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1 Dear Sakura
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2 by G.P.
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3 pearsong1954@yahoo.com
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4
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5 I.
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6
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7 Walking slowly down the hallway of the now quiet mansion, Sakura and
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8 Tomoyo finally arrived at the guest room. The two stood face-to-face,
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9 hand-in-hand, smiling silently at each other. Captivated by the
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10 beautiful woman gazing lovingly at her, Sakura was unable to say good
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11 night. Tomoyo was tired, but her enchanted friend simply couldn’t
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12 tear herself away. Finally, as if groping for some excuse to keep the
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13 night alive, she stammerd out,
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14
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15 “Tomoyo-chan, ummu, would you like to meet Dark-sama and Light-sama?
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16 I know it’s late, and if you’re tired we can go to bed, but…”
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17
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18 Tomoyo squeezed the brunette’s hands and sweetly replied,
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19
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20 “I’d love to, Sakura-chan. I’m never sleepy when I’m with my
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21 favorite Cardmistress.” Then, with a little frown of concern, she
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22 added, “But is Sakura-chan too tired? I know that she has written her
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23 magic is sometimes fatiguing, and I would not want her to be
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24 exhausted for my sake.”
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25
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26 Sakura smiled brightly, shaking her head, “No, I’m fine, really”.
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27 With that, she spun about and ran down the hall, then turned
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28 sheepishly and started to yell. Suddenly covering her mouth at the
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29 realization of how late it was, she rushed back and whispered
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30 excitedly that she would return quickly with the cards. As she
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31 disappeared down the dark hallway, Tomoyo giggled, then took a slow,
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32 deep breath, struggling with her tumultuous emotions. She was indeed
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33 desperately tired, but sleep seemed trivial when she could be with
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34 her perpetually genki friend. After a few moments Sakura reappeared,
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35 Clow Book in hand, and the two entered the room.
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36
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37 Sakura carefully laid the book down on the old desk and pulled a
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38 little gold chain from her cheongsam as Tomoyo busied herself with
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39 something in the corner of the room. Sakura undid the chain and slid
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40 the Key off, cradling it in her hands. Puzzled, she looked about the
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41 room for Tomoyo, and saw her already filming with the video camera.
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42 Despite a sweat drop, Sakura basked in the warmth of Tomoyo’s
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43 attention. Holding the Key to her breast, she chanted the words of
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44 power,
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45
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46 "Key of the Star,
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47 with powers burning bright,
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48 reveal the staff,
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49 and shine your light.
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50 Release!"
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51
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52 A swirl of yellow light arose, and the floor glowed with the the
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53 Star Seal. Sakura felt a pulsating power rush through her body.
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54 Leaning over the desk, she carefully picked up The Light card, and
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55 flicked it into the air. Twirling her staff, she nimbly brought it
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56 down with a splash of bright, white light. As the light slowly
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57 coalesced into a feminine form, she awoke The Dark, and black shadows
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58 poured into the room. Within seconds, two beautiful women, clad like
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59 queens from a fairy tale, stood before the two friends. The woman
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60 with long, straight dark hair looked smilingly at Tomoyo, and then
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61 shyly averted her eyes. But the other, her golden hair curling to the
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62 floor and floating in the air, gazed lovingly at the unknown dark-
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63 haired girl. Bowing slightly, she greeted her melodiously in sing-
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64 song Chinese. Wishing Fanren was with her, Tomoyo bowed deeply and
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65 replied,
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66
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67 “Nihao. I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I don’t speak Chinese”. Dark
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68 looked at her in surprise. Light hid her tittering behind a slender
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69 hand, and spoke,
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70
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71 “I’m sorry. I thought perhaps I was addressing a Princess of the
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72 Imperial House. Sakura-chan, would you please introduce us to this
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73 lovely girl?”
