annotate old/stories/dearsakura-04.txt @ 2:fc00894c1d4a moonlitnights

[svn r3] moved all the bad stuff to 'old'
author rlm
date Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:53:12 -0500
parents
children
rev   line source
rlm@2 1 Dear Sakura:
rlm@2 2 On Angel's Wings
rlm@2 3 by The Amazoness Duo
rlm@2 4 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@2 5
rlm@2 6
rlm@2 7
rlm@2 8 “Tomoyo-chan, are you sure you won’t come with me? The cabin will
rlm@2 9 be lonely without you. You could bring some of your videotapes and we
rlm@2 10 could watch them while we’re up there. And the weather is going to be
rlm@2 11 gorgeous. We could go for a picnic,” Sonomi Daidouji suggested to her
rlm@2 12 daughter as the younger of the two continued packing.
rlm@2 13 “I would love to come with, Okaa-sama, but I couldn’t stand to
rlm@2 14 disappoint Sakura-chan. You should have heard her on the phone last
rlm@2 15 night. She sounds so excited. I haven’t heard her like that since the
rlm@2 16 night she told me that Li-kun had proposed to her.” What she didn’t
rlm@2 17 have to add was that she and Syaoran had been planning to for weeks
rlm@2 18 but he couldn’t work up the courage or make up his mind so she had to
rlm@2 19 follow him around and nudge him ever closer into finally proposing.
rlm@2 20 It had been one of the most heartbreaking things she had done for
rlm@2 21 Sakura’s happiness, but it had to be done. What if he hadn’t proposed
rlm@2 22 otherwise? Tomoyo smiled her trademark smile as she placed in some
rlm@2 23 more clothing. Sakura had told her to pack light clothes, so she was
rlm@2 24 going for a slightly different style than the usual dresses she wore.
rlm@2 25 Her camcorder was already packed up in it’s case, ready for the long
rlm@2 26 trip to Hong Kong.
rlm@2 27 Sonomi sighed exasperatedly. Even if she could see past her
rlm@2 28 daughter’s almost impenetrable emotional masks, she still wished that
rlm@2 29 she would let them down more often around her. And that she would
rlm@2 30 listen to reason. “I just don’t think this is a good idea. Sakura-
rlm@2 31 chan already went off and got married right in front of you. Does she
rlm@2 32 really need to throw it in your face? No good can come from this.
rlm@2 33 Just tell her that as your mother and your boss, I forced you to come
rlm@2 34 along to the mountains with me.” The older woman took out the blouse
rlm@2 35 Tomoyo had just placed in the suitcase, laying it back on the bed.
rlm@2 36 Looking back to her mother, Tomoyo smiled cheerfully again as she
rlm@2 37 repacked the offending blouse. “Sakura-chan wouldn’t do that. She’s
rlm@2 38 lonely up in Hong Kong all by herself. She needs some help getting
rlm@2 39 settled. So I’ll go and help her. I think she’ll be happy to get a
rlm@2 40 little piece of home in her new life. It will help her to move on
rlm@2 41 with her life.” Tilting her head to the side thoughtfully, she
rlm@2 42 glanced around for anything she may be missing.
rlm@2 43 Her lithe hands taking her daughter’s shoulders, Sonomi turned the
rlm@2 44 younger woman to face her. “But what about you, Tomoyo-chan? Maybe
rlm@2 45 Sakura-chan does need this. But I really don’t think you do. It’s not
rlm@2 46 wise for you to go back for more pain. Darling, don’t you think she’s
rlm@2 47 hurt you enough? Do you need to see her with him now? For the past
rlm@2 48 few years I’ve seen you suffer in silence as you watched them
rlm@2 49 together. I don’t want you going off so she can blindly break my
rlm@2 50 little girl’s heart again.” She frowned, brushing away some of
rlm@2 51 Tomoyo’s lavender hair from her stormy blue eyes. Her heart was
rlm@2 52 tearing itself in two. She knew first hand how painful it was to
rlm@2 53 watch one’s true love marry another. And there had been nothing she
rlm@2 54 could do about it. And now she was equally helpless to stop the pain
rlm@2 55 in her daughter. Through the weak smile Tomoyo was keeping up, she
rlm@2 56 could see the shimmer of tears in her daughter’s eyes and the deep
rlm@2 57 pain behind it. “Oh, Tomoyo-chan...” Pulling the smaller woman
rlm@2 58 closer, the businesswoman held onto her tightly, stroking her back
rlm@2 59 the way she had when she was little.
