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1 Learning To Fly: Chapter 3
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2
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3 by:
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4 The Amazoness Duo
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5 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
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6
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7 G.P.
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8 pearsong1954@yahoo.com
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9
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10 =====
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11
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12 A soft, gentle knock resounded throughout Sakura's moderately
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13 spacious room. Already blushing a shade of crimson, the Cardmistress
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14 sunk lower on her bed. Her clothes laid in a hesitant pile near her
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15 knees on her bed. Heart pounding, she covered it with a satiny glone,
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16 one of the few articles of cloth that adorn her. She was clad in a
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17 pink, lacey bra that teases at what it holds undernearth and matching
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18 panties. The gloves trailed ribbons at her wrists. The stockings
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19 ended at her thighs, again with a generous use of lace. Kicking
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20 against the bed, the half clothed Cardmistress let out a whine.
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21 "Hoe... Tomoyo-chan, I'm not coming out in this," she said, her voice
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22 infused with embarrassment.
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23
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24 "But I need to see if it fits properly. It needs to be perfect
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25 before Li-kun sees Sakura-chan prancing about in it," came Tomoyo's
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26 reply, her voice as sweet as always. Pulling her silk hair back, the
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27 heiress placed her head against the door, listening for the tell-tale
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28 signs of her roommate's fidgeting.
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29
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30 "That isn't why you want to see it," Sakura whined, her hands
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31 slipping to the edge of the bed. Looking down, she swished her toes
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32 around in the stockings, feeling the cloth move over them. She wasn't
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33 used to anything this dressy. Normal undergarments usually did the
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34 trick for her. Okay, she was used to things this dressy. Tomoyo's
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35 costumes. But those she could wear without most of her body showing.
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36 Well, most of them.
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37
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38 "All right, that isn't why. -I- want to see Sakura-chan prancing
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39 around in it," Tomoyo admitted after a moment's pause. Her head still
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40 pressed against the door, the sounds came to her of Sakura shifting,
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41 her embarrassment audible.Blushing intensely, Sakura hugged her legs
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42 to her chest, her chin resting on the soft fabric that covered her
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43 legs. How was she supposed to reply to that? Even after having known
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44 of Tomoyo's feelings for the past few years, she still wasn't
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45 entirely sure how to react. So her body tended to react with a huge
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46 amount of blushes and embarrassed stammers. Her heart was pounding
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47 faster now and her voice had left her. "Tomoyo-chan..." was all she
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48 could get out, coming out as little more than a whimper. Trying to go
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49 to someone for help, she had gone to her older brother. Tomoyo would
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50 have been her first choice, but seeing as how the other girl was
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51 involved, it seemed in bad taste to ask Tomoyo what she should do
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52 about it. Since Touya had been through the same thing, she had
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53 thought he would have excellent voice. His advice: "You take him out
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54 to ice cream, then get him back home and leave your clothes at the
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55 door." Yukito had simply smiled the whole time. Blushing fiercely, as
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56 she was blushing now, Sakura had quickly excused herself.
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57
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58 "I bet it looks gorgeous on you, Sakura-chan. I made it for you so
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59 you could show off your beautiful body the next time you see Li-kun.
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60 It would be a shame if you had it and no one ever got to see how
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61 gorgeous you were in it," Tomoyo prodded, still listening for any
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62 reaction on her friend's part. Testing gently, she realized the door
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63 wasn't locked. Sakura very seldom locked any doors. Which had caused
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64 the Cardmistress no end of trouble back when she had lived with her
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65 father and brother. There had been plenty of close calls with Sakura
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66 talking to her supposedly stuffed doll, Kero. But now, Tomoyo found
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67 that it worked to her advantage. "Sakura-chan," Tomoyo began again,
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68 "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. I've been helping you dress
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69 in your outfits since we were ten years old. I've seen more of you
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70 than Li-kun has. And I've probably named every little part by
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71 now.""You've what?" Sakura blinked, looking up, confused. Confusion
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72 gave way to even more embarrassment. All those times she had changed
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73 in front of Tomoyo, not realizing the other girl actually enjoyed
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74 what she saw came back to her. Tomoyo had helped her dress into many
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75 of her more elaborate costumes. And Tomoyo had named her body parts?
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76 Her cheeks flushed as a morbid curiosity burned inside of her. What
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77 had she named? What names had she picked? Sakura had to shake her
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78 head and force the thought away, too shy to ask her questions. "But..
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79 No! That was different. You helped me into your costumes and with the
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80 dresses you made for me. Not something... sexy..." The last word came
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81 out lower than the rest, as if she had to force it out. Seeing
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82 herself in the mirror, Sakura shrunk down even more.
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83
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84 "Sakura-chan has worn lots of sexy clothes. You must not remember
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85 half of the costumes you've worn for the past five years. I'll have
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86 to get out the videotapes and show you again. The lingerie probably
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87 has more cloth in total than the hummingbird outfit had," Tomoyo said
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88 thoughtfully, a finger going to her chin.
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89
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90 "You told me that was a swimsuit!" Sakura responded, letting her
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91 legs fall back to the bed and her fists resting near her sides.
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92
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93 Perfect. Tomoyo smiled, hearing Sakura's position change. "No, I
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94 said it was waterproof, not that it was a swimsuit," she corrected.
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95 The door slid open in one swift movement. For several seconds, Tomoyo
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96 got a wonderful glimpse of her startled Sakura. For the first second
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97 and a half, the brunette didn't even have the chance to be
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98 embarrassed. Sakura truly looked beautiful in the lingerie, looking
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99 both cute and sexy all at once, something Tomoyo had always loved
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100 about her energetic friend. Those moments were burned forever into
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101 memory thanks to the wonderful technology of camcorders. Thanks to
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102 years and years of videotaping her flighty friend, the dark haired
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103 girl had become an expert and bringing the camcorder to bear in the
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104 most crucial of seconds. And then, like a groundhog popping back into
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105 his hole, Sakura was gone. The girl had rolled off the bed, hiding
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106 behind the side opposite Tomoyo.
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107
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108 "Tomoyo-chan!!" Sakura whined again, her heart pounding and her face
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109 burning as she lay hunched over behind her bed. She hadn't expected
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110 the other girl to come in. Now what was she supposed to do? Her hand
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111 darted up to the bed, searching for her clothes. Her questing fingers
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112 encountered nothing but the top of her bed.
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113
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114 "Sakura-chan needs to fold her clothes more often or they'll get
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115 wrinkled," Tomoyo chided playfully, having pulled Sakura's clothes
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116 away from her reach. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she could
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117 only make out her friend's hunched back. Good enough. Bringing the
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118 camcorder up, she began to record.
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119
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120 "Why are you recording this?" Sakura asked, trying to curl up into
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121 herself. It wasn't working. The camcorder and Tomoyo's eyes stayed
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122 fixed on her. Her position didn't offer her much comfort or security.
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123 "For posterity," Tomoyo chimed in, smiling brightly. "Maybe I should
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124 make a copy for Li-kun. He must get lonely being so far away from
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125 you."
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126
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127 "No! No copies for Syaoran," Sakura said quickly, looking up. It
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128 took her a moment to see the camcorder dip, looking down her front.
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129 Squeaking, the Cardmistress hugged herself tightly.
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130
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131 "But it seems unfair for me to get to see this while your boyfriend
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132 doesn't get to," Tomoyo reasoned, panning over Sakura's strong
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133 shoulders and down her pack to where the panties hugged her before
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134 continuing down her beautiful, runner's legs. Sighing dreamily, the
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135 heiress held a hand to her face. "You're very sexy, Sakura-
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136 chan.""Th..Thanks, Tomoyo-chan." Blushing deeply, the Cardmistress
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137 gazed back down at the floor. She couldn't say she minded Tomoyo's
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138 compliments. They always made her feel wonderful. Tomoyo made her
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139 feel like she could really do anything. Like she was something
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140 special. So even the embarrassing things weren't all that bad. Just,
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141 well, embarrassing.
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142
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143 "Please, Sakura-chan? Just for me and my camcorder. You can decide
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144 later on if Li-kun sees. But I don't want to see my one chance at
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145 seeing my super sexy Sakura-chan in the lingerie I made her. I love
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146 seeing you in the clothes I make. Knowing you're wearing them, that
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147 they're mixing together with you to make a beautiful picture. Without
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148 you, they're just clothes. I've see what these look like under my
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149 fingers. Now I want to see what they look like with you living and
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150 breathing in them," Tomoyo pleaded, pulling down her camcorder for a
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151 moment to look down at her best friend.
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152
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153 Emerald eyes gazed up for just a moment, but they were immediately
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154 caught by the beautiful, pleading stormy blue ones of her friend.
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155 Giving an imperceptible nod, Sakura sighed. "You know you always win
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156 these things, right? Why do we even bother debating it anymore? I
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157 should just give up and do what you want in the first place. Then we
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158 can save ourselves the trouble." Blushing, hands slowly let go of her
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159 body. Moving slowly, the Cardmistress stood up, shifting shyly from
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160 foot to foot as Tomoyo's eyes roamed over her. A twinge of excitement
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161 ran through her. Someone was actually seeing her like this, someone
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162 who thought she was sexy. Sakura liked the thought, that she could be
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163 sexy, that Tomoyo would want to see her like this. She blushed deeper
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164 at the realization. Was it just that her boyfriend had been gone so
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165 long? That she wanted someone to appreciate her like that? But she'd
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166 always liked when Tomoyo fawned over her, even when she didn't know
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167 that Tomoyo was in love with her. Confused and embarrassed, Sakura
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168 stood for Tomoyo's approval.A sudden intake of breath. An excited
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169 gasp. "Sakura-chan, you're so sexy!" Tomoyo crooned, standing up to
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170 travel around Sakura with her camcorder, wanting every available
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171 angle of her semi-nude friend. A light giggle escaped her when she
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172 was behind Sakura. "No, you should keep debating. If you did whatever
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173 I wanted in the first place, then you wouldn't be wearing anything at
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174 all."