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74
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75 Sakura shook her head, suddenly remembering her manners,
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76
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77 “Oh, gomenesai! Dark-sama, Light-sama, this is my very best friend
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78 from Japan, Daidouji Tomoyo.”
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79
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80 The shimmering figures smiled and bowed, as did Tomoyo. She watched
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81 in awe as shadows and light swirled languidly through the room. The
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82 two women from the cards held hands, their fingers lightly
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83 interlaced. Light's voice was soft and glowing,
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84
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85 “Sakura-chan has told us so much about you. Sometimes you’re all she
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86 talks about.” Turning to her shadowy friend, she spoke earnestly,
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87
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88 “She reminds me a little of you: sweet, gentle, and beautiful as
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89 twilight.” They were slowly drawn to one another, and for a
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90 breathless second Tomoyo thought they might actually kiss. But Light
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91 laid her hand on Dark’s blushing cheek, then turned slowly again to
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92 Tomoyo. In a voice like bright sunshine she said,
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93
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94 “And like you, Dark-chan, I think she has many secrets, don’t you,
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95 Tomoyo-chan?”
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96
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97 Tomoyo colored as Light’s sparkling eyes regarded her with measured
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98 care. Bowing slightly, Tomoyo replied,
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99
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100 “None that I could ever keep from you, Light-sama.”
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101
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102 With lady-like laughter, Dark’s delicate fingers touched her
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103 companion’s alabaster shoulder. In a voice like willows whispering in
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104 the night, she gently chided,
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105
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106 “Secrets are yours to reveal, Light-chan, but mine to keep. Some
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107 hearts abide in darkness, lest they shatter in the light of day. When
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108 she wishes her secrets known, she will seek you. Till then, let her
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109 rest with me.”
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110
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111 Dark leaned closer, her hand carefully brushing a stray lock of
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112 lavender hair from Tomoyo’s stormy blue eyes. Tender as a mother, or
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113 a lover, she caressed the girl’s pale, crimson-flushed cheek. Tomoyo
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114 was shrouded in the shadowy-black hair that drifted serenely about
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115 her. Eveloped by a fragrance of night flowers and wisteria, of
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116 sandalwood and incense, Tomoyo stood breathless as the beautiful,
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117 pale face hovered over her. Dark lightly kissed her forehead. The
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118 young woman from Japan swooned as a peaceful wave washed over her, a
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119 tranquil blessing that calmed the thudding in her breast. All the
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120 knotted fears and worries wound so tightly round her heart were
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121 loosed, and for an instant her unfettered soul soared free. She
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122 slumped into Dark’s arms, tears flowing, hugging her tightly.
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123 Surprised, the Dark figure smiled and hugged the trembling young
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124 woman, whispering reassurance as she gently carressed her. Tomoyo’s
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125 hair came magically undone, the shimmering tresses cascading like a
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126 black waterfall. The red and gold jewelry that had adorned her hair
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127 tinkled to the floor as her body grew limp. She fell into a deep
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128 slumber, and Dark laid the little body gently on the futon and wiped
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129 away the sparkling tears with her fingers. The emeralds encircling
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130 the darksome woman's slender throat shone brightly, illuminating the
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131 room in a magical, green glow. With sad, black eyes she turned to
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132 Sakura and spoke in a solemn whisper,
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133
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134 “Everything will be all right, if you take care of her. For now, let
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135 her sleep.” Sakura nodded silently. Dark and Light smiled and bowed,
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136 and Sakura returned them to their card forms. She carefully laid them
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137 in the book, then gazed at the still figure asleep on the futon.
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138 Sakura knelt and lovingly straightened her friend's shimmering
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139 lavender hair, slipped off the drowsing beauty's shoes, then loosened
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140 the red cheongsam. She finished by covering her with the silken
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141 quilt, but still could not will herself to leave. Tomoyo’s face was
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142 calm and placid, and she smiled sweetly at some delightful dream.