rlm@2 60 Tomoyo closed her eyes as her mother held onto her, letting the
rlm@2 61 comforting embrace relax her. “Please don’t worry about me, Okaa-
rlm@2 62 sama. I’ll be fine. I really will be happy to see Sakura-chan again.
rlm@2 63 I’ve missed her so much lately. Hearing her on the phone and writing
rlm@2 64 her isn’t enough. I need to see her. To be with her. Even if it’s for
rlm@2 65 the last time,” her musical voice whispered softly, barely
rlm@2 66 restraining the emotion underneath. She hugged her mother back, her
rlm@2 67 eyes still shut. This whole visit had brought up so many mixed
rlm@2 68 emotions in her. She dearly wanted to see her precious Sakura again,
rlm@2 69 but the prospect of interrupting her new life with her husband was
rlm@2 70 painful. She knew that Syaoran was probably taking good care of
rlm@2 71 Sakura and providing her with things she never could. And in turn, he
rlm@2 72 was rewarded with something Sakura could never give her. Her sweet,
rlm@2 73 innocent love. And what a reward at that. But if he could make her
rlm@2 74 happy, then he more than deserved it. But going in and seeing her
rlm@2 75 beloved with her husband was a painful thought indeed. And after
rlm@2 76 Sakura got settled, there really wouldn’t be much of a need for her
rlm@2 77 anymore. Syaoran had already replaced her at Sakura’s side as the
rlm@2 78 most important person in her life. He would love and support her the
rlm@2 79 way she always had. She would go to him with her problems. And Sakura
rlm@2 80 could forget about her. So in that sense, this trip was extremely
rlm@2 81 bittersweet for the young heiress. This truly could be the last time
rlm@2 82 she ever saw Sakura. But she had to. For Sakura’s sake. As well as
rlm@2 83 her own. If this was her last chance to spend time with Sakura, she
rlm@2 84 would have to treasure the moments for eternity.
rlm@2 85 When Tomoyo finally stepped away from her mother, she smiled
rlm@2 86 softly, composed once again. “I’ll be fine, Okaa-sama. I’ll give
rlm@2 87 Sakura-chan your love.”
rlm@2 88 Sonomi seemed to consider that for a moment. Did she really want
rlm@2 89 Sakura even hearing from her after the hell she had been forcing her
rlm@2 90 daughter through? Not that there was any use arguing the point with
rlm@2 91 Tomoyo. The younger Daidouji already had enough to worry about
rlm@2 92 without her mother’s anger at Sakura. Sighing, she crossed her arms.
rlm@2 93 “But promise that you’ll call me while you’re up there. Everyday. I
rlm@2 94 want to know how things are going.”
rlm@2 95 Tomoyo giggled softly and nodded. “Hai, Okaa-sama. I’ll be sure to
rlm@2 96 call you. Please have fun on your vacation, too.” A melodious beeping
rlm@2 97 interrupted the two from Tomoyo’s watch. Pink and cute with intricate
rlm@2 98 and colorful designs on it, it was most obviously a product of
rlm@2 99 Daidouji Toys. “I’m going to be late if I don’t hurry.” She glanced
rlm@2 100 back at her mother after picking up her small bag with the camcorder
rlm@2 101 in it. Two darkly clad bodyguards picked up her two other suitcases.