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175
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176 For Sakura, who had just started to regain her composure, the
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177 comment was like a bag had dropped on her stomach. She was blushing
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178 darkly again and at a loss for words instantly. "T..Tomoyo-chan!" The
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179 tone of her voice was supposed to be chiding, but it sounded more
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180 like a shy refutal. A soft hand on her back, just above the bra, made
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181 Sakura start. Tomoyo's hand, silky and warm against her skin. Letting
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182 her eyes fall closed, the Cardmistress felt each delicate finger
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183 caress in a pattern on her bare skin, her breath nearly catching
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184 before she remembered to keep breathing.
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185
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186 "Sakura-chan, you aren't such a shy girl most of the time. I bet
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187 when you get used to being with Li-kun, you'll be a tiger in the
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188 bedroom. You shouldn't act all shy for the camera. Then I won't get
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189 to see what you'd really be like in the lingerie. Don't focus on the
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190 clothes. Focus on Sakura-chan. Be Sakura-chan in the clothes."
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191
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192
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193 Tomoyo's voice had it's cheering quality that came to her whenever
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194 she was rooting for Sakura, no matter what the situation may be.
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195 Sakura found it highly effective, even now. Her blush subsiding
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196 somewhat, she stepped away, moving again. This time, she moved more
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197 quickly, more sure of herself, keeping her embarrassment in the back
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198 of her mind. Putting on her brightest smile, she spun to face the
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199 camera, moving as if she wasn't the least bit shy about what she was
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200 in. Her eyes caught Tomoyo returning her smile. That made Sakura even
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201 happier. Ribbons and lace swished as she moved about the room, posing
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202 with all her athletic body was worth.
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203
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204 For her part, Tomoyo hurried to keep track of Sakura, wanting to get
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205 every shot she could of her beautiful friend. The way she moved...
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206 The way she smiled... The sparkle in her eyes... The way the cloth
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207 rustled against her skin... If there was any place closer to Heaven,
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208 Tomoyo had not visited there yet. Sighing dreamily, she tried her
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209 hardest to keep up with her athletic friend, barely noticing as her
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210 pale cheeks flushed and her breath quickened. She stepped lithely up
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211 onto the bed and back onto the other side like a sprite, never taking
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212 the camcorder away from Sakura's gorgeous, sensuous form. How Sakura
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213 could not notice how incredibly beautiful she had become was beyond
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214 the heiress. The task of making sure Sakura was told, and quite
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215 often, had fallen into her able hands.
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216
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217 "Tsubasa," Tomoyo said at last, as Sakura had twirled in front of
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218 the bed.
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219
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220 "Hmmm?" The Cardmistress looked over as if broken from a trance.
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221 Quizzical, she tilted her head as she stood near the foot of the bed.
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222 "I named your butt Tsubasa. You were wondering what I named the
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223 pieces of you. That's what I named it. Because it's cute and soft
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224 like the feathers on a wing and because it looks like it's been
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225 lifted up by beautiful wings." Tomoyo smiled brightly as she
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226 explained. Chewing on her lip thoughtfully, she added. "And I saw a
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227 lot of it when you used to fly on your staff. So I guess the wing
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228 motif just followed easily from there, since it was framed by the two
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229 wings on your staff."
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230
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231 Another blush spread quickly. But this blush was a little different.
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232 It was tempered with a playful frustration. Growling, Sakura grabbed
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233 her pillow. "Tomoyo-chan! Stop embarrassing me!" Before Tomoyo could
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234 react, the athletic girl pounced, hitting her friend again and again
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235 with the soft pillow. That heart melting giggle of Tomoyo's
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236 accompanied Sakura's feather soft blows as Sakura bopped her on the
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237 head again and again, watching Tomoyo's long hair fly wild about them
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238 in their one-sided battle.
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239
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240 And as soon as it had begun, it was over. The two lay on the bed,
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241 panting heavily. Tomoyo's pale cheeks were flushed darkly, her
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242 fragile body exerted from all of the hopping and running and playing
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243 they had done. Sakura lay on her side, facing the other girl, her
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244 heart pounding from the exertion. Or maybe it was pounding from the
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245 way Tomoyo's stormy blue eyes gazed so lovingly into her own. Or the
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246 way Tomoyo's tender fingers trailed delicately up and down her side.
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247 Or the way Tomoyo's bare foot felt against her own through the cloth
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248 of her stockings. Or the way Tomoyo's now messy lavender hair framed
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249 her so beautifully on the bed.
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250
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251 Fingers slid up to Sakura's bra, tracing over the fabric for just a
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252 moment before beginning their downward spiral back to the brunette's
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253 hips. Tomoyo gazed into Sakura's eyes, so glad to have them looking
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254 back at her. Those emerald orbs had always fascinated her. Some
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255 nights when she couldn't sleep, she would take a look into those eyes
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256 in one of her pictures or videotapes and fall asleep imagining she
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257 were safe in Sakura's arms. Now, lying so close to her, almost like
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258 lovers, Tomoyo felt that delicious feeling that accompanies our
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259 longing for the person we love without the bad aftertaste of knowing
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260 they are out of our reach. Maybe they weren't locked in a lover's
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261 embrace, but Sakura was so close, so soft, so lovely. And that was
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262 enough for Tomoyo.A small pink tongue darted over dry lips, trying
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rlm@2
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263 desperately to wet them. Whether it was in case Tomoyo should happen
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rlm@2
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264 to kiss her or just because they were dry, Sakura couldn't really
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rlm@2
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265 tell. Her heart was thundering now, her eyes enthralled to Tomoyo.
|
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rlm@2
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266 She couldn't pull her gaze away if she tried. A delightful shiver
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rlm@2
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267 passed through her body as her friend's fingers traced over her hip
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rlm@2
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268 and back up again. This was a position she had thought she'd end up
|
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rlm@2
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269 with Syaoran in, facing in each other, blushing and waiting for him
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rlm@2
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270 to kiss her. Would Tomoyo kiss her? Did Tomoyo want to kiss her? What
|
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rlm@2
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271 would she do if Tomoyo did kiss her? Her breath slipped out and she
|
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rlm@2
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272 prayed that Tomoyo didn't notice how anxious she was. About what? Was
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rlm@2
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273 she scared that Tomoyo would kiss her? Or rather, was she scared that
|
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rlm@2
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274 Tomoyo wouldn't kiss her? And all the while, those incredibly deep
|
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rlm@2
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275 stormy blue eyes, the color of the beautiful yet sad stormclouds that
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rlm@2
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276 greet us on spring days, gazed longingly back at her. She didn't want
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rlm@2
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277 to move, didn't want to breathe. Her foot pushed experimentally
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rlm@2
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278 against Tomoyo's and was delighted to find Tomoyo's petite foot push
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rlm@2
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279 back, Tomoyo's small toes playing with her own.
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280
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rlm@2
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281 Sakura knew Tomoyo could see her, could see almost all of her in the
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rlm@2
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282 lingerie she wore. And yet, she couldn't get herself to do anything
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rlm@2
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283 about it. Why would she want to? Tomoyo liked her in it. The heiress
|
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rlm@2
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284 had said as much. And now... Now she didn't want to move. But she
|
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rlm@2
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285 wanted to do -something-. Anything. But no actions came to mind. No
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rlm@2
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286 words came to her rescue. It was only her and Tomoyo and those
|
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rlm@2
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287 deliciously confusing feelings that slid over her like cool water on
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rlm@2
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288 a hot day.
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rlm@2
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289
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rlm@2
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290 Tomoyo, meanwhile, was getting more adventurous. Sakura hadn't so
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rlm@2
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291 much as eeked in embarrassment since they had found themselves facing
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rlm@2
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292 each other on the bed. Her hand was going alternatingly higher and
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rlm@2
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293 lower. Up past Sakura's bra. Down past Sakura's pantied. Feeling the
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rlm@2
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294 brunette's athletic body under her fingertips. The cute, confused
|
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rlm@2
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295 look in Sakura's eyes made her want to be with the Cardmistress even
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rlm@2
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296 more. She wanted to help Sakura make up her mind, to end up doing
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rlm@2
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297 something she'd wanted to do for years. And right now, would Sakura
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rlm@2
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298 stop her? Would Sakura even want her to stop? Her mind played over
|
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rlm@2
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299 the thoughts carefully, trying to unravel them. In the meantime, her
|
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rlm@2
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300 foot continued to play more and more with Sakura's, neither girl
|
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rlm@2
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301 gaining ground, but neither wanting to, content to continue their
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rlm@2
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302 game. On this turn up Sakura's side, Tomoyo stopped at Sakura's bra,
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rlm@2
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303 just under her arm. Fingers caressed the skin underneath the cloth
|
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rlm@2
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304 for a long moment. Almost imperceptibly, the fingers moved across the
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rlm@2
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305 cloth. Forward. Slowly, slowly. The fingertips moved as if in slow
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rlm@2
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306 motion to the front of Sakura's bra, tracing Sakura's slightly larger
|
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rlm@2
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307 breasts as they went. They continued to play their designs over
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rlm@2
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308 Sakura's skin, Tomoyo's eyes ever ready for any flicker of Sakura's
|
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rlm@2
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309 face. The brunette simply blushed more but did nothing to stop her.
|
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rlm@2
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310 Moving apart and together again, her fingertips played across the
|
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rlm@2
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311 thin fabric over Sakura's skin. To Tomoyo's delight, she could feel
|
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rlm@2
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312 Sakura reacting, her fingers rubbing over the slowly hardening nub of
|
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rlm@2
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313 Sakura's nipple under the bra. She continued to play with it, pushing
|
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rlm@2
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314 and circling and rubbing through the cloth, watching as Sakura gazed
|
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rlm@2
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315 back, their feet still locked in their battle. Just as slowly as she
|
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rlm@2
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316 had done with her fingers, Tomoyo's head inched closer. Perhaps...