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143 Sakura looked at her with longing, glad that Dark-sama had apparently
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144 lifted some great burden from her heart, but secretly wishing she
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145 were still awake. There was so much she wanted to say, so much to do.
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146 But what? Sakura creased her brow and sorted through a jumble of
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147 thoughts and feelings.
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148
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149 What exactly did she want to say, or do?
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150
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151 She wanted to wipe away all the pain and hurt she had seen in
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152 Tomoyo’s azure eyes. Her chest tightened with the memory of Tomoyo
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153 sobbing in her arms just the night before. Looking at her now, that
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154 pain seemed so far away. But when she awoke, whatever had caused it,
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155 her loneliness, her lost love, or something else, would still be
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156 there to haunt her. It wasn’t fair that so gentle a spirit as Tomoyo
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157 should bear such agony. Sakura felt her will harden to a steely
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158 resolve as she thought, I will not let her suffer. I will not.
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159
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160 But what else did the Mistress of the Cards want? She wanted to know
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161 why she loved Tomoyo more than her husband, her family, or her own
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162 life. This feeling confused her greatly, but she knew it to be true.
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163 Her love for her friend was boundless, like a glimpse of eternity, or
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164 a taste of the infinite. This realization had been long and slow in
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165 coming, but shook the foundations of Sakura’s little world when it
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166 finally arrived. Tomoyo was not her special person, or her true love.
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167 Nor was she a brother, or father, or Mother. Sakura loved them all
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168 dearly, but not like this. Sakura was happily married to a wonderful
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169 man. Tomoyo was not the love of her life, she couldn’t be. But that
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170 was exactly how it felt. There was nowhere on earth she would rather
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171 be but in this room, by her side. Sakura shook her head as she
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172 thought, how can I love her more than my own husband? Fighting back
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173 the tears she whispered,
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174
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175 “I don’t know, but I do.”
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176
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177 Finally, a cold emptiness gripped her as she realized that in three
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178 days Tomoyo would be gone. She clenched her fists into tight little
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179 balls as the thought sunk in. A metallic desperation seized Sakura as
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180 she contemplated life without her best friend. Being apart after the
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181 wedding had been hard, bringing her at times to tears. But now it was
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182 worse, for she had again shared life with her beautiful best friend.
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183 To see her, to hear her voice, to touch her and hold her and- and to
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184 kiss her. Sakura blushed and trembled, shaken by memories too sweet
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185 for words. She wanted to be with her not just tonight, not just in
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186 her visit to Hong Kong, but forever and ever and ever.
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187
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188 But it was all impossible. Tomoyo had her own life now, and would
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189 soon return to it. She also had her own true love, a thought that
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190 pained Sakura, even as she determined that this heart’s desire of her
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191 friend would not go unfulfilled. And, for that matter, she herself
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192 had a new life with the man she loved. Sighing heavilly, Sakura lay
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193 down beside her sleeping friend, watching the quilt rise and fall
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194 with each sweet, slow breath. Nothing made any sense at all, and she
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195 was hopelessly confused. All she knew for certain was her love for
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196 Tomoyo. Wrapping an arm round the sleeping figure in the soft, downy
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197 quilt, the Mistress of the Cards quietly cried herself to sleep.
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198
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199 II.
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200
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201 With a flutter of dark lashes, Tomoyo slowly awoke. Dawn crept into
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202 the guest room, painting a warm yellow triangle on the wall opposite
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203 the garden window. Laying on her back, she began to stretch, but
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204 found herself tightly swaddled in the silken quilt. She noticed an
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205 arm wrapped around her, and, with a puzzled expression looked over to
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206 her side. There was Sakura, still dressed in the black cheongsam,
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207 fast asleep and holding her tightly. Tomoyo smiled, luxuriating in
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208 embrace of her dearest friend. Staring at the heavy wooden beams of
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209 the ceiling, she felt a tranquil sense of peace, a peace unknown for
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210 a very long time. She remembered Dark-sama's haunting presence,
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211 washing the aches and fears from her heart in a peaceful, shadowy
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212 wave. Maybe everything really would be all right. Somehow, it was
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213 impossible to think otherwise, here in her arms.