rlm@2 102 “Everything will be fine. Please don’t worry. You’ve been so busy
rlm@2 103 with work that you really need to relax on this vacation. And how can
rlm@2 104 I enjoy my time with Sakura-chan if I know Okaa-sama’s busy worrying
rlm@2 105 about me?”
rlm@2 106 The older woman couldn’t help but smile. Just like Nadeshiko. Her
rlm@2 107 daughter had always been such a sweet girl, much like her cousin. But
rlm@2 108 that concern for her loved ones came from Sonomi herself, even if
rlm@2 109 Tomoyo managed to be more subtle about it. “Let’s hurry. The
rlm@2 110 limousine’s waiting.”
rlm@2 111 Taking one last look at her room, Tomoyo tried to spot anything
rlm@2 112 that she might be missing. She was usually very good at organizing
rlm@2 113 things, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was missing
rlm@2 114 something. Her eyes finally settled on the half-finished costume she
rlm@2 115 had once been working on for Sakura. Folding it over her arm, she
rlm@2 116 hurriedly followed her mother out the door.
rlm@2 117
rlm@2 118 Stormy blue eyes watched with a mild curiosity as the lighter blue
rlm@2 119 skies slowly filtered past outside the window. It wouldn’t take too
rlm@2 120 long before she was in Hong Kong. But Tomoyo hadn’t fully sorted out
rlm@2 121 her feelings on the situation. Which was very difficult for her. She
rlm@2 122 knew how she should feel about the whole thing. She should be happy
rlm@2 123 for Sakura, that she was with the one she loved and that she was
rlm@2 124 happily on the road to her new life. But it hurt her terribly that
rlm@2 125 their roads had veered from one another’s. Her heart longed for
rlm@2 126 Sakura. Her determined spirit, her genki attitude, her sweet smile.
rlm@2 127 Everything about her. So it was with some delight that she had gotten
rlm@2 128 the chance to fly out to see her so soon. And without the pretext of
rlm@2 129 Sakura being with child as well. But how did she fit into Sakura’s
rlm@2 130 new life? As nothing more than a relic from the past, sadly. And this
rlm@2 131 trip was just making her realize that cold fact more and more. The
rlm@2 132 trip was not much more than an attempt to curb Sakura’s homesickness
rlm@2 133 so that she could move on with her new life. Seeing Sakura would be
rlm@2 134 both the most pleasant part of the trip and the most painful. Part of
rlm@2 135 her had wanted to accept her mother’s offer to go on vacation with
rlm@2 136 her at a cabin in the mountains. But she needed to see Sakura again.
rlm@2 137 To see that she had done the right thing in getting her beloved with
rlm@2 138 another. Of that she was fairly certain, but she wanted to see Sakura
rlm@2 139 happy with her special person. Seeing that making Sakura happy would
rlm@2 140 make it all worth it. The she could go back to Japan and Sakura could
rlm@2 141 forget all about her. But her final memories of Sakura, the knowledge
rlm@2 142 that Sakura was finally happy would carry her through it.
rlm@2 143 Tomoyo needed to see Sakura if for no other reason than to be with
rlm@2 144 her true love just once more. She needed to see the girl that she had
rlm@2 145 fallen in love with all those years ago. Sakura always filled her
rlm@2 146 heart with such warmth just being near her. That had been missing
rlm@2 147 from her life for too long now. Her heart soared at the thought of
rlm@2 148 seeing her dear Sakura again, of being able to experience those
rlm@2 149 wonderful sensations without the aid of videotape or her own
rlm@2 150 memories. To feel the sheer and utter warmth she had for this girl at
rlm@2 151 its strongest, the way she always was when she was in Sakura’s
rlm@2 152 presence.
rlm@2 153 “Don’t you make me happy... Don’t you have a good time...” Tomoyo
rlm@2 154 sung softly as she watched the clouds outside. One big fluffy one
rlm@2 155 looked just like Kero-chan. And in another wispier one, she could see
rlm@2 156 Sakura on her old staff. Smiling softly, she took a small bite of her
rlm@2 157 meal. It was nice, but she wasn’t very hungry.