|
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rlm@2
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317 just a kiss? A delicious, Sakura tasting kiss? It couldn't do any
|
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rlm@2
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318 harm, could it? Not if part of Sakura wanted her to, right? And dear
|
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rlm@2
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319 god did she hope that's what she saw in Sakura's eyes. Her nose slid
|
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rlm@2
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320 past Sakura's now, their eyes still locked. Warm breath played
|
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rlm@2
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321 against her lips. Just another moment. Tomoyo was incredibly patient.
|
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rlm@2
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322 She could wait a lifetime if she had to. She could almost feel
|
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rlm@2
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323 Sakura's lips against her own. Just a little
|
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rlm@2
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324 closer....Trrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiillll.....
|
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rlm@2
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325
|
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rlm@2
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326 Sakura blinked dumbly. Trrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiilllllll..........
|
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rlm@2
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327
|
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rlm@2
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328 Bolting up, a new wave of embarrassment coursing through her, Sakura
|
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rlm@2
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329 searched quickly for her cell phone. Where had she put it? Sliding
|
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rlm@2
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330 off the bed, stocking clad feet padded across the floor. Heart
|
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rlm@2
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331 pounding in her chest, Sakura couldn't think of what to say, only to
|
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rlm@2
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332 keep looking for the damn phone. And to tell them she'd call them
|
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rlm@2
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333 back. She had more important things to think about right
|
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rlm@2
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334 now."Goodnight, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo whispered as Sakura grabbed the
|
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rlm@2
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335 cell phone so as not to disturb whoever was on the line. Her lips
|
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rlm@2
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336 brushed against Sakura's cheek, kissing softly. Sakura's cheek warmed
|
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rlm@2
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337 under her lips. Smoothing out her skirt, the dark haired girl
|
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rlm@2
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338 disappeared from the room like an elegant Cinderella from her ball.
|
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rlm@2
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339 And no less anxious and confused as Cinderella's prince sat Sakura.
|
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rlm@2
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340 She reached out, wanting to call Tomoyo back, but the phone was
|
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rlm@2
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341 already answering. Her voice echoed shakily on the line, her mind
|
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rlm@2
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342 elsewhere. What had been about to happen? And why did she feel so
|
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rlm@2
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343 disappointed that it didn't?
|
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rlm@2
|
344 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
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rlm@2
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345
|
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rlm@2
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346 The soft vibration of a sweet hum reached the door to the appartment
|
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rlm@2
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347 Sakura shared with Tomoyo before the brunette reached it herself. Her
|
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rlm@2
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348 exaltant hum was the product of her classes finally coming to an end
|
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rlm@2
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349 for another week as well as the generally positive upswing her life
|
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rlm@2
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350 had taken in general. Living with her best friend was more fun than
|
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rlm@2
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351 she had imagined. They shared a wonderfully cute and eccentric
|
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rlm@2
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352 (thanks in no small part to Tomoyo) appartment. And now Sakura even
|
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rlm@2
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353 had a job that she could pour herself into. To celebrate her good
|
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rlm@2
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354 fortune, she had deigned it a worthy cause to stop by the grocery
|
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rlm@2
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355 store on the way home and get supplies for a feast. When Tomoyo got
|
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rlm@2
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356 home that night, there would be a wonderful meal waiting for her.
|
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rlm@2
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357 'Hanyaa...' Sakura thought happily, her smile broadening as she
|
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rlm@2
|
358 slipped her keys into the door. Everything felt so amazing. It almost
|
|
rlm@2
|
359 felt like she was dreaming. And wouldn't Tomoyo be excited to come
|
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rlm@2
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360 home to a meal she cooked for her! A small giggle escaped the
|
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rlm@2
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361 brunette as she pushed the door open.
|
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rlm@2
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362
|
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rlm@2
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363 "Can I start on the strawberries?" Kero's voice carried from the
|
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rlm@2
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364 grocery bag. A small rustling noise preceded his appearance, his
|
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rlm@2
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365 small head popping up out of the bag. "They look soooooo good..." His
|
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rlm@2
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366 tiny eyes looked up to Sakura, pleading. They searched for mercy.
|
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rlm@2
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367 They found none.
|
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rlm@2
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368
|
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rlm@2
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369 "Kero-chan!! Out! Those things are all for the meal tonight! The
|
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rlm@2
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370 strawberries are for desert. I'll make some for you, too, I promise.
|
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rlm@2
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371 But you better not be eating any of my ingredients!" Sakura harumphed
|
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rlm@2
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372 when Kero pouted. Plans for her dinner with Tomoyo wouldn't be ruined
|
|
rlm@2
|
373 because Kero had an endless stomach. Her moods immediately lightened
|
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rlm@2
|
374 at the thought, she nearly twirled into the appartment.
|
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rlm@2
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375
|
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rlm@2
|
376 "Tomoyo-chan?"
|
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rlm@2
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377
|
|
rlm@2
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378 The twirling ceased immidiately. Blink blink. Someone was inside?
|
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rlm@2
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379 Someone who sounded awfully familiar. "Sakura-chan! It's you. I
|
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rlm@2
|
380 thought Tomoyo said something about you coming home earlier than she
|
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rlm@2
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381 did on these days." Sonomi smiled brilliantly, still in her dashing
|
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rlm@2
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382 business suit and skirt. Her prowess as a businesswoman hid her years
|
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rlm@2
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383 as an athlete. The hug she gave Sakura certainly didn't hide that
|
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rlm@2
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384 aspect, nearly pulling Sakura off her feet. "You're always so cute,
|
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rlm@2
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385 Sakura-chan. Tomoyo's rants about you almost don't do you justice.
|
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rlm@2
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386 Almost." Grinning with what could only be the Daidouji family smile,
|
|
rlm@2
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387 something that both generations of Daidouji women did an incredible
|
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rlm@2
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388 amount of around Sakura, she placed her hands on the younger woman's
|
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rlm@2
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389 shoulders. "Is Tomoyo-chan with you? I thought I heard you talking
|
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rlm@2
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390 when you came in."Sakura was still in a state of confusion. Slowly,
|
|
rlm@2
|
391 bit by bit, it was being processed into usable information in her
|
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rlm@2
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392 brain. Sonomi had a key to the appartment. Tomoyo had told her when
|
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rlm@2
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393 they'd come home the second night and found roses left for them by
|
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rlm@2
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394 Sonomi. Now onto the more immediate, pressing matters. Sweatdropping
|
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rlm@2
|
395 and stammering profusely, Sakura said the first thing that came to
|
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rlm@2
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396 mind. "C...Cell phone... I was on the cell phone when I came in..."
|
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rlm@2
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397 Laughing nervously, she hoped that would be enough for Tomoyo's
|
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rlm@2
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398 mother."You brought groceries home," Sonomi observed. "How cute!" She
|
|
rlm@2
|
399 clasped her hands together.
|
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rlm@2
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400
|
|
rlm@2
|
401 "Well, yeah..." Sakura blushed and walked to the kitchen. "I was
|
|
rlm@2
|
402 going to make dinner for me and Tomoyo-chan." A muffled 'And me' came
|
|
rlm@2
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403 from the grocery bag, but Sakura coughed and nudged the bag as she
|
|
rlm@2
|
404 set it down on the counter.
|
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rlm@2
|
405
|
|
rlm@2
|
406 "That's wonderful! Tomoyo-chan will be so happy when she gets home.
|
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rlm@2
|
407 I'll help you with it. I'll go when Tomoyo-chan gets home so I won't
|
|
rlm@2
|
408 get in the way of your dinner," Sonomi decided, starting to unpack
|
|
rlm@2
|
409 one of the bags."You will?" Sakura asked excitedly. Though her own
|
|
rlm@2
|
410 cooking skills were good, she had more faith in those of Sonomi.
|
|
rlm@2
|
411 Working with Tomoyo's mother, she knew they could make something
|
|
rlm@2
|
412 delicious. "Thanks, Sonomi-san!" she said happily. Her eyes shot open
|
|
rlm@2
|
413 when she saw Sonomi's hand snake into the bag, searching for that
|
|
rlm@2
|
414 last object in the bag. Kero-chan!
|
|
rlm@2
|
415
|
|
rlm@2
|
416 Sonomi's lithe hand withdrew from the bag holding onto Kero's small,
|
|
rlm@2
|
417 plush body. The businesswoman inspected the figure for a long moment.
|
|
rlm@2
|
418 A sad, nostalgic smile played across her lips. "You really are a lot
|
|
rlm@2
|
419 like your mother sometimes, Sakura-chan." A finger gently traced over
|
|
rlm@2
|
420 Kero's face. "She used to drag some of her dolls around with her
|
|
rlm@2
|
421 everywhere. I used to tell her she'd be dragging them around even
|
|
rlm@2
|
422 when she was an adult. She laughed and asked why she'd do anything
|
|
rlm@2
|
423 but." The older brunette shook her head, still smiling as she set
|
|
rlm@2
|
424 down the Seal Beast.
|
|
rlm@2
|
425
|
|
rlm@2
|
426 "Then Tomoyo-chan must have gotten a lot from you, too, Sonomi-san.
|
|
rlm@2
|
427 She's beautiful, talented, and elegant. Just like you," Sakura
|
|
rlm@2
|
428 offered, returning the older woman's smile as she got out the
|
|
rlm@2
|
429 utensils for the night's meal. There was another thing that Sonomi
|
|
rlm@2
|
430 shared with her daughter. When Sakura heard Sonomi speak of her
|
|
rlm@2
|
431 mother, Nadeshiko, it came with that same loving tone that Tomoyo's
|
|
rlm@2
|
432 held when the dark haired girl spoke of Sakura. There was something
|
|
rlm@2
|
433 almost sad in it, something that always made the Cardmistress miss
|
|
rlm@2
|
434 her mother even more.
|
|
rlm@2
|
435
|
|
rlm@2
|
436 A laugh escaped Sonomi as she searched for the aprons. "Sometimes I
|
|
rlm@2
|
437 think Tomoyo-chan got more from your mother than she got from me.