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214
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215 She carefully shifted onto her side to better see Sakura. Is this
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216 what it would be like, to be with her all the time? To awaken every
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217 morning and see her, to putter about in the kitchen making breakfast,
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218 to come home at night and greet her, and then sleep together,
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219 entwined in her arms? Tomoyo sighed at this sweetest of sweet
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220 thoughts. She was fascinated by Sakura's face, so close to her own.
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221 Placid and happy, she was cute and adorable in her innocent slumber.
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222 It struck Tomoyo as odd that she had spent the night here, rather
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223 than with her husband. But she must have been too exhausted to make
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224 it back to her bedroom. Even Sakura's genki energy has it's limits,
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225 she giggled to herself. Well, if she had to go to sleep, this was as
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226 good a place as any. The young guest lay enfolded in her true love's
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227 arms for several blissfull minutes until she felt Sakura slowly begin
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228 to awaken. Smiling as Sakura yawned and stretched, one eye open and
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229 the other still closed, Tomoyo watched her intently. Half-asleep for
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230 sure, she giggled to herself. Softly she spoke to her still sleepy
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231 friend,
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232
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233 "Ohayo, Sakura-chan."
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234
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235 Sakura looked at her, eyes blinking in wonder. Realizing she had
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236 wrapped her arm around her friend, Sakura quickly sat up and
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237 spluttered,
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238
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239 "Oh, ohayo, Tomoyo-chan. Gomenesai, I guess I fell asleep. I didn't
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240 mean to..."
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241
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242 Tomoyo shook her head and smiled as she sat up, "No, no, it was
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243 wonderful laying here with you. I haven't slept so well in a very
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244 long time."
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245
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246 Sakura smiled back, her hand behind her head in embarrassment. But
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247 then she put her hands in her lap, bowed her head so she didn't have
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248 to meet Tomoyo's gaze, and said,
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249
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250 "I guess I didn't want to leave you, Tomoyo-chan. I just wanted to
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251 be with you."
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252 Sakura looked up, her emereald eyes shimmering. Tomoyo felt her
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253 heart stop at the sight. Suddenly, Sakura hugged her tightly, nearly
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254 squeezing the breath out of her startled friend. Tomoyo felt the
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255 soft, silk-clad form nestled against her, and a shiver of passion
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256 flowed through her body. She hugged back, resting her head on the
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257 brunette's shoulder. Finally they parted, slightly dazed but smiling.
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258 Sakura suddenly gushed forth with barely suppressed excitment,
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259
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260 "Do you still want to see the school today? I thought maybe we could
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261 stop by before we went to the beach."
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262
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263 "Yes, Sakura-chan, I'd love to see your school. I think it's so
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264 wonderful that Sakura-chan is a sensei."
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265
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266 "Thank you Tomoyo-chan. I feel so wonderful today, not tired at all
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267 like I sometimes am after using the Cards. I'll meet you in the
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268 kitchen and we can have breakfast!"
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269
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270 Sakura hugged Tomoyo again before rushing out the door. She left the
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271 pale girl huddled in the comforter, hand on her cheek, gazing
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272 adoringly.
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273
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274 III.
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275
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rlm@2
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276 As Tomoyo clambered off the bus, she saw the modern looking, white,
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277 six-story building that formed the main structure of the Fung Kai Liu
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278 Yun Sum Memorial School. It was different from the traditional
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279 Japanese schools that she was used to. Large Chinese characters were
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280 written from top to bottom on the right side of the building. There
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rlm@2
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281 were beautiful trees in front, and the grounds and building were
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rlm@2
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282 impeccably maintained. Sakura took her by the hand and led her
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rlm@2
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283 through the empty halls. Sakura had mentioned the school was on
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284 holiday, so she was able to get time off. Finally they went through a
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285 set of double doors into a small-sized gymnasium. Sakura scanned it
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rlm@2
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286 to make sure that her gym was in proper shape, and then said,
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287
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rlm@2
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288 "We can leave our things in my office. It's over there, in the back."