rlm@2 158 “Can I get you anything, ma’am?” the waitress asked pleasantly.
rlm@2 159 Tomoyo just smiled in response and shook her head politely.
rlm@2 160 After months and months of struggling, Tomoyo had finally managed
rlm@2 161 to watch the videotape of the wedding ceremony all the way through.
rlm@2 162 She had left right near the end, unable to stay and watch the entire
rlm@2 163 event. That fact weighed heavily upon her. She had wanted to stay for
rlm@2 164 Sakura, but watching her love get married off and taken away from her
rlm@2 165 for good was too much for her to bear. And that had been the last she
rlm@2 166 had seen of Sakura. They had left for their honeymoon after that and
rlm@2 167 then to Hong Kong. She was truly grateful that Sakura had sent her
rlm@2 168 the bouquet from her wedding. She had felt devastated for not being
rlm@2 169 there near the end, but it made her feel better to have the pretty
rlm@2 170 flowers that symbolized Sakura’s new union. Now it was right next to
rlm@2 171 her mother’s bouquet from Nadeshiko’s wedding. It really made her
rlm@2 172 wonder if maybe it was Fate at work. Her mother obviously loved
rlm@2 173 Nadeshiko with the same passion that she held for Sakura, yet she was
rlm@2 174 denied that love. Just as she was denied the chance to be with
rlm@2 175 Sakura. Even though they both went about their love in very different
rlm@2 176 ways. But it was all right. Her mother might not understand exactly,
rlm@2 177 but it really was more important that Sakura be happy than with her.
rlm@2 178 That your loved one was happy, even if you weren’t together, truly
rlm@2 179 was the most vital thing.
rlm@2 180 That fact had been what she had tried to explain many times to
rlm@2 181 Sakura. But what she hadn’t told Sakura was that even if she was
rlm@2 182 pleased for her special someone to be happy with someone else, there
rlm@2 183 was also a lot of hurt inside. Yes, she was happy for Sakura. That
rlm@2 184 was the truth. It was also true that she cried herself to sleep at
rlm@2 185 night, lonely and sad that she would never be able to let her
rlm@2 186 feelings for Sakura out of the cage of her heart. But sometimes
rlm@2 187 Sakura only needed the half truth. Especially when the whole truth
rlm@2 188 would hurt her. And Tomoyo had been very careful in all the time that
rlm@2 189 she had known Sakura to not hurt her. Even if it meant being creative
rlm@2 190 about the truth at times and not always showing her true feelings.
rlm@2 191 A mixture of pain and warmth, longing and loneliness filled the
rlm@2 192 young businesswoman’s heart. Her own heart used to be so open to her.
rlm@2 193 She had understood it implicitly. But now it was so confused by all
rlm@2 194 the conflicting thoughts and emotions that she didn’t know if she
rlm@2 195 could fit some of the conflicting emotions together. Which meant she
rlm@2 196 had to be even more careful while in Hong Kong. She needed to be
rlm@2 197 happy for Sakura. She couldn’t let Sakura see that she was hurting or
rlm@2 198 it might ruin things. At the very least, it would make Sakura sad and
rlm@2 199 she couldn’t have that.
rlm@2 200 Tomoyo smiled gently as she closed her eyes, envisioning the cute
rlm@2 201 brunette. “I love you, Sakura-chan. Let’s enjoy this trip. There will
rlm@2 202 be time for tears later.”
rlm@2 203
rlm@2 204 Sakura sighed as she stared blankly at the magazine on her lap. Her
rlm@2 205 mind was refusing to concentrate on anything. Tomoyo’s flight was
rlm@2 206 overdue and she was starting to get worried. She had gotten to the
rlm@2 207 airport early in her enthusiasm to see her sweet friend again. A yawn
rlm@2 208 escaped her lips which she tried to cover quickly. Sleep hadn’t been
rlm@2 209 very generous in coming for the past few nights. And the closer it
rlm@2 210 got to Tomoyo’s arrival, the more difficult it became for her to get
rlm@2 211 any rest. Last night had seemed like an eternity. Sleep had eluded
rlm@2 212 her for hours. She spent most of it in the room she had prepared for
rlm@2 213 Tomoyo, tidying things up one last time. When she had finally fallen
rlm@2 214 asleep, she had found herself passed out at the desk in that room.
