonomi had stayed to protect her darling cousin from the specter of bad dreams.
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rlm@2
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319 'The shot doesn't hurt so bad, but I don't like to look at it,' Nadeshiko had once told her, eyes
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rlm@2
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320 tearing up even as she smiled, holding onto Sonomi's hand with a death grip as the doctor gave
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rlm@2
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321 her the injection. Sonomi's hand tightened on the box reflexively, almost thinking she would find
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rlm@2
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322 her small cousin's hand in her grip. But as had been the case for too many years now, it wasn't
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rlm@2
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323 so.
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rlm@2
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324
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rlm@2
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325 Nowadays, Sonomi seldom had occasion to be in a hospital setting herself. She was incredibly
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rlm@2
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326 healthy and her daughter was reasonably so. Thought somewhat frail looking, Tomoyo wasn't plagued
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rlm@2
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327 by the sicknesses that had occasionally haunted Nadeshiko. For that, Sonomi was grateful. But
|
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rlm@2
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328 nonetheless, Sonomi still had an attachment to the small children locked away in those hospital
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rlm@2
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329 rooms, many without loving older cousins to look out for them, getting shots that looked worse
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rlm@2
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330 than they felt. So the businesswoman wished to take away a small measure of that pain. In a way,
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rlm@2
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331 she was still searching for Nadeshiko, or the memory of the other girl, at any rate.
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rlm@2
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332
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rlm@2
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333 “Sakura-chan loves the appartment. She wanted me to thank you for her. She bowed cutely many
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rlm@2
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334 times and said she'd do anything at all to make it up to you,” Tomoyo said excitedly, her stormy
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rlm@2
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335 blue eyes sparkling the way they often did when she spoke of Sakura. “I believe her words when
|
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rlm@2
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336 she first saw the appartment were 'Hoe... It's so beautiful! We have to give it back to
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rlm@2
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337 Sonomi-san! I can never pay her back for this!' There was lots of cute gesticulating and general
|
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rlm@2
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338 Sakura-chan cuteness, but I'd need to give you the videotape to show it all accurately.”
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rlm@2
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339
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rlm@2
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340 A warm laugh escaped the older woman. Sakura made her happy in two ways. The first was that
|
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rlm@2
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341 Sakura was the daughter of the woman she loved, and through Sakura, Sonomi could she glimpses of
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rlm@2
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342 her dear Nadeshiko. The second was that Sakura made her daughter deliriously happy, which was
|
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rlm@2
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343 always a wonderful sight for the elder Daidouji woman to behold. “Anything, huh? Then she'll
|
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rlm@2
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344 finally marry you?”
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rlm@2
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345
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rlm@2
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346 “Mother,” Tomoyo chided gently, still going through the list she held,
|
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rlm@2
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347 checking boxes. “Sakura-chan is still dating Li-kun.”
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rlm@2
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348
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rlm@2
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349 “Hmph... I never liked that boy,” Sonomi
|
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rlm@2
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350 said, frowning. Pulling another box closer, she began to wrap it, expertly tying a ribbon onto
|
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rlm@2
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351 the present. A present to a girl who didn't have any idea who she was. She hoped the girl would
|
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rlm@2
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352 smile. “Then how about a day... two days...” She shook her head, smiling as she decided. “A week
|
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rlm@2
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353 of passionate sex for my daughter. If Sakura-chan's dating that boy, she could at least make up
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rlm@2
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354 for it by making you come into my office with a great, big smile. But you have to tell me how she
|
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rlm@2
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355 moans. She's Nadeshiko-chan's daughter, after all.”
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rlm@2
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356
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rlm@2
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357 “She moans very cutely,” Tomoyo stated
|
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rlm@2
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358 matter-of-factly. “Very soft and cute and in little sounds now and then. As if they just bubble
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rlm@2
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359 out.” Her mother raised an eyebrow, wondering how Tomoyo was privy to such information. The
|
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rlm@2
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360 heiress smiled. “Sakura-chan thinks about her boyfriend sometimes. I just happen to be near
|
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rlm@2
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361 enough to hear what happens.” Of course, that sometimes took some doing, but it wasn't past the
|
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rlm@2
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362 lavender haired girl. Going back to her list, she shakes her head slightly, her hair swishing
|
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rlm@2
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363 about. “I think by 'repaying you', Sakura-chan doesn't mean 'sleep with your daughter'.”
|
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rlm@2
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364
|
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rlm@2
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365 “Well,
|
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rlm@2
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366 then what does she mean?” Sonomi asked, sounding mock stern. Tomoyo's giggle undid her facade and
|
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rlm@2
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367 she couldn't help but smile herself. Yawning, Sonomi stretched, letting her weary eyes fall
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rlm@2
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368 closed for a moment. She'd worked past a full day at her normal job alone. Now she and Tomoyo had
|
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rlm@2
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369 been at the office for half the night already.