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289
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290 They walked accross the wooden parquay floor. Sakura pointed out the
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291 door to the dance studio, and then used a little brass key to open
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292 her office. The office was quite small, but Sakura had arranged
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293 things nicely without it seeming to be cramped. On her desk Tomoyo
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294 saw three pictures: one of Sakura and Syoaran from their wedding, and
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295 one of Fujitaka, Touya, and Yukito, all clad in their summer yukata.
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rlm@2
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296 The other was of her, the same as the one she had sent Sakura for her
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297 nightstand at home. Sakura saw her looking and laughed,
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298
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rlm@2
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299 "I had a copy made so there would be one of you here at work, too. I
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300 have to have a picture of my girlfriend, after all."
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301
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rlm@2
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302 Tomoyo blushed and giggled, and made a mental note to send another
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303 picture. With that, Sakura began her guided tour of the school,
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rlm@2
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304 pointing out classrooms and labs and the teacher's lounge. There,
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305 she was delighted to find her sensei friend, Wei Jun. Introducing
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rlm@2
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306 Tomoyo, Sakura begged to be excused to attend to something with the
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307 cheerleading club. The older woman poured a cup of tea for her guest
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rlm@2
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308 as the two sat down in the empty lounge. Her eyes lit up as she spoke
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rlm@2
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309 in impeccable Japanese,
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310
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rlm@2
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311 "Ah, so this is Daidouji Tomoyo. I almost feel as if I know you,
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312 from all that Sakura-san has said.You're even prettier than her
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313 descriptions, which seems nearly impossible."
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314
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rlm@2
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315 Tomoyo blushed and bowed again as she spoke in her musical voice,
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rlm@2
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316 "Thank you, Jun-sama, both for your kind words, and for helping
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317 Sakura with her new job."
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318
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rlm@2
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319 The older woman smiled wistfully as she replied, "It's been a
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320 pleasure to have her at the school. She's done a wonderful job.
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rlm@2
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321 Besdies, she reminds me of someone from long ago. Oh, and so
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322 energetic! Sometimes even the girls have a hard time keeping up with
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323 her."
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324
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rlm@2
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325 The two talked about the school, and Hong Kong, and Japan, but
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rlm@2
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326 somehow the topic always managed to return to again to the genki new
|
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rlm@2
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327 P.E. teacher. With a twinkle in her eye, Jun asked,
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328
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rlm@2
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329 "Tomoyo-san, how long have you known Sakura-san?"
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330
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rlm@2
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331 This triggered another stream of reminisence from the young dark-
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rlm@2
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332 haired woman, who recalled picnics and festivals, dances and
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333 contests. Immersed in visions of her adorable friend, the starry-eyed
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rlm@2
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334 Tomoyo failed to see Jun's barely suppressed smile. Finally, the
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rlm@2
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335 Chinese woman gently asked,
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336
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rlm@2
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337 "You still love her very much, don't you?"
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338
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rlm@2
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339 Tomoyo stopped and gazed at the kindly face of the teacher. She
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rlm@2
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340 smiled and nodded, her alabaster cheeks touched with a crimson blush.
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rlm@2
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341 After a moment of silence, the older woman continued,
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rlm@2
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342
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rlm@2
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343 "But you've never told her, or if you did, she didn't quite
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344 understand you, yes?"
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345
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rlm@2
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346 Again, Tomoyo nodded solemnly. With a worried look she asked in a
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rlm@2
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347 plaintive voice,
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rlm@2
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348
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rlm@2
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349 "Sensei-sama, please don't say anything about this. I don't want to
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350 trouble her. She's found her own special soemone, and she's married
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351 to him. Everything is as it should be, and I'm happy that way."