rlm@2 215 Embarrassed and still a little sleepy, she had slipped back into bed
rlm@2 216 with her husband, but sleep once again taunted her. All sorts of
rlm@2 217 memories kept coming to her when she was about to nod off. The dress
rlm@2 218 Tomoyo had made her for one of the school dances had come to mind.
rlm@2 219 Then the lavender haired girl had asked her to the dance when she
rlm@2 220 found out that Syaoran couldn’t be there to take her. That had been a
rlm@2 221 lot of fun, even if it had seemed a little awkward at the time. When
rlm@2 222 Tomoyo had practiced with her for her auditions in Drama Club, which
rlm@2 223 had been the dark haired angel’s idea in the first place, had also
rlm@2 224 drifted into her head. When Tomoyo had shown her the videotape of her
rlm@2 225 flying on her magic staff and had found out that she was a magical
rlm@2 226 girl played over and over again in her mind.
rlm@2 227 Oddly enough, the one memory that stuck out the most was when
rlm@2 228 Tomoyo had been explaining the custom of making a teddy bear for the
rlm@2 229 person you like and them naming it after you. When Sakura had asked
rlm@2 230 the beautiful heiress about why she wasn't going to make one, Tomoyo
rlm@2 231 had smiled at her and explained that she would be happy as long as
rlm@2 232 her special person was. At the time, she had seen it as nothing more
rlm@2 233 than Tomoyo’s usual eccentricity, but for some reason it was
rlm@2 234 bothering her now. Why couldn’t Tomoyo make it for her special
rlm@2 235 someone? That wasn’t fair that she’d have to be alone like that, not
rlm@2 236 even being able to take part in such a cute little tradition. But
rlm@2 237 before she could make any sense of the whole thing, she had hurried
rlm@2 238 off to the airport.
rlm@2 239 The plane was still late. Sakura bit her lip anxiously. Her stomach
rlm@2 240 was starting to feel sick from all of the anxiety of waiting. She
rlm@2 241 kept seeing her pale friend in her mind’s eye, and it just made her
rlm@2 242 impatience grow. She missed Tomoyo terribly. They had been best
rlm@2 243 friends for years and years now and suddenly she was without her in a
rlm@2 244 new country. She was happy to be with her new husband, but the
rlm@2 245 loneliness she felt being away from Tomoyo continued to grow while
rlm@2 246 she was gone. And that confused her. Now that she was starting her
rlm@2 247 new life with Syaoran, she had expected that to diminish as time went
rlm@2 248 by. But it had only grown worse. So Tomoyo’s visit came as quite a
rlm@2 249 relief. It thrilled her to know that her friend would soon be with
rlm@2 250 her again. There was so much to do! So much to say! Her heart pounded
rlm@2 251 in her chest in excitement. She couldn’t wait to see the beautiful
rlm@2 252 woman again, to laugh with her and know that she was there by her
rlm@2 253 side. She hadn’t been this excited since the honeymoon.
rlm@2 254 Sakura paused for a moment, setting the magazine aside. Tomoyo had
rlm@2 255 been her best friend for what felt like a lifetime. They had only
rlm@2 256 been apart for several months. And she was married to her loving
rlm@2 257 husband and living her wonderful new life. Sure, it was great to be
rlm@2 258 able to spend time with Tomoyo again, but was that really anywhere on
rlm@2 259 par with a honeymoon with the man she had vowed to spend the rest of
rlm@2 260 her life with? Oh, it didn’t matter. She missed her friend so dearly
rlm@2 261 that it would be great to see her again. Why did it matter if she was
rlm@2 262 so exited to see her or not? Tomoyo was very important to her. More
rlm@2 263 than she’d ever realized before. But now that she was gone, Sakura
rlm@2 264 missed her daily. The dark haired woman’s nigh constant comforting
rlm@2 265 presence and warm words were no longer there except in the presence
rlm@2 266 of phone calls and letters. And that just wasn’t the same thing. She
rlm@2 267 needed the pale woman there with her so that she could feel whole
rlm@2 268 again. She knew Tomoyo believed in her, but sometimes she had trouble
rlm@2 269 believing in herself. And sometimes it was so hard adjusting to her
rlm@2 270 new life. But Tomoyo had always helped her through everything.