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rlm@2
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370
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rlm@2
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371 Watching her mother for a moment, the lavender haired girl tapped her pen against her lips
|
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rlm@2
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372 thoughtfully. “You really should get some rest, mother. You work yourself too hard. If you keep
|
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rlm@2
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373 this up, you'll be joining Nadeshiko-san too soon and Sakura-chan and I will both miss you too
|
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rlm@2
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374 much.”
|
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rlm@2
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375
|
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rlm@2
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376 If there was one thing that made her life worth living, it was certainly her daughter. And having
|
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rlm@2
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377 Sakura and Tomoyo so close after all these years was almost like having two daughters. 'Our
|
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rlm@2
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378 daughters,' she sometimes thought, gazing at her portrait of Nadeshiko. “Someone has to get all
|
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rlm@2
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379 this done. Everyone here is too busy to do our charity work as well as their normal work but the
|
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rlm@2
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380 charity work is too off and on for me to hire full time help to do it.”
|
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rlm@2
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381
|
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rlm@2
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382 Another thoughtful look
|
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rlm@2
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383 from Tomoyo before the pale girl commented. “I can do it for you. I know your office well enough
|
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rlm@2
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384 and you can trust me with handling the charity. You can give me clearance to get whatever toys or
|
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rlm@2
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385 items we need for the different charities and I can get them all together. I'm a student, so I
|
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rlm@2
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386 can't work full time, but I have enough time to devote to the charity.”
|
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rlm@2
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387
|
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rlm@2
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388 The older woman rolled the
|
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rlm@2
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389 idea over in her head before shaking it. “You couldn't handle it by yourself. It's taking the two
|
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rlm@2
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390 of us to get through it all, Tomoyo-chan. You'd be exhausted by the end of the first night. Then
|
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rlm@2
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391 I'd have to drag you home to bed and fire my precious little girl just so she'd get some sleep.”
|
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rlm@2
|
392 Tomoyo nodded, having already thought of that. “Then Sakura-chan can help me. You and I have
|
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rlm@2
|
393 managed to handle most of the charity between the two of us. I can take over for you. I know it
|
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rlm@2
|
394 well enough. I've been helping since you started it. And Sakura-chan and I make a good team. We
|
|
rlm@2
|
395 can handle it. Sakura-chan feels guilty that you got her such a nice appartment. She can pay you
|
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rlm@2
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396 off by working for you on the charity. It gets her job experience and she'll feel a lot better
|
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rlm@2
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397 about the appartment.”
|
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rlm@2
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398
|
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rlm@2
|
399 Leaning back in her chair, the businesswoman considered. A small grin
|
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rlm@2
|
400 played across her face. “Then I get to see the two of you more, too, if you're working here, even
|
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rlm@2
|
401 if it is only part time. All right. Tell Sakura-chan about it later. If she agrees, you two can
|
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rlm@2
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402 get started tomorrow. For now,” Sonomi stretched, yawning. “Go home and get some sleep,
|
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rlm@2
|
403 Tomoyo-chan.”
|
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rlm@2
|
404
|
|
rlm@2
|
405
|
|
rlm@2
|
406 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
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407
|
|
rlm@2
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408 “Thank you so much, Tomoyo-chan!” Sakura hugged her friend tightly for the third time, wearing
|
|
rlm@2
|
409 only her green pajama top. “I'd love to work for Sonomi-san! I felt so bad about her letting me
|
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rlm@2
|
410 stay in this nice place.” Her sweatdrop lasts only a moment before she smiles happily again. “Now
|
|
rlm@2
|
411 I can finally repay her for all of the kindness she's shown me.”
|
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rlm@2
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412
|
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rlm@2
|
413 Returning the smile, Tomoyo stood
|
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rlm@2
|
414 calmly in the dress she'd returned from Daidouji Toys in. “Mother practically sees you as family,
|
|
rlm@2
|
415 Sakura-chan. She wants to make sure you're happy. You're very special to her. You're very special
|
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rlm@2
|
416 to many people.” Granted, Sonomi would rather have Sakura as a daughter-in-law than a daughter,
|
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rlm@2
|
417 but Tomoyo decided to leave that fact out.Sakura turned about, looking back towards her room.
|
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rlm@2
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418 Soft, light blue panties peaked out from under the pajama top as Sakura raised a hand to her
|
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rlm@2
|
419 chin, thinking. Tomoyo continued to smile her patented smile, wishing she had her camcorder. It
|
|
rlm@2
|
420 was in her room on her bedside table, right where she'd left it. Damn.