|
|
rlm@2
|
438 She's very, very loving. And so... ethereal. It's almost like she's
|
|
rlm@2
|
439 an angel. Just like your mother." Her quest came up triumphant as she
|
|
rlm@2
|
440 pulled out two aprons, handing one to her daughter's friend.Sakura
|
|
rlm@2
|
441 nodded in wholehearted agreement as she tied the apron on tight.
|
|
rlm@2
|
442 "Tomoyo-chan is very much like an angel. Sometimes I'm surprised that
|
|
rlm@2
|
443 she's not the one with wings." A nervous laugh quickly followed.
|
|
rlm@2
|
444 Sonomi wouldn't get the part about the fact that she could have wings
|
|
rlm@2
|
445 herself when she wanted. Though Tomoyo seemed far more deserving of
|
|
rlm@2
|
446 them in Sakura's mind. The dark haired girl really did seem like an
|
|
rlm@2
|
447 angel, Sakura's guardian angel. Sighing dreamily, Sakura got to work
|
|
rlm@2
|
448 on preparing the food.
|
|
rlm@2
|
449
|
|
rlm@2
|
450 Brushing her brunette hair out of her eyes with her free hand,
|
|
rlm@2
|
451 Sonomi watched Sakura chopping the vegetables. A smile tugged at the
|
|
rlm@2
|
452 corners of her mouth. It was easy to see what her daughter loved
|
|
rlm@2
|
453 about the younger woman. Being around Sakura always brought back
|
|
rlm@2
|
454 memories of the girl's mother. And Tomoyo lit up like the moon
|
|
rlm@2
|
455 lights up from the sun's rays when she was around Sakura. The
|
|
rlm@2
|
456 businesswoman was happy to have Sakura as part of her life, as very
|
|
rlm@2
|
457 nearly a part of her family. When she saw Sakura's emerald eyes
|
|
rlm@2
|
458 shimmering at her, it was hard for her to tell that she wasn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
459 looking into Nadeshiko's eyes. "If you're very lucky in this life,
|
|
rlm@2
|
460 you'll fall in love, truly in love, once. You'll find your one, true
|
|
rlm@2
|
461 love. I'm not talking about all the crushes, all the people who take
|
|
rlm@2
|
462 a place in your heart. Just the one who you can't help loving, who
|
|
rlm@2
|
463 warms your heart, who makes you better just by being around." Sonomi
|
|
rlm@2
|
464 smiled softly, her stormy blue eyes distant. "I found mine, a long
|
|
rlm@2
|
465 time ago. She was... the most beautiful, wonderful thing in my life.
|
|
rlm@2
|
466 I was always so happy when I was with her. When I lost her... I
|
|
rlm@2
|
467 didn't think I could go on. If I hadn't had Tomoyo, I might not have
|
|
rlm@2
|
468 been able to." She shook her head, her stormy blue eyes a little
|
|
rlm@2
|
469 darker now, the color of clouds about to storm. Smiling at Sakura,
|
|
rlm@2
|
470 she tilts her head to the side ever so slightly. "I think Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@2
|
471 found hers, too. I hope that you find yours.""I... did..." Sakura's
|
|
rlm@2
|
472 voice trailed off. She had found her one, true love, right? Syaoran
|
|
rlm@2
|
473 had been her boyfriend for years now. They'd been together through a
|
|
rlm@2
|
474 lot. They loved each other. But did she really love him more than
|
|
rlm@2
|
475 she'd loved Yukito? Or even the feelings she had gotten from Mizuki-
|
|
rlm@2
|
476 sensei? When she thought about him, warm thoughts surfaced. But did
|
|
rlm@2
|
477 she feel that she was better around him? Did he ensnare her the way
|
|
rlm@2
|
478 Sonomi's heart had so obviously been caught so long ago? She loved
|
|
rlm@2
|
479 him, of course, she reminded herself. They'd been together all these
|
|
rlm@2
|
480 years. But those feelings... They did sound familiar. Someone who
|
|
rlm@2
|
481 mader her better... Someone who always made her feel all hanyaan...
|
|
rlm@2
|
482 Sakura's hand slipped, cutting a jagged slice out of the vegetable
|
|
rlm@2
|
483 she was working on as the image turned in her mind. Tomoyo. Her heart
|
|
rlm@2
|
484 beat a confused, staccatto rhythm in her chest. That was different.
|
|
rlm@2
|
485 Tomoyo was her best friend. Of course the dark haired girl made her
|
|
rlm@2
|
486 happy and embarrassed and warm and strong. It was... Yeah.... Sakura
|
|
rlm@2
|
487 nodded slightly to herself, trying to keep her thoughts straight.
|
|
rlm@2
|
488 "That's great, Sakura-chan," Sonomi replied, forcing a smile. Truth
|
|
rlm@2
|
489 be told, she couldn't stand the boy who had taken away Sakura from
|
|
rlm@2
|
490 her daughter. Granted, Tomoyo tried to convince her that he was the
|
|
rlm@2
|
491 one that made Sakura happy. But Sonomi knew beyond the shadow of a
|
|
rlm@2
|
492 doubt that her daughter could make Sakura just as happy, if not much,
|
|
rlm@2
|
493 much more so. But, alas, that didn't seem to be in the cards. Again.
|
|
rlm@2
|
494 Just like with Nadeshiko. She sighed inwardly. Well, she wouldn't let
|
|
rlm@2
|
495 it happen that way again. She wasn't about to see her little girl end
|
|
rlm@2
|
496 up all alone like she did. Fishing around in her purse, she pulled
|
|
rlm@2
|
497 out a large photo of a beautiful woman. Holding it out in her strong
|
|
rlm@2
|
498 yet gentle hands, Sonomi smiled. "That's Sugaru Kurumiya. She does
|
|
rlm@2
|
499 some modelling, like your mother used to. Her mother and I are
|
|
rlm@2
|
500 friends. I kept saying we should get her together with Tomoyo. Sugaru
|
|
rlm@2
|
501 is great in front of the camera and Tomoyo is a wizard behind the
|
|
rlm@2
|
502 camera. I finally convinced Tomoyo-chan to go out on a date with her.
|
|
rlm@2
|
503 Isn't that great?" Sonomi sighed, putting the picture away. "My baby
|
|
rlm@2
|
504 is going on her first date. How cute... It's too bad she won't be
|
|
rlm@2
|
505 able to record it. I'd love to see the video."The knife slid off the
|
|
rlm@2
|
506 carrot Sakura was cutting. "Wh...what?" Her eyes blinked in
|
|
rlm@2
|
507 disbelief. It should have been an obvious eventuality, but like all
|
|
rlm@2
|
508 things we don't want to think of, Sakura had stored it away as
|
|
rlm@2
|
509 something that would happen 'later', in that indeterminate future we
|
|
rlm@2
|
510 hope will never come. And now it had. "Tomoyo-chan's going on a date?
|
|
rlm@2
|
511 But..." Her mind raced to find a good reason to call off the date,
|
|
rlm@2
|
512 but she found none. Her heart sank at the thought of Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@2
|
513 videotaping some other girl, a model at that. Didn't Tomoyo say she
|
|
rlm@2
|
514 was the most amazing thing to videotape? And going out on a date...
|
|
rlm@2
|
515 'I love you, Sakura-chan.'. Sakura had heard that phrase over and
|
|
rlm@2
|
516 over for the past six years. And every time, she knew Tomoyo meant
|
|
rlm@2
|
517 it. Would this other girl take her place? Would she be the one to
|
|
rlm@2
|
518 make Tomoyo smile? Would Tomoyo make the other woman costumes and
|
|
rlm@2
|
519 make her blush and tell her how wonderful she was? Would she make her
|
|
rlm@2
|
520 feel like she could do anything? Would Tomoyo make her feel warm and
|
|
rlm@2
|
521 loved? The way she made Sakura feel?
|
|
rlm@2
|
522
|
|
rlm@2
|
523 Sakura wanted to drop to her knees. They suddenly felt weak and
|
|
rlm@2
|
524 watery. It seemed appropriate to say something nice about Tomoyo's
|
|
rlm@2
|
525 plan in perspective mates for her best friend, but she couldn't get
|
|
rlm@2
|
526 herself to compliment it. Instead, words came to her mouth that
|
|
rlm@2
|
527 ignored that line of thought altogether. "But Tomoyo-chan loves me. I
|
|
rlm@2
|
528 make her happy.""True," Sonomi conceded. "But you love Syaoran. And
|
|
rlm@2
|
529 Tomoyo's my baby. I want what's best for her. I want her to be happy
|
|
rlm@2
|
530 and loved and to be able to curl up in someone's arms when the day is
|
|
rlm@2
|
531 through. So I told her as much until she agreed to go on this date. I
|
|
rlm@2
|
532 think it will be good for her. The whole time you've been dating,
|
|
rlm@2
|
533 Tomoyo-chan has been all alone. Maybe you can give her some dating
|
|
rlm@2
|
534 tips."Sakura could only nod weakly. "Yeah... dating tips..." She
|
|
rlm@2
|
535 suddenly didn't feel like making dinner. With a heavy heart, she went
|
|
rlm@2
|
536 back to preparing for her now less than anticipated celebration
|
|
rlm@2
|
537 dinner.
|
|
rlm@2
|
538
|
|
rlm@2
|
539 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
|
540
|
|
rlm@2
|
541 "And that concludes today's lecture. Please remember to do the
|
|
rlm@2
|
542 reading for next class." Professor Fujitaka Kinomoto smiled
|
|
rlm@2
|
543 pleasantly at his students as they passed, busying himself with
|
|
rlm@2
|
544 putting his papers neatly back in his briefcase. Out of the corner of
|
|
rlm@2
|
545 his eye, he could see the pale figure and dark hair of a woman that
|
|
rlm@2
|
546 always reminded him of his wife. Sonomi couldn't have done a better
|
|
rlm@2
|
547 job with a tribute to Nadeshiko. He shook off the thought and smiled
|
|
rlm@2
|
548 over at his daughter's best friend.