rlm@2 271 Somehow she knew that it would all be better if her incredibly
rlm@2 272 perceptive friend was there to help her.
rlm@2 273 Standing up excitedly, Sakura watched an airplane taxiing up. Was
rlm@2 274 that hers? Could that be...? It was!! Sakura clasped her hands
rlm@2 275 together happily as she watched it move slowly forward. It moved
rlm@2 276 achingly slow in her mind. ‘If only this wasn't for just a visit’.
rlm@2 277 That thought saddened her for a moment, but it quickly passed as her
rlm@2 278 excitement built to a crescendo. All of the waiting had built up to
rlm@2 279 this moment. All of that time apart would be over. At least for now.
rlm@2 280 Tomoyo would have to leave again soon enough. That thought alone left
rlm@2 281 a pain in her heart. Just like what Tomoyo had said about knowing
rlm@2 282 they couldn’t be together forever. The same was true now. They’d only
rlm@2 283 be here for a short visit. But that wasn’t for a while yet. And they
rlm@2 284 would see each other again in the meantime. Her heart nearly stopped
rlm@2 285 as she saw a pale figure walk out of the plane. Long, lavender hair
rlm@2 286 was done up in elegant braids, draped past her shoulders, sharply
rlm@2 287 contrasting her pale skin. Her short blue and aquamarine dress was
rlm@2 288 simple but beautiful. Tomoyo was stunningly beautiful, even more so
rlm@2 289 than Sakura had last remembered her. How her special someone could
rlm@2 290 ignore her, Sakura could not even begin to comprehend. Joy bubbled up
rlm@2 291 in her heart at the very sight of her best friend. It was a far cry
rlm@2 292 from their first meeting in class eight years prior. “Tomoyo-chan !!
rlm@2 293 Tomoyo-chan!”
rlm@2 294 Tomoyo turned to find the source of the voice. Her smile brightened
rlm@2 295 immeasurably as she spotted the brunette running towards her. “Sakura-
rlm@2 296 chan!” She stepped to the side, trying to get away from the rest of
rlm@2 297 the passengers and to her eager friend. “Sakura-chan, I’m so...” The
rlm@2 298 breath was knocked out of her as Sakura leapt into an embrace. The
rlm@2 299 athletic girl pulled her close, hugging her with all the energy she
rlm@2 300 could muster. Tomoyo felt her own heart surge at being so near Sakura
rlm@2 301 again. She had been right. Being near her did fill her heart near
rlm@2 302 bursting as the love inside struggled to be released. “It’s so good
rlm@2 303 to see you, Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo said sweetly when Sakura finally
rlm@2 304 released her grasp ever so slightly. Her eyes lingered on Sakura’s
rlm@2 305 shining emeralds. Sakura had grown into quite a pretty young woman.
rlm@2 306 She was still Tomoyo’s image of perfection. The bags under Sakura’s
rlm@2 307 eyes concerned her, but she knew that the Cardmistress hadn’t been
rlm@2 308 sleeping much because of her impending visit.
rlm@2 309 “I’m so happy to see you, too, Tomoyo-chan! I was starting to worry
rlm@2 310 that you had been swept up on your way to see me. I couldn’t wait for
rlm@2 311 you to get here.” Giving Tomoyo another tight hug, Sakura finally let
rlm@2 312 go. “I still can’t believe you’re here.” It had felt like an eternity
rlm@2 313 since she had last seen Tomoyo, but now that the dark haired girl was
rlm@2 314 here, it felt like it had only been the day before that they had last
rlm@2 315 seen each other. This trip was going to be wonderful. She could just
rlm@2 316 feel it.