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352
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rlm@2
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353 Tomoyo's words rang hollow in her ears, and the look on Jun's face
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rlm@2
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354 showed how easilly the woman saw through her faltering mask. Her look
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rlm@2
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355 held knowledge of Tomoyo's hidden hurt, and a sympathy that only
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rlm@2
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356 mutually shared pain could bring. The Chinese woman looked out the
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rlm@2
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357 window and sighed,
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358
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rlm@2
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359 "We're always happy that our loved ones are happy. If they really
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rlm@2
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360 are happy, that is. But that doesn't ease the pain all that much,
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rlm@2
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361 does it, Tomoyo-san? I remember Ming Xia's wedding. It was so
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rlm@2
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362 beautiful, and I was so, so happy for her. But all the same, I wanted
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rlm@2
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363 to die. I really did. To see her with him, knowing she was gone from
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rlm@2
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364 my life, forever. But I couldn't tell her that, and ruin her
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365 happiness, too. I thought the years would be kinder, that someday I
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366 might forget. But it doesn't happen like that. Not when it's your
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367 true love. That kind of love isn't affected by time, or distance, or
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368 anythng at all. Before she died last year, she sent me a little
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369 letter. She wanted me to visit her in England. After all these years,
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370 she was lonely. She said she missed me. But I didn't make it. She
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rlm@2
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371 never knew I loved her. Maybe she knows know, somehow. I don't know."
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372
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rlm@2
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373 On the brink of tears, Jun looked at Tomoyo with a sad smile and
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rlm@2
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374 spoke in a broken whipser,
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375
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rlm@2
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376 "Don't worry, Tomoyo-san. I won't say anything to Sakura. I'm sorry,
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377 I..."
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378
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rlm@2
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379 She suddenly stood up and rushed to the door. Tomoyo rose to go to
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380 her, but she waved the young woman away. As the door closed, Tomoyo
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rlm@2
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381 stood with her hands to her breast, azure eyes misted with tears.
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rlm@2
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382 Poor, poor Jun-sama. How strong she must be to have lived through all
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rlm@2
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383 those years of pain. How could she do it? How could anyone do it?
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rlm@2
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384 Clutching her chest she felt a cold stab of pain at the thought: how
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385 can I do it? I don't know how I've survived for four months. How can
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386 I go on like this for years? She sat on the chair and struggled to
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rlm@2
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387 calm herself before Sakura arrived. Somehow, when her friend at last
|
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rlm@2
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388 burst through the door, she once again wore her very sweetest smile.
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389
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rlm@2
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390 "Hello, Tomoyo-chan, I'm sorry I was gone so long. Oh, did Jun-sama
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391 leave?"
|
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rlm@2
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392
|
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rlm@2
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393 "Yes, she had to go. But we had some tea, and a very nice
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394 conversation. so please don't worry."
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395
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rlm@2
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396 Sakura smiled, though to Tomoyo's practiced eye she looked as if she
|
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rlm@2
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397 were hiding something. Obviously in a hurry, the little P.E. teacher
|
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rlm@2
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398 blurted out,
|
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rlm@2
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399
|
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rlm@2
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400 "Umm, would you like to go out and see the athletic field now?"
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rlm@2
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401
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rlm@2
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402 Sakura's eager face betrayed her as Tomoyo smiled in reply,
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403
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rlm@2
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404 "Yes, I'd love to."