|
|
rlm@2
|
549
|
|
rlm@2
|
550 "Hello, Kinomoto-sensei. You said you wanted to see me after class?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
551 The darkhaired girl tilted her head to the side curiously. Her hair
|
|
rlm@2
|
552 swayed with the small motion, the dark silk a stark contrast with her
|
|
rlm@2
|
553 pale skin. Leaning down, Fujitaka produced a large box, setting it on
|
|
rlm@2
|
554 the table. "I made a chocolate cake yesterday night and I realized I
|
|
rlm@2
|
555 couldn't eat it all by myself. I was hoping you and Sakura would have
|
|
rlm@2
|
556 it." It was an excuse, of course. He used to cook for his children
|
|
rlm@2
|
557 when he would have the chance, but now that his youngest child had
|
|
rlm@2
|
558 moved away, he had found himself missing them. Deciding to make the
|
|
rlm@2
|
559 cake for Sakura was a way of remembering times gone by.
|
|
rlm@2
|
560
|
|
rlm@2
|
561 Tomoyo bowed politely before gingerly picking up the box. "I know
|
|
rlm@2
|
562 Sakura-chan will love it. She always loved your food. I'm sure it's
|
|
rlm@2
|
563 delicious," the lavender haired girl insisted.
|
|
rlm@2
|
564
|
|
rlm@2
|
565 Smiling wistfully, the professor shook his head. "I never would have
|
|
rlm@2
|
566 thought you'd be interested in archeology, Tomoyo-chan."Tomoyo
|
|
rlm@2
|
567 giggled softly. "I have very broad interests, Kinomoto-sensei. I
|
|
rlm@2
|
568 think it's a very interesting course."
|
|
rlm@2
|
569 The rest of Fujitaka's papers slowly found their way into his
|
|
rlm@2
|
570 briefcase. Standing, he motioned for Tomoyo to follow him. "Your
|
|
rlm@2
|
571 mother must not have been pleased with you taking my course. She
|
|
rlm@2
|
572 still hasn't forgiven me about... things." He knew that Tomoyo had
|
|
rlm@2
|
573 probably grown up hearing her mother's anger with him, that he had
|
|
rlm@2
|
574 stolen what was most precious to her. Caution dictated that he be
|
|
rlm@2
|
575 careful with this subject. "On the contrary. When I told her, she
|
|
rlm@2
|
576 frowned for a moment and then said that if I had to take archeology,
|
|
rlm@2
|
577 it might as well be from you. She said you had been a very good
|
|
rlm@2
|
578 teacher when she was younger and that you'd be good to learn it
|
|
rlm@2
|
579 from," Tomoyo explained, her heels clicking as they walked down the
|
|
rlm@2
|
580 hallway of the university. A small, grateful smile crossed Fujitaka's
|
|
rlm@2
|
581 lips. It was nice to know that even if Sonomi hated him for 'taking
|
|
rlm@2
|
582 away' Nadeshiko, she still had some nice things to say about him.
|
|
rlm@2
|
583 Sonomi had always been a strong willed woman with the proud soul of a
|
|
rlm@2
|
584 warrior. Despite her hatred of him, her rival, she still respected
|
|
rlm@2
|
585 him. It was nice to hear that from her daughter, because he doubted
|
|
rlm@2
|
586 he'd ever hear it from Sonomi herself. And he knew Sonomi would never
|
|
rlm@2
|
587 accept his praise for her, no matter how heartfelt it may be.
|
|
rlm@2
|
588
|
|
rlm@2
|
589 He still remembered how devestated Nadeshiko had been when Sonomi
|
|
rlm@2
|
590 hadn't come to the wedding. Nadeshiko kept running out to see if her
|
|
rlm@2
|
591 best friend had arrived, thinking that she was only late. But Sonomi
|
|
rlm@2
|
592 never came. And until Nadeshiko got sick the final time, that was the
|
|
rlm@2
|
593 last time the two had seen each other. Nadeshiko had smiled brightly
|
|
rlm@2
|
594 and gone on with the wedding, but he had seen how hurt she was not to
|
|
rlm@2
|
595 have her cousin share in it with her. Nadeshiko had been such a
|
|
rlm@2
|
596 charming, lovely, happy woman for the time she had spent with her
|
|
rlm@2
|
597 family. But the one shadow that had stayed with her was losing
|
|
rlm@2
|
598 Sonomi. It didn't go away until the end, when Sonomi came to visit
|
|
rlm@2
|
599 her in the hospital. She had told him late at night in her hospital
|
|
rlm@2
|
600 bed that she was happy now. 'I have you, Touya-chan, and Sakura-chan.
|
|
rlm@2
|
601 And now I have Sonomi-chan again. I'm happy now. I'm happy with how
|
|
rlm@2
|
602 things turned out. Please don't cry for me, Fujitaka." And she had
|
|
rlm@2
|
603 smiled, a smile devoid of that haunted shadow. So he had never cried
|
|
rlm@2
|
604 for her, just as she had asked.
|
|
rlm@2
|
605 The girl that could be a young copy of his wife was watching him as
|
|
rlm@2
|
606 they walked in silence for a moment. Offering another smile, he
|
|
rlm@2
|
607 pushed his glasses up. "I'm very glad Sonomi-san would think so." His
|
|
rlm@2
|
608 eyes looked just a trifle concerned as he looked over at his student.
|
|
rlm@2
|
609 "How is Sakura?" It was impossible to keep concern completely out of
|
|
rlm@2
|
610 his voice. Sakura was his little girl, after all. "Sakura-chan is
|
|
rlm@2
|
611 wonderful as always," Tomoyo replied, a soft sigh escaping her lips.
|
|
rlm@2
|
612 It never took much work to get her mind on Sakura, if indeed her mind
|
|
rlm@2
|
613 ever left that line of thought in the first place. Being so near the
|
|
rlm@2
|
614 brunette as of late had been like a dream, her heart overflowing with
|
|
rlm@2
|
615 happiness at the prospect of so very much Sakura in her life.
|
|
rlm@2
|
616 Fujitaka laughed at the dreamy look on Tomoyo's face as well as the
|
|
rlm@2
|
617 pale girl's reply. "I meant to ask how she was doing," he corrected
|
|
rlm@2
|
618 himself.
|
|
rlm@2
|
619
|
|
rlm@2
|
620 Demurely holding her bag in front of her, Tomoyo giggled as well.
|
|
rlm@2
|
621 "Sakura-chan has been doing well lately. She misses you and Touya-
|
|
rlm@2
|
622 san, but it's wonderful seeing her on her own. She's so strong
|
|
rlm@2
|
623 willed. You should really see her. She's giving it her all. I know
|
|
rlm@2
|
624 that she likes working for mother. The two of them get along very
|
|
rlm@2
|
625 well. They're similar in a lot of ways. And Sakura-chan is doing well
|
|
rlm@2
|
626 in her classes. She was always a good student and we study together
|
|
rlm@2
|
627 some nights.""She's not on her own. She has you, Tomoyo-chan,"
|
|
rlm@2
|
628 Fujitaka replied. "You've always helped her so much. I really have to
|
|
rlm@2
|
629 thank you for all you've done for her.""It's all my pleasure. I love
|
|
rlm@2
|
630 being near Sakura-chan. I want her to be happy. I'd do anything for
|
|
rlm@2
|
631 her. If I can be near her, if I can help her from time to time,
|
|
rlm@2
|
632 that's enough for me." The pale heiress tucked some hair behind her
|
|
rlm@2
|
633 ear, looking forward.
|
|
rlm@2
|
634
|
|
rlm@2
|
635 "I think you make her very happy," Fujitaka offered. "She's always
|
|
rlm@2
|
636 so happy when she's with you." Stopping in front of his office, he
|
|
rlm@2
|
637 turns to the small woman. "I want you to know I'd have been happy to
|
|
rlm@2
|
638 have you as a daughter-in-law." It was small consolation, he knew,
|
|
rlm@2
|
639 but it was true. Tomoyo was so much like Nadeshiko, an angel in
|
|
rlm@2
|
640 anyone's life. He would have been happy to see Sonomi's daughter with
|
|
rlm@2
|
641 his own. But because it hadn't worked out that way, he could only
|
|
rlm@2
|
642 offer that.
|
|
rlm@2
|
643
|
|
rlm@2
|
644 "Thank you," Tomoyo said wholeheartedly. "I'm glad you'd think so. I
|
|
rlm@2
|
645 know mother would have loved having Sakura-chan as part of the
|
|
rlm@2
|
646 family, too," she replied, grinning. Her lithe frame bowed. "Thank
|
|
rlm@2
|
647 you for the cake, Sensei. Sakura-chan and I will share it tonight."
|
|
rlm@2
|
648 Turning, she swished softly towards the exit.
|
|
rlm@2
|
649
|
|
rlm@2
|
650 "I can't believe Sonomi-chan had her wear her hair like mine," a
|
|
rlm@2
|
651 soft voice said behind Fujitaka, almost poutily. "I didn't know she
|
|
rlm@2
|
652 missed me so much."Fujitaka smiled softly, turning to the source of
|
|
rlm@2
|
653 the voice, the ghostly form of his wife. "You always cute Sakura-
|
|
rlm@2
|
654 chan's hair short like Sonomi-san."The woman tilted her hair to the
|
|
rlm@2
|
655 side, giving a puzzled look. Her angel wings blazed with an inner
|
|
rlm@2
|
656 light. "Yeah, but I knew how much I missed Sonomi-chan. I didn't know
|
|
rlm@2
|
657 she missed me as much as I missed her." Her emerald green eyes
|
|
rlm@2
|
658 sparkled as she nearly floated about his office. "I need to see her
|
|
rlm@2
|
659 again," she whispered. Fujitaka nodded. "I know." He had never owned
|
|
rlm@2
|
660 Nadeshiko's heart. He doubted anyone ever could. He was blessed with
|
|
rlm@2
|
661 Nadeshiko's love. But so was Sonomi. It was the way of things. Was
|
|
rlm@2
|
662 Sakura the same way, he wondered? Would Sakura get hurt just as
|
|
rlm@2
|
663 Nadeshiko had because her heart was too open, too loving? Did Sakura
|
|
rlm@2
|
664 love her boyfriend as well as her best friend? He hoped that whatever
|
|
rlm@2
|
665 happened, Sakura wouldn't have the same haunted look as his wife when
|
|
rlm@2
|
666 Sonomi had left her side all those years ago when they had announced
|
|
rlm@2
|
667 their wedding.