rlm@2 317 Tomoyo giggled softly and shook her head. “Nothing could keep me
rlm@2 318 from my Sakura-chan. I had to get here. I’m very sorry to keep you
rlm@2 319 waiting.” She hefted the camcorder case up, adjusting the strap. “I
rlm@2 320 wanted to come out and record you again but they won’t let me until I
rlm@2 321 have it checked with security. It would have been the perfect first
rlm@2 322 shot for my ‘Sakura-chan and the Dream Vacation’ videotape!”
rlm@2 323 Now it was Sakura’s turn to laugh. “We’ll have to get you some
rlm@2 324 better shots than that. And I’m just glad to see you. I’ve missed you
rlm@2 325 so much, Tomoyo-chan. You don’t know how happy I am to have you here
rlm@2 326 in Hong Kong. I’ve been waiting the longest time for your visit.”
rlm@2 327 “I missed you, too, Sakura-chan. Nothing’s the same without your
rlm@2 328 cute presence to make everything exciting.” Tomoyo couldn’t take her
rlm@2 329 eyes off of Sakura. It was like she had been dying of thirst and had
rlm@2 330 just found her oasis. She drank up Sakura hungrily, burning her
rlm@2 331 precious image into her mind at that very moment as best she could.
rlm@2 332 She felt like she had been kept in the dark, blind and deaf to the
rlm@2 333 world and that she had just now been returned her senses. For now her
rlm@2 334 worries were far away. They hardly seemed to matter in the face of
rlm@2 335 the girl she loved.
rlm@2 336 Sakura blushed softly at Tomoyo’s compliment, but smiled. “We
rlm@2 337 better go get your bags. There’s so much I need to show you. And I
rlm@2 338 can’t wait for you to see your room. I really think you’ll like it.
rlm@2 339 I’ll help you unpack.” Taking Tomoyo’s hand, she couldn’t get rid of
rlm@2 340 her smile. Not that she wanted to. She was too happy to have her
rlm@2 341 friend back with her again. Things finally felt all right.
rlm@2 342 Tomoyo was a little surprised by Sakura’s hand holding her own, but
rlm@2 343 she didn’t complain. Squeezing Sakura’s hand gently, she nodded. “I’m
rlm@2 344 sure it will be lovely. Anything that Sakura-chan spent so much time
rlm@2 345 and effort into must be perfect. I’ll love being able to see it
rlm@2 346 without the need of a picture this time.”
rlm@2 347 “I really hope you think so when you see it. I think it’ll be very
rlm@2 348 nice for you. I tried to think like Tomoyo-chan while I was fixing up
rlm@2 349 the room. I’m afraid it’s not much like your old room, but I still
rlm@2 350 think it looks nice. So I’m not sure how good a job I did as you.”
rlm@2 351 Sakura looked outside and sweatdropped. Rain plastered the windows
rlm@2 352 all around them, casting the girls in shifting shadows. “I hope you
rlm@2 353 brought an umbrella. I was hoping things would at least clear up when
rlm@2 354 you arrived.”
rlm@2 355 Leading Sakura towards the baggage check out, Tomoyo’s worries felt
rlm@2 356 like they had been left back in the airplane. Being with Sakura again
rlm@2 357 really did feel wonderful. “Hai, I did. I tried to pack as best I
rlm@2 358 could from what you told me. And I already know that I’ll love the
rlm@2 359 room Sakura spent so much time putting together for me. I’m much
rlm@2 360 happier than I could be with any hotel room I could have.”
rlm@2 361 Sakura smiled happily and squeezed Tomoyo’s soft hand in return.
rlm@2 362 “Good. We’ll need to hurry so that we don’t waste any of your time
rlm@2 363 here!”