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405
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rlm@2
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406 When they arrived, Sakura placed her friend in a little folding
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rlm@2
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407 chair by the edge of the soccer pitch. A few boys were playing a game
|
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rlm@2
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408 at the far end, though the late morning heat slowed their game to a
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rlm@2
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409 crawl. Sakura suddenly blew a whistle, and out of the gym rushed
|
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rlm@2
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410 eight girls attired in the uniforms Tomoyo had designed, followed by
|
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rlm@2
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411 one in school shorts and a T-shirt, carrying a clipboard and running
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rlm@2
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412 behind. Amid much giggling and blushing, the uniformed girls shyly
|
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rlm@2
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413 formed up in front of Tomoyo. The small girl in T-shirt and shorts,
|
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rlm@2
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414 her beribboned hair in two long, black braids, stood close to Sakura,
|
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rlm@2
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415 warilly eyeing the mysterious friend from Japan through large, thick
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rlm@2
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416 glasses. Tomoyo smiled and waved at her, and the little face quickly
|
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rlm@2
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417 dissappeared behind the clipboard. Sakura blew the whistle again, and
|
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rlm@2
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418 the girls formed up in two ranks of four. They bowed in unison as
|
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rlm@2
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419 Sakura announced,
|
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rlm@2
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420
|
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rlm@2
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421 "The Fung Kai Liu Yun Sum Memorial School Cheerleading Club thanks
|
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rlm@2
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422 Daidouji Tomoyo for her wonderful uniform designs, and dedicates this
|
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rlm@2
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423 performance to her honor." With another blow on the whistle, they
|
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rlm@2
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424 began their routine.
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rlm@2
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425
|
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rlm@2
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426 Tomoyo watched the splendid show with delight. The uniforms really
|
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rlm@2
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427 did look adorable, and Sakura had trained the girls well in a
|
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rlm@2
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428 remarkeably short time. One girl in particular caught her eye. She
|
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rlm@2
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429 was nimble and quick, jumping over her teamates and spinning through
|
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rlm@2
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430 the air like Jump or Dash from the Clow Cards. Tomoyo noticed that
|
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rlm@2
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431 the girl with glasses had emerged from behind her clipboard and was
|
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rlm@2
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432 watching the little acrobat with a look of utter rapture. Tomoyo
|
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rlm@2
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433 giggled to herself and thought, that must be Chang Jung, the girl
|
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rlm@2
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434 Sakura-chan mentioned. Finally, the girls formed a pyramid, with the
|
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rlm@2
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435 object of Jung's affection perched on top. She stood fearlessly with
|
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rlm@2
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436 arms raised high, then leaped into a summersault as Tomoyo gasped in
|
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rlm@2
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437 surprise. The landing was perfect, and the dark-haired woman clapped
|
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rlm@2
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438 her approval as the cheerleaders took their bows. Then they swarmed
|
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rlm@2
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439 over her, chattering in an indescribably rapid Cantonese, eager to
|
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rlm@2
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440 see sensei's legendary friend from accross the seas. A beleagured
|
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rlm@2
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441 Tomoyo giggled as Sakura arrived, trying to bring order to the merry
|
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rlm@2
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442 chaos. At that moment, her Jun arrived to the rescue, cheerfully
|
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rlm@2
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443 translating the questions about toys and clothing design and life in
|
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rlm@2
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444 Japan. Finally, Sakura sheparded her flock back to practice,
|
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rlm@2
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445 demonstrating various moves with the easy grace that marked her
|
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rlm@2
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446 gymnastics, and had captivated Tomoyo's heart. As she watched
|
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rlm@2
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447 adoringly, Tomoyo noticed little Jung by her side.
|
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rlm@2
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448
|
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rlm@2
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449 When she smiled, the little girl bowed, and spoke in a endearingly
|
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rlm@2
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450 soft voice,
|
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rlm@2
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451
|
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rlm@2
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452 "Ohayo, Daidouji-sama."