|
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rlm@2
|
421
|
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rlm@2
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422 Her arms dropping
|
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rlm@2
|
423 dramatically, Sakura sighed miserably. “Hoe... I don't have any business clothes. I'll look so
|
|
rlm@2
|
424 out of place at Sonomi-san's business.”
|
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rlm@2
|
425
|
|
rlm@2
|
426 “You'll look fine in whatever you wear, Sakura-chan.
|
|
rlm@2
|
427 Mother will probably just worry that your beauty will distract the staff.” Tomoyo shrugged
|
|
rlm@2
|
428 lightly, her dark hair shifting over her shoulders.
|
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rlm@2
|
429
|
|
rlm@2
|
430 “Tomoyo-chan...” Sakura laughed nervously,
|
|
rlm@2
|
431 rubbing the back of her head. She had known Tomoyo for well over a decade. Despite having heard
|
|
rlm@2
|
432 well over a million flattering comments from the pale heiress in the time she had known her,
|
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rlm@2
|
433 Sakura still got flustered every time. She was starting to think she'd never entirely get used to
|
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rlm@2
|
434 it. Deciding to put it aside for now, as she had so often in the past, she changed the subject.
|
|
rlm@2
|
435 “So tomorrow's our first day? I should get an outfit ready. This is my first job. Maybe I should
|
|
rlm@2
|
436 call onii-chan and ask what you do the first day. But then he might lie and I'll do something
|
|
rlm@2
|
437 stupid. Grrrr... Maybe I could ask Yukito to hit him if he lies. Only Yukito-san would never hit
|
|
rlm@2
|
438 onii-chan, even though he really should sometimes because...” Light fingers on her cheeks slowed
|
|
rlm@2
|
439 down Sakura's thoughts, bringing her back to the present, her anxiety spun through her like a
|
|
rlm@2
|
440 spiders web. Tomoyo's soothing, stormy blue eyes met her own shining emeralds, her friend's
|
|
rlm@2
|
441 incredibly soft fingers cupping her cheeks. And for a moment, Sakura was breathless, her heart
|
|
rlm@2
|
442 still pounding a thousand miles a minute, but her thoughts tapering off into
|
|
rlm@2
|
443 nothingness.
|
|
rlm@2
|
444
|
|
rlm@2
|
445 “Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo began softly. “Breath.” She didn't start again until she saw
|
|
rlm@2
|
446 that Sakura was taking in air through her lips once more. “You're not going in for an interview.
|
|
rlm@2
|
447 My mother has known you for almost as long as I have. And she loves you almost as much as I do.
|
|
rlm@2
|
448 She's happy that you're working for her. You don't need to wear anything to impress her and you
|
|
rlm@2
|
449 don't need to do anything special at all. You're special enough the way you are. Just be you.
|
|
rlm@2
|
450 That's all anyone wants.”
|
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rlm@2
|
451
|
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rlm@2
|
452 Sometimes Sakura wondered if Tomoyo would kiss her. It was a dumb
|
|
rlm@2
|
453 thought, she told herself, and something she shouldn't be thinking, but at moments like this, it
|
|
rlm@2
|
454 resonated in her head. She had learned years ago when they were teenagers that her best friend
|
|
rlm@2
|
455 was in love with her. Though she could be dense, and even Sakura knew that she could be, Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@2
|
456 couldn't keep her feelings a secret forever. An embarrassing revelation for Sakura, but not one
|
|
rlm@2
|
457 she couldn't accept and move on with. Tomoyo was Tomoyo. And when she stopped and thought about
|
|
rlm@2
|
458 it, Tomoyo being in love with her didn't change anything about that. In a way, it just shed light
|
|
rlm@2
|
459 on so much that Sakura hadn't understood before. Tomoyo's devotion to her took on a new light. In
|
|
rlm@2
|
460 many ways, nothing had changed. Sakura merely had a name for Tomoyo's affection for her. In other
|
|
rlm@2
|
461 ways, Sakura was now accutely aware of her best friend's feelings. No longer afraid of Sakura
|
|
rlm@2
|
462 finding out, Tomoyo had become more and more generous in how she went about showing her
|
|
rlm@2
|
463 affection. No longer confined to vague statements and showings of her love, the lavender haired
|
|
rlm@2
|
464 girl could now outright tell her, or show her. It was embarrassing, but Sakura had accepted it as
|
|
rlm@2
|
465 she always had Tomoyo affection. With lots of stammering and blushes. Despite being perfectly
|
|
rlm@2
|
466 open about her love for the Cardmistress, Tomoyo never once tried to get between Sakura and
|
|
rlm@2
|
467 Syaoran. And that puzzled Sakura to some extent. And at times like this, when Tomoyo was so
|
|
rlm@2
|
468 close, so soft, so.... so very Tomoyo, Sakura wondered why Tomoyo didn't kiss her. Why her
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rlm@2
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469 beautiful best friend didn't take the kiss she so obviously wanted.Tomoyo's hands were gone and
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rlm@2
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470 Sakura was blushing now, hoping she hadn't looked too goofy for the past moment, staring wide
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rlm@2
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471 eyed at her best friend. “I know, Tomoyo-chan,” she stated quickly. “I just want everything to go
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rlm@2
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472 perfectly. It's my first job and I really don't want to disappoint Sonomi-san. She's been so
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rlm@2
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473 wonderful to me.”