|
|
rlm@2
|
668
|
|
rlm@2
|
669 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
|
670
|
|
rlm@2
|
671 The appartment was quiet when Tomoyo finally got home. Her head
|
|
rlm@2
|
672 tilted to the side, listening for the familiar noises of Kero playing
|
|
rlm@2
|
673 videogames or Sakura making any of a hanful of noises Tomoyo could
|
|
rlm@2
|
674 name instantly. Leaving her shoes by the door, the pale girl treaded
|
|
rlm@2
|
675 softly across the floor. "Sakura-chan? Kero-chan?" Her voice carried
|
|
rlm@2
|
676 in the appartment. Her stormy blue eyes glanced to their living room,
|
|
rlm@2
|
677 seeing the table where Sakura had tossed her backpack and the DVDs of
|
|
rlm@2
|
678 Sakura lying on top of the large television. Sakura was home, at any
|
|
rlm@2
|
679 rate. And something certainly smelled delicious.
|
|
rlm@2
|
680
|
|
rlm@2
|
681 "Tomoyo-chan!" In a flurry of feathers, Sakura had crashed into
|
|
rlm@2
|
682 Tomoyo, hurtling into her like a small, Sakura-sized freight train.
|
|
rlm@2
|
683 Her small wings wrapped around the dark haired girl along with her
|
|
rlm@2
|
684 arms. The two almost fell over, but Sakura's wings opened up and gave
|
|
rlm@2
|
685 a quick flap, sending them back to their feet. Sakura's bare feet
|
|
rlm@2
|
686 were nearly on top of Tomoyo's socks. A soft giggle escaped the
|
|
rlm@2
|
687 heiress. "I missed you, too, Sakura-chan." Tomoyo's hands rested on
|
|
rlm@2
|
688 Sakura's hips as they stood that way for a moment. Leaning forward,
|
|
rlm@2
|
689 she nuzzled Sakura's chestnut hair, enjoying the smell that permeated
|
|
rlm@2
|
690 her noise. She always loved Sakura's hair. It made her want to be
|
|
rlm@2
|
691 there to wash it for the other girl. To run her hands through
|
|
rlm@2
|
692 Sakura's hair... She pushed away from the tempting thoughts. "You've
|
|
rlm@2
|
693 been out flying?"Pulling away, slightly embarrassed, Sakura nodded.
|
|
rlm@2
|
694 "I needed... Well, I wanted to see the view," the Cardmistress nodded
|
|
rlm@2
|
695 quickly. Truthfully, she had flown off after Sonomi had left to try
|
|
rlm@2
|
696 and clear her mind. It hadn't worked. The idea of Tomoyo finally
|
|
rlm@2
|
697 going on a date still left her with a bad taste in her mouth. But how
|
|
rlm@2
|
698 could she tell Tomoyo that? 'Don't date. I want you to love me and
|
|
rlm@2
|
699 only me. But I'll still be loving Syaoran, so you don't get anything
|
|
rlm@2
|
700 that you want.' Sakura felt ashamed of even thinking such a thing.
|
|
rlm@2
|
701 How good a friend was she if she would feel jealous of Tomoyo dating?
|
|
rlm@2
|
702 But still, she couldn't help it. And she knew she needed to change
|
|
rlm@2
|
703 the subject before Tomoyo's almost magical powers of perception found
|
|
rlm@2
|
704 her out. "I made you dinner. Well, Sonomi-san helped. She was by
|
|
rlm@2
|
705 earlier. So we made dinner for you. It's a celebration. For our new
|
|
rlm@2
|
706 job and our new appartment and... and everything!" Smiling, Sakura
|
|
rlm@2
|
707 took Tomoyo's hands, leading her to the kitchen where any number of
|
|
rlm@2
|
708 treats awaited. It had taken all of her strength to drag Kero out
|
|
rlm@2
|
709 after Sonomi had left. Her genuine smile and the excitement that
|
|
rlm@2
|
710 coursed threw her at the idea of showing Tomoyo the meal she'd cooked
|
|
rlm@2
|
711 for her helped keep Tomoyo from digging deeper into her concerns. "It
|
|
rlm@2
|
712 looks delicious, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo said, amazed. Turning to
|
|
rlm@2
|
713 Sakura, the brunette's eyes sparkled happily. "It all looks
|
|
rlm@2
|
714 wonderful. It's a perfect dinner. Even more perfect because it was
|
|
rlm@2
|
715 made by Sakura-chan." The dark haired girl sighed dreamily, imagining
|
|
rlm@2
|
716 Sakura in an apron, laboring over the stove for her sake. How sweet!
|
|
rlm@2
|
717 Taking Sakura's hands, she squeezed them, pulling them to her heart.
|
|
rlm@2
|
718 "I'm so lucky to have you for a roommate."Blushing, Sakura looked
|
|
rlm@2
|
719 down. That simply gave her a good look of Tomoyo's beautiful form,
|
|
rlm@2
|
720 clad as it was in a cute white dress. Her eyes shot up only to get
|
|
rlm@2
|
721 anchored to Tomoyo's stormy blue eyes gazing affectionately into her
|
|
rlm@2
|
722 own. "I'm lucky to have you for a roommate, too, Tomoyo-chan. I just
|
|
rlm@2
|
723 wanted to show you how much," she said after a moment's silence. It
|
|
rlm@2
|
724 was the wrong thing to say if she was trying to extricate herself
|
|
rlm@2
|
725 from an embarrassing situation. Tomoyo let out a delighted sigh and
|
|
rlm@2
|
726 practically melted into her arms, hugging Sakura tightly.
|
|
rlm@2
|
727
|
|
rlm@2
|
728 "Thank you, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo said blissfully. "Ummm... Tomoyo-
|
|
rlm@2
|
729 chan, I think we better eat before it gets cold." Sakura hurried over
|
|
rlm@2
|
730 to the dishes after Tomoyo finally let her go, her cheeks still
|
|
rlm@2
|
731 flushed pink. She had hoped it would go over well, but this went over
|
|
rlm@2
|
732 much better than she'd expected. Tomoyo followed her to the counter,
|
|
rlm@2
|
733 watching her prepare the plates. Picking up a bite of the food with
|
|
rlm@2
|
734 her chopsticks, she turned and offered the bite to Tomoyo. Leaning
|
|
rlm@2
|
735 forward, the other girl took the bite, eating it from Sakura's
|
|
rlm@2
|
736 chopsticks. 'Hanyaan...' Sakura thought, smiling brightly. She felt
|
|
rlm@2
|
737 warm and fuzzy inside, glad to be with her friend. Her worries took a
|
|
rlm@2
|
738 small vacation, overcome by her currently shining emotional state.
|
|
rlm@2
|
739 The two decided to forgo eating at the table and finished up dinner
|
|
rlm@2
|
740 like that, Sakura feeding Tomoyo bite after bite with her chopsticks.
|
|
rlm@2
|
741
|
|
rlm@2
|
742 "You're such a good cook, Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo said between bites.
|
|
rlm@2
|
743 They were both leaning against the counter, and her eyes traced over
|
|
rlm@2
|
744 the other woman, delighting in Sakura's smile. Leaning forward, she
|
|
rlm@2
|
745 took another bite. Her mother felt bad for her that Sakura was in
|
|
rlm@2
|
746 love with another, but Tomoyo was incredibly grateful to be Sakura's
|
|
rlm@2
|
747 best friend. And moments like this were worth just about anything.
|
|
rlm@2
|
748 Having Sakura feed her, seeing the brunette smile and lift the food
|
|
rlm@2
|
749 to her lips, it made her heart swell. Her love for the Cardmistress
|
|
rlm@2
|
750 was almost overwhelming at times like this. Oh, how she wanted to
|
|
rlm@2
|
751 reach out and embrace her. These moments were glimpses of her dreams,
|
|
rlm@2
|
752 little bits of her fantasies of being with Sakura. Even if she
|
|
rlm@2
|
753 couldn't have Sakura's love, she was more than happy for the little
|
|
rlm@2
|
754 pieces she could collect. And for a moment, she could forget that
|
|
rlm@2
|
755 Sakura's heart belonged to another and simply revel in the here and
|
|
rlm@2
|
756 now. She 'mmm'ed as Sakura pulled the chopsticks away.
|
|
rlm@2
|
757
|
|
rlm@2
|
758 "Thanks, Tomoyo-chan. I was hoping you'd like it." Sakura took
|
|
rlm@2
|
759 another morsel up to Tomoyo's lips, waiting for it to disappear
|
|
rlm@2
|
760 between Tomoyo's soft, cute lips. Her heart pounded as it indeed
|
|
rlm@2
|
761 disappeared, the slight tug on the chopstickes signalling the end of
|
|
rlm@2
|
762 that bite. She had faint memories of wanting to feed Yukito
|
|
rlm@2
|
763 strawberries when she was younger. This was the feeling she'd
|
|
rlm@2
|
764 imagined along with it, that warm throbbing of her heart and the
|
|
rlm@2
|
765 utterly perfect feeling of it all. Tomoyo smiled at her openly and
|
|
rlm@2
|
766 lovingly, accepting each bite graciously, almost as if starved for a
|
|
rlm@2
|
767 piece of Sakura's creation, the love Sakura had peppered throughout
|
|
rlm@2
|
768 the meal. "Of course I'd like it," Tomoyo assured her. "I like
|
|
rlm@2
|
769 anything Sakura-chan." With Sakura pausing before getting more food,
|
|
rlm@2
|
770 the heiress took the time to give one of her patented smiles. "Tomoyo-
|
|
rlm@2
|
771 chan..." Sakura sighed, mock chiding. "What am I going to do with
|
|
rlm@2
|
772 you?"Placing her finger on her chin, Tomoyo looked deep in thought.