|
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rlm@2
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453
|
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rlm@2
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454 Tomoyo returned her bow and greeting. She asked Wei-sama to
|
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rlm@2
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455 translate, and thanked the girl for being such a helpful assistant to
|
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rlm@2
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456 Sakura. The little girl blushed, replying that it was because she
|
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rlm@2
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457 wasn't very good at athletic things, and that sensei-sama was kind
|
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rlm@2
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458 enough to let her help as best she could. But when Tomoyo asked the
|
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rlm@2
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459 name of the nimble little girl who had topped the pyramid, Jung's
|
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rlm@2
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460 face lit up.
|
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rlm@2
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461
|
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rlm@2
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462 "Ah, that is Ling Xiao. Isn't she wonderful!" The child clasped her
|
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rlm@2
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463 hands and looked up starry-eyed. Tomoyo smiled and nodded as Jung
|
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rlm@2
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464 gleefully told her all about her marvelous friend. Finally, the
|
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rlm@2
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465 Japanese woman knelt down, gazed into the girl's eyes and asked,
|
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rlm@2
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466
|
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rlm@2
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467 "You like very very much, don't you, Jung-chan?" She smiled and
|
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rlm@2
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468 nodded. Tomoyo then asked,
|
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rlm@2
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469
|
|
rlm@2
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470 "Does she like you the same way?"
|
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rlm@2
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471
|
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rlm@2
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472 Jung suddenly became thoughtful, and her pretty face almost sad as
|
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rlm@2
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473 she replied, "No, I don't think so. We are very best friends, but I
|
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rlm@2
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474 don't think she likes me the same way."
|
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rlm@2
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475
|
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rlm@2
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476 Tomoyo felt a stab in her heart. Fighting to keep her composure, she
|
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rlm@2
|
477 asked in a whisper,
|
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rlm@2
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478
|
|
rlm@2
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479 "Does Xiao-chan know how you feel?"
|
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rlm@2
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480
|
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rlm@2
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481 Again, the little girl looked solemn beyond her years, "No, I don't
|
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rlm@2
|
482 think so. I don't think she would understand. But some day, I want to
|
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rlm@2
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483 tell her how I feel."
|
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rlm@2
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484
|
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rlm@2
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485 Tomoyo nodded as she fought back the tears. Her voice was trembling
|
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rlm@2
|
486 as she replied,
|
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rlm@2
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487
|
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rlm@2
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488 "That's good. Tell her how you feel, Jung-chan, and soon. Even
|
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rlm@2
|
489 though it may be hard to do, it's very important that she know. OK?"
|
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rlm@2
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490
|
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rlm@2
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491 The little girl nodded and smiled brightly, then ran off to help
|
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rlm@2
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492 Sakura. Tomoyo stood up and hugged herself tightly. The Chinese
|
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rlm@2
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493 teacher stood by her side, gazing with pity. There was nothing to
|
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rlm@2
|
494 say, so the older woman remained silent. Finally, Sakura made sure
|
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rlm@2
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495 the girls had drunk their fill the of water before dismissing them to
|
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rlm@2
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496 the showers. Then she bounced up to the two women, towling herself
|
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rlm@2
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497 off and grinning. Tomoyo smiled as she spoke,
|
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rlm@2
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498
|
|
rlm@2
|
499 "It was wonderful, Sakura-chan. Thank you so very much."
|
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rlm@2
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500
|
|
rlm@2
|
501 Sakura smiled, "No, no, thank you! They wanted to do something for
|
|
rlm@2
|
502 you, because of the uniform design. It really did turn out great. No
|
|
rlm@2
|
503 wonder you're a professional designer, Tomoyo-chan. Are you ready to
|
|
rlm@2
|
504 go to the beach?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
505
|
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rlm@2
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506 Tomoyo nodded, then bowed to the older woman by her side, "Arigato
|
|
rlm@2
|
507 gozaimasum, Jun-sama. I hope we will meet again."
|
|
rlm@2
|
508
|
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rlm@2
|
509 With a bow, the older woman smiled her goodbye, then silently
|
|
rlm@2
|
510 watched the two friends hold hands and walk away.
|
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rlm@2
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511
|