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rlm@2
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474
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rlm@2
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475 Smiling softly, the pale girl nodded. Sakura was always so cute when she was
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rlm@2
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476 hyper. Which was most of the time. Sakura's emotions were to Tomoyo like vibrant colors to an
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rlm@2
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477 artist or musical notes to a musician, a feast for the sensations. Living with Sakura, being so
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rlm@2
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478 near her, it was like living inside your favorite painting, enveloped in the colors or lost in
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rlm@2
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479 the music. Sakura's emotions hit like a tsunami, and Tomoyo loved to stand outside and let it
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rlm@2
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480 wash over her. “You'll do fine, Sakura-chan. It's just you and me and the charity comittee. We'll
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rlm@2
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481 be putting it together in our spare time after classes. We've been working together for years.
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rlm@2
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482 It's the same thing. It's just that this time we're trying to bring miracles to people who need
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rlm@2
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483 them.”
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rlm@2
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484
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rlm@2
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485 “Miracles?” That sounded nice. When all was said and done, Sakura had caught the Cards
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rlm@2
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486 because it was her duty. Because she had to stop the Catastrophe. But she had't really been able
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rlm@2
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487 to make anything better because of it, she had only kept things from getting worse. Now she was
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rlm@2
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488 the world's most powerful magician and, as Kero told her, she 'didn't do anything fun' with her
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rlm@2
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489 magic. The chance to actually help people sounded like a welcome change. She nodded swiftly.
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rlm@2
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490 “Hai! We'll bring all sorts of miracles, Tomoyo-chan!”
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rlm@2
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491
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rlm@2
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492 Taking Sakura's hands, the lavender haired
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rlm@2
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493 girl squeezed them in her own. “I knew you'd want to, Sakura-chan. We'll do even more than mother
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rlm@2
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494 expected. We'll do more than give a few gifts to those in need here and there. We'll bring
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rlm@2
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495 miracles to all sorts of people. We'll be shooting stars for people to wish on. A pair of
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rlm@2
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496 shootings stars high up in the sky.”
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rlm@2
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497
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rlm@2
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498 The imagery sounded beautiful to Sakura. It seemed fitting
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rlm@2
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499 that she and Tomoyo would be partners in this. Working with Tomoyo always comforted her. No
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rlm@2
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500 matter how hard things got, she knew she could count on her best friend. So it sounded perfect
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rlm@2
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501 that she would be going into her new job with Tomoyo by her side.
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rlm@2
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502
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rlm@2
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503 “For now, though, Sakura-chan should get some sleep. You have a test tomorrow that I hope you
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rlm@2
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504 were studying for while I was gone and then we need to head to work to pick up everything,”
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rlm@2
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505 Tomoyo said, slowly letting go of Sakura's hands.
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rlm@2
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506
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rlm@2
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507 The brunette nodded slowly. “Yeah, if I can get
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rlm@2
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508 any sleep.” She was far too excited about the new events to be able to shut off her mind for
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rlm@2
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509 sleep. She had hoped to study with Tomoyo a bit for her test the next day, but that thought was
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rlm@2
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510 lost to her. Despite the fact that they went to different Universities, Sakura having not quite
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rlm@2
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511 made it into Tokyo University with her incredibly intelligent and perceptive friend, she still
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rlm@2
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512 felt more at ease when Tomoyo helped her study. For now, that would have to wait.
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rlm@2
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513
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rlm@2
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514 “That's all
|
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rlm@2
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515 right. I don't think I'll be able to sleep, either. I'll have visions of Sakura-chan clad in
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rlm@2
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516 nothing but panties all night long.” Turning to head to her room, Tomoyo sighed dreamily with not
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rlm@2
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517 a sound of distress. Cheeks burning a brilliant rouge, Sakura watched Tomoyo's elegant form
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rlm@2
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518 walking away from her.
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rlm@2
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519
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rlm@2
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520 “I'm wearing a shirt,” she squeaked in self-defense.
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rlm@2
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521
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rlm@2
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522 “Not in my dreams,
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rlm@2
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523 you're not,” Tomoyo replied before she disappeared into her room for the night. |