|
|
rlm@2
|
773 "I can think of another things, but I think we'd need to make sure
|
|
rlm@2
|
774 Kero-chan was in another room." Her eyes travelled over Sakura's
|
|
rlm@2
|
775 graceful form, her smile growing. "We'll have to tell him to turn up
|
|
rlm@2
|
776 the television, too. How loudly do you moan?""T...Tomoyo-chan...."
|
|
rlm@2
|
777 Her face darkening, Sakura quickly grabbed another bite, popping it
|
|
rlm@2
|
778 into Tomoyo's mouth to keep her quiet for a moment while a very
|
|
rlm@2
|
779 embarrassed Sakura regained her composure. Tomoyo smiled at her,
|
|
rlm@2
|
780 undaunted, and chewed the bite away. "You're so terrible. You
|
|
rlm@2
|
781 shouldn't tease me like that." Her heart was racing and she couldn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
782 tear her eyes away from the beautiful heiress before her.Finishing
|
|
rlm@2
|
783 the bite, Tomoyo finally spoke again. "It isn't teasing if you mean
|
|
rlm@2
|
784 what you're saying," the lavender haired girl corrected. "It's more
|
|
rlm@2
|
785 of an offer." She nodded after a moment, affirming that it was indeed
|
|
rlm@2
|
786 an offer. Resting her hands on Tomoyo's shoulders, Sakura giggled,
|
|
rlm@2
|
787 her cheeks still slightly red. Her forehead came to rest against
|
|
rlm@2
|
788 Tomoyo's. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Tomoyo-chan."Letting
|
|
rlm@2
|
789 her eyes fall closed, Tomoyo felt her heartbeat quicken. Did Sakura
|
|
rlm@2
|
790 know what a huge affect she had on her? How her heart would get so
|
|
rlm@2
|
791 wild when she was near like this? Oh, Sakura... "I'm sure Sakura-chan
|
|
rlm@2
|
792 would be fine without me. I just try to help when I can," she got
|
|
rlm@2
|
793 out, her voice a little too soft. It was almost hard to think,
|
|
rlm@2
|
794 feeling Sakura against her, knowing she was so close. 'Can we please
|
|
rlm@2
|
795 stay like this?' Tomoyo wanted to ask, but she feared she was too
|
|
rlm@2
|
796 breathless to get it out. Sakura had no idea of her true power, the
|
|
rlm@2
|
797 way she held Tomoyo's heart enthralled to her.
|
|
rlm@2
|
798
|
|
rlm@2
|
799 Sakura shook her head, her hair rustling against Tomoyo's. "You're
|
|
rlm@2
|
800 my strength, Tomoyo-chan. I was talking to Sonomi-san earlier. She
|
|
rlm@2
|
801 made me think of how lucky I am to have you. You make me stronger. I
|
|
rlm@2
|
802 wouldn't have been able to have done it all without you. Syaoran
|
|
rlm@2
|
803 helped me a lot, but you made me strong enough to get through it
|
|
rlm@2
|
804 all." Her voice was starting to choke up. The thought of anyone
|
|
rlm@2
|
805 taking Tomoyo away was like the thought of getting her oxygen taken
|
|
rlm@2
|
806 away, something incredibly important. She would be so empty without
|
|
rlm@2
|
807 Tomoyo. Her strength would flee her without Tomoyo to hold her up.
|
|
rlm@2
|
808 "With you..." her eyes sparkled with unshed tears when she looked
|
|
rlm@2
|
809 into Tomoyo's eyes. "With you, everything will always be all right."
|
|
rlm@2
|
810
|
|
rlm@2
|
811 "Sakura-chan..." Tomoyo's fingers reached up, gently stroking
|
|
rlm@2
|
812 Sakura's cheek. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here. I'll always
|
|
rlm@2
|
813 be here for you. I'll always love you. Whether you love me or not, my
|
|
rlm@2
|
814 heart will always be yours. I'll always be there to help you go
|
|
rlm@2
|
815 forward, to help show you how strong and beautiful and wonderful you
|
|
rlm@2
|
816 are. You make sure that everything will always be all right, Sakura-
|
|
rlm@2
|
817 chan. That's your magic. I just make sure that you remember it and
|
|
rlm@2
|
818 pour your heart into it." Her hand trailed to Sakura's heart. "You
|
|
rlm@2
|
819 have to believe it with all your heart. And I'm here to make sure you
|
|
rlm@2
|
820 know how true it is, how you can accomplish anything." Sakura's
|
|
rlm@2
|
821 heartbeat was quick under her palm. She left her palm there, counting
|
|
rlm@2
|
822 the beats in her mind. Sakura's heart, kissing her palm. The heiress
|
|
rlm@2
|
823 smiled softly. "Let's have cake, Sakura-chan. Your father made you
|
|
rlm@2
|
824 some. We'll have that and watch a movie. And I'll be right here with
|
|
rlm@2
|
825 you." Sakura's heart slowly calmed against her palm.The brunette
|
|
rlm@2
|
826 nodded almost imperceptibly at first, but more assuredly a second
|
|
rlm@2
|
827 time. "That sounds nice, Tomoyo-chan. I'd like that." She held
|
|
rlm@2
|
828 Tomoyo's hand to her heart, interlacing her fingers with Tomoyo's own
|
|
rlm@2
|
829 delicate fingers. She smiled when she opened her eyes, the tears
|
|
rlm@2
|
830 fading. They were a team, after all. Whatever happened.
|
|
rlm@2
|
831 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
|
832
|
|
rlm@2
|
833 Syaoran was so tired of talking to self-important people. How did
|
|
rlm@2
|
834 his mother handle all the meaningless blather? Yes, it was to keep
|
|
rlm@2
|
835 important ties between the Li Clan and other influential families and
|
|
rlm@2
|
836 people throughout Hong Kong. But it was so frustrating. Small talk
|
|
rlm@2
|
837 wasn't his forte. Everyone wanted to speak to the new heir to the Li
|
|
rlm@2
|
838 Clan and his mother, Ieran, made sure they were all directed neatly
|
|
rlm@2
|
839 to him. He had to make so many assurances and he had to discuss the
|
|
rlm@2
|
840 most inane things. It almost seemed like a better option to just walk
|
|
rlm@2
|
841 out of the damn thing. His sisters were much, much better with people
|
|
rlm@2
|
842 than he was, chatting away with the different guests they had.
|
|
rlm@2
|
843 Syaoran would have been happier practicing his magic out in the
|
|
rlm@2
|
844 gathering storm. It felt so crowded. He just wanted to get away for a
|
|
rlm@2
|
845 moment, but he knew he couldn't. This was his job now, his place as
|
|
rlm@2
|
846 the heir to the Li Clan.
|
|
rlm@2
|
847
|
|
rlm@2
|
848 A hand on his shoulder almost made him jump. Not another person to
|
|
rlm@2
|
849 talk to. His sister, Sheifa, had told him to try smiling more, but he
|
|
rlm@2
|
850 didn't feel like smiling for these people. Sighing inwardly, the
|
|
rlm@2
|
851 young magician turned to start some more worthless rambling about
|
|
rlm@2
|
852 things he didn't care for. Blink blink. A halfgrin and amber eyes met
|
|
rlm@2
|
853 his gaze.
|
|
rlm@2
|
854
|
|
rlm@2
|
855 Meiling smiled at him, arching a raven eyebrow. "Surprised to see
|
|
rlm@2
|
856 me? I just got here. I had to take care of some things for my
|
|
rlm@2
|
857 mother." Stepping closer, her voice dropped to a whisper. "Dance with
|
|
rlm@2
|
858 me. They'll leave you alone while you're dancing." Seeing the boy
|
|
rlm@2
|
859 hesitate for a moment, Meiling placed his hands on her body and began
|
|
rlm@2
|
860 to dance with him, moving towards the other couples who were dancing.
|
|
rlm@2
|
861 "See? That's not so bad. And no more stupid conversations you have to
|
|
rlm@2
|
862 pretend to be interested in."Syaoran let out a light sigh, giving
|
|
rlm@2
|
863 Meiling a nod as they moved. "Thanks, Meiling. I owe you one." He let
|
|
rlm@2
|
864 himself relax a bit, moving in tandem with Meiling. After years of
|
|
rlm@2
|
865 practicing martial arts with his cousin, they had very good rhythm
|
|
rlm@2
|
866 together. A few people looked on as they danced, surprised by how
|
|
rlm@2
|
867 good the two were. They knew where the other's movement would lead
|
|
rlm@2
|
868 them. It wasn't a problem of having to guess. They simply knew. So
|
|
rlm@2
|
869 for the time being, at least, Syaoran didn't have to worry about the
|
|
rlm@2
|
870 world around him. Meiling felt like an extension of himself, moving
|
|
rlm@2
|
871 with the same step as he did.
|
|
rlm@2
|
872
|
|
rlm@2
|
873 "Don't say that," Meiling whispered. "Or I'll hold you to it. And
|
|
rlm@2
|
874 you wouldn't like what I had you do to repay me," she warned, her
|
|
rlm@2
|
875 breath warm in his ear. She laughed softly as she saw him try to
|
|
rlm@2
|
876 scowl and fail, his cheeks just the lightest shade of red. "Your
|
|
rlm@2
|
877 sisters seem more well versed in the art of small talk." The raven
|
|
rlm@2
|
878 haired girl glanced across at one of Syaoran's sisters talking to an
|
|
rlm@2
|
879 important banker as they danced. "But I understand why you wouldn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
880 like it. I hate having to kiss up to these people. Sometimes I hate
|
|
rlm@2
|
881 family politics. Makes you just want to run off and scream." She
|
|
rlm@2
|
882 scrunched up her face and even Syaoran had to grin.
|
|
rlm@2
|
883
|
|
rlm@2
|
884 "Yeah, I know," Syaoran replied, sighing. "But there's nothing I
|
|
rlm@2
|
885 can do about it. This is my place now. I need to do what's best for
|
|
rlm@2
|
886 the Clan." He had been preparing for this postion his whole life. He
|
|
rlm@2
|
887 knew he was prepared for it. But that didn't make it any less
|
|
rlm@2
|
888 frustrating at times. It simply made him determined to push past it
|
|
rlm@2
|
889 all. He would prove he was a worthy successor. He would make his
|
|
rlm@2
|
890 mother proud even if it killed him.Meiling closed her eyes as they
|
|
rlm@2
|
891 danced, holding on tighter to her cousin. "I know what you mean. We
|
|
rlm@2
|
892 all have our roles to play in the family. It's bigger and more
|
|
rlm@2
|
893 important than what we want. But sometimes... Sometimes you just want
|
|
rlm@2
|
894 to go do something stupid, something just for you."
|
|
rlm@2
|
895
|
|
rlm@2
|
896 Nodding slowly, the brunette boy felt Meiling's long pigtail swish
|
|
rlm@2
|
897 over his hand, feeling her heart beating against his chest as they
|
|
rlm@2
|
898 danced. His arms pulled her closer almost without his noticing.
|
|
rlm@2
|
899 Sometimes Meiling could seem so fragile, so delicate. It was such a
|
|
rlm@2
|
900 departure from her normally strong, confident self. He always wanted
|
|
rlm@2
|
901 to protect her when she was like that, just as he had when they had
|
|
rlm@2
|
902 been children together. He wanted to make her feel warm and safe
|
|
rlm@2
|
903 again. He held her even closer, her breath caressing his neck. She
|
|
rlm@2
|
904 did so much for him. She had been his support this whole time,
|
|
rlm@2
|
905 helping him through all the trials that faced him. He felt useless
|
|
rlm@2
|
906 for not being able to return the favor. She didn't need his
|
|
rlm@2
|
907 protection anymore. She was a big girl, a strong woman. When they had
|
|
rlm@2
|
908 been children, she had needed him. But now, it was reversed. Now he
|
|
rlm@2
|
909 needed... With a curt nod of his head, he tried to slice the thought
|
|
rlm@2
|
910 off, but it didn't entirely go away.
|
|
rlm@2
|
911
|
|
rlm@2
|
912 Syaoran tried to send his mind elsewhere, turning slowly with her as
|
|
rlm@2
|
913 the music and chatter of voices surrounded them. Meiling was getting
|
|
rlm@2
|
914 married soon, sacrificed as another offering for the family. He could
|
|
rlm@2
|
915 go out on a limb and try to stop the marriage, but she didn't care.
|
|
rlm@2
|
916 He felt as if he had failed her somehow. Did she love him? No, of
|
|
rlm@2
|
917 course not. But she wasn't fighting the marriage, even with her fiery
|
|
rlm@2
|
918 spirit. Had he crushed her spirits? All those years, endlessly loving
|
|
rlm@2
|
919 him, without anything in return. Had she finally just given up? He
|
|
rlm@2
|
920 wanted to make it up to her somehow, to make things better for her.
|
|
rlm@2
|
921 She'd sacrificed so much to him. 'Meiling, you were never a bother,'
|
|
rlm@2
|
922 he thought. He had told her that long ago when she'd been forced to
|
|
rlm@2
|
923 go home during his time capturing the Clow Cards. And it was true.
|
|
rlm@2
|
924 Meiling had never been a bother. She'd always been his safety net,
|
|
rlm@2
|
925 helping to keep him going. And what had he given her in return? A
|
|
rlm@2
|
926 broken heart. And here Meiling was, again trying to save him from the
|
|
rlm@2
|
927 boredom of this stupid event. She was always there for him.
|
|
rlm@2
|
928
|
|
rlm@2
|
929 The two continued twirling under the stars that were the lights
|
|
rlm@2
|
930 above them. Meiling's body was warm and comfortable against Syaoran's
|
|
rlm@2
|
931 strong, thin body. Her soft breathing kept a steady rhythm on his
|
|
rlm@2
|
932 shoulder, her hair swishing now and then against his hands. He
|
|
rlm@2
|
933 swallowed nervously, still moving in tandem with her. A soft sigh
|
|
rlm@2
|
934 escaped his cousin, muffled by his shoulder.
|
|
rlm@2
|
935
|
|
rlm@2
|
936 "I've never been good at being patient. 'I'll be your fiancee until
|
|
rlm@2
|
937 you find the one you love most.' I remember making you promise that
|
|
rlm@2
|
938 when we were little." Meiling laughed softly, her voice strained.
|
|
rlm@2
|
939 Syaoran couldn't tell if there was a sob in her voice or not. "I wish
|
|
rlm@2
|
940 you hadn't found her."
|
|
rlm@2
|
941 "Meiling..." Syaoran didn't know what to say. He never wanted to
|
|
rlm@2
|
942 break her heart. The only girl who had always cared for him. Even
|
|
rlm@2
|
943 moreso than disappointing his mother, he hated hurting Meiling. But
|
|
rlm@2
|
944 what could he say to that? It wasn't like he could just take it back.
|
|
rlm@2
|
945 His mind raced in frustrating circles, mocking him.
|
|
rlm@2
|
946
|
|
rlm@2
|
947 Cupping Meiling's chin, his heart pounding, he pulled her lips
|
|
rlm@2
|
948 against his own. Meiling's lips felt altogether different from
|
|
rlm@2
|
949 Sakura's, but no less as wonderful. They were frozen against his own
|
|
rlm@2
|
950 for a moment before they seemed to melt, springing to life against
|
|
rlm@2
|
951 his own. His heart beat faster as Meiling's fingers dug into him, his
|
|
rlm@2
|
952 cousin slowly kissing back. Her lips felt so wonderful against his
|
|
rlm@2
|
953 own. They were so soft and warm and full of like. Meiling shifted,
|
|
rlm@2
|
954 her lips pushing further against his own. If he could just hold her
|
|
rlm@2
|
955 like this... Maybe he could make things better. He could finally heal
|
|
rlm@2
|
956 Meiling's broken heart. It took all of Meiling's strength to finally
|
|
rlm@2
|
957 pull away from the kiss. It was a kiss she had waited over a decade
|
|
rlm@2
|
958 for and part at her screamed that she must be mad to give up on it.
|
|
rlm@2
|
959 But she clamped down on the feelings, balling her fists and pulling
|
|
rlm@2
|
960 away from Syaoran. Her eyes narrowed to keep from betraying the
|
|
rlm@2
|
961 cacophony of the emotions inside of her. "I have to go." Her voice
|
|
rlm@2
|
962 was weaker than she would have liked, but she didn't have time to be
|
|
rlm@2
|
963 picky. As she turned to leave, his hand reached out for her. Her hand
|
|
rlm@2
|
964 launched out and caught his wrist. Her eyes shot him a glance. "You
|
|
rlm@2
|
965 have a girlfriend and I'm getting married. Great time to decide to
|
|
rlm@2
|
966 seduce me. You finally take a shot when I'm unavailable. Not very
|
|
rlm@2
|
967 sporting. I love you, Syaoran. But I will never be second best to
|
|
rlm@2
|
968 you. I'd be yours if I were your first choice. I'm not going to play
|
|
rlm@2
|
969 for you because Sakura's too far away at the moment." Turning on her
|
|
rlm@2
|
970 heal, the raven haired girl hurried out into the gathering storm, her
|
|
rlm@2
|
971 emotions mirrored in the heavens. She was disappointed and hurt and
|
|
rlm@2
|
972 apologetic all at the same time. She was angry with him and angry at
|
|
rlm@2
|
973 herself. Syaoran could only watch for a long moment, seeing Meiling
|
|
rlm@2
|
974 run out the door, tears glistening in her eyes. "Meiling!!" But it
|
|
rlm@2
|
975 was too late. She was already gone. He had thought it was what she
|
|
rlm@2
|
976 wanted. It felt so nice to finally be able to kiss her. What had gone
|
|
rlm@2
|
977 wrong? Had he been wrong? Did her heart really belong to another now?
|
|
rlm@2
|
978 "Good job, Syaoran," a voice said behind him. Fanren held her arms
|
|
rlm@2
|
979 behind her back, a bemused look on her face. "Leave me the hell
|
|
rlm@2
|
980 alone," Syaoran growled quietly, his eyes shooting daggers. "She left
|
|
rlm@2
|
981 herself open for you all these years. She kept pining after you even
|
|
rlm@2
|
982 after you started dating Sakura. But Meiling is a very proud girl.
|
|
rlm@2
|
983 She wants to be the one you love the most. She can't stand to be
|
|
rlm@2
|
984 second best. And now you're picking her because you're lonely and
|
|
rlm@2
|
985 she's getting married. You insulted her. Now she feels like she isn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
986 good enough," Fanren explained."I didn't... I never meant..." Syaoran
|
|
rlm@2
|
987 trailed off. What had he meant by it? He still loved Sakura, didn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
988 he? But what about Meiling? He hadn't meant that she was second best,
|
|
rlm@2
|
989 only that... His emotions felt so indecipherable sometimes. He closed
|
|
rlm@2
|
990 his eyes, clenching his jaw. Damn it.... He wanted to go after
|
|
rlm@2
|
991 Meiling, but he didn't know what to say. This was another time that
|
|
rlm@2
|
992 he couldn't save her.
|
|
rlm@2
|
993
|
|
rlm@2
|
994
|
