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1 Tomoyo's Hong Kong Visit
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2 Day 2
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3 Shopping in the City
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4
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5
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6 I.
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7 Sakura woke with a start, nearly tumbling out of bed. It was still
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8 dark outside, with Sayoran already gone. And Tomoyo? She felt a
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9 sudden pang of disbelief that her dearest friend was really here in
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10 the same house. Jumping out of bed she threw on her green robe and
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11 padded down the hallway to the door of the guest room. There she
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12 hesitated, worrying about knocking so early. The night before they
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13 talked until well past midnight, remembering old friends, family, and
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14 teachers, laughingly reliving the dances, picnics, and all the
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15 wonders and adventures of their childhood years. After parting,
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16 Sakura found she was simply too excited to sleep and crept to the
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17 kitchen for tea. On her way she found Tomoyo equally awake, and the
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18 two giggled like guilty schoolgirls at a slumber party. Over Oolong
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19 tea they again talked for hours before giving in to exhaustion and
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20 sleep. Surely she’s not awake after all that, Sakura thought. But the
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21 urge to see that her friend was actually here was overwhelming, and
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22 she tapped lightly on the mahogany door. A quick rustle and a
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23 whispery voice told her that Tomoyo was already up, too,
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24
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25 “Yes, who is it?”
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26
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27 She whispered back, “Ohayo, Tomoyo-chan, it’s me, Sakura.”
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28
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29 The door swung open, revealing the beaming face of Tomoyo. She
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30 ushered the auburn-haired woman in with barely suppressed excitement.
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31
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32 “Ohayo, Sakura-chan. You’re up early.”
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33
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34 Sakura smiled as she sat on a red plush pillow and replied, “I guess
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35 I’m used to waking up for work. And I guess I’m sort of excited that
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36 you’re here, too.” Knowing that Tomoyo was in the same house, she
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37 couldn’t imagine being anywhere other than with her. Glancing at the
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38 dark-haired woman who regarded her with gentle eyes, Sakura shivered
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39 sweetly. She had missed her beautiful friend so much that just seeing
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40 her seemed a miracle. Looking up, the first rays of dawn glinted
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41 through the garden window, crowning Tomoyo with a golden halo of
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42 light. Sakura smiled at this beatific vision and thought: like an
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43 angel. Just like an angel. Tomoyo tilted her head quizzically and
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44 smiled back. The auburn-haired woman could only grin, silently
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45 laughing with pure joy. She hadn’t been this happy since, since when?
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46 Since we were last together, she thought with a start. Not the
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47 wedding, or the honeymoon, or life in Hong Kong, not any of it; I
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48 haven’t felt like this since I was with her. Somehow this thought was
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49 disturbing, and she quickly stood up as if shaken from a dream. But
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50 the shadow passed as quickly as it had come, and Sakura clapped her
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51 hands together and spoke in a voice bursting with excitement,
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52
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53 “Sayoran-chan had to go to work today, and said he was sorry that he
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54 couldn’t join us. But I made him write an itinerary of where to go.
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55 Do you want to get ready now?”
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56
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57 Tomoyo nodded and rose as Sakura bolted out the door yelling, “I’ll
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58 be ready in a minute!” The dark-haired girl closed her eyes tightly
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59 and clasped her hands together. The months of loneliness that haunted
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60 her since the wedding seemed like a life belonging to someone else.
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61 With a deep breath she steadied herself, heart racing wildly from
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62 being so deliriously close to her secret love. Fighting back tears
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63 she smiled and thought, I could live a hundred years alone to be with
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64 her for just a single day. Opening the heavy cedar chest to pick out
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65 a dress, she was overcome by the scent of a thousand memories.
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66
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67 II.
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68 Sakura felt a delightfully cool breeze as she leaned against the
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69 railing of the Wan Chai ferry. The little boat was packed with
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70 commuters traveling from the New Territories to Hong Kong, but the
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71 two women had arrived early and enjoyed an unrestricted view of the
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72 passing islands. The hem of Tomoyo’s lavender skirt fluttered in the
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73 wind as she scanned the junks and boats that dotted the water. Sakura
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74 touched her, and pointed out a sea bird circling above them. Tomoyo
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75 blushed as the delicate fingers lightly graced her shoulder. She
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76 gazed at her friend adoringly, hand resting on one cheek as she
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77 sighed deeply. Whether it was birds in the sky, or baking a cake, or
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78 falling in love, Sakura’s enthusiasm gushed forth in a sparkling
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79 flood of innocent excitement. Tomoyo struggled to contain her
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80 emotions lest the beautiful woman notice. It was all she could do to
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81 keep from passionately hugging Sakura right there on the boat.
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82 Fascinated by the turning gulls, Sakura let go of Tomoyo's shoulder
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83 and sought her hand. Tomoyo blushed again as their fingers delicately
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84 interlaced. Sakura squeezed gently, as if for reassurance that her
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85 friend was truly there. Tomoyo drew a quick breath, felt her
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86 heartbeat quicken, and softly squeezed back. Though she had learned
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87 that it was customary in Hong Kong for female friends to hold hands,
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88 the girl’s touch was nearly overwhelming. As the ferry neared the
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89 shore and the buildings of the Convention Center loomed large, Sakura
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90 turned and exclaimed,
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91
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92 "Sayoran-chan says the best shopping in the city is the Causeway.
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93 I've only been there once. They even have Japanese department stores
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94 just like home, but he said there are better bargains on the back
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95 streets."
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96
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97 Tomoyo nodded and smiled, and heard a loud clang as the gangway
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98 dropped to the dock. The two women were swept along with the mass of
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99 people as the ferry emptied out. Holding a map in one hand and Tomoyo
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100 with the other, Sakura plowed forward through the throng. After a
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101 brief walk down Flemming Drive they took an immaculate subway and got
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102 off by the Daimaru department store. Walking along Great George
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103 Street, Tomoyo was dazzled by the variety of stores and goods for
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104 sale. It was like Tokyo, only even more dense and crowded. Finally,
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105 Sakura suggested they enter the Matsuzakaya, which was just opening
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106 for business.
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107
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108 They passed the rows of impeccably dressed store employees bowing
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109 for their first customers. The massive department store was much like
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110 it's Japanese counterpart, though stocked with local Chinese goods
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111 that would have seemed oddly out of place back home. Wending their
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112 way through the first floor they came to a display of the fall
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113 fashion line. There they saw scarves, hats, blouses and dresses in
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114 subdued earth tones and rich, dark greens. Tomoyo fancied a long,
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115 chiffon, copper-russet dress, while a pleated, flowing, pumpkin-
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116 colored skirt entranced Sakura. Impulsively, the auburn-haired woman
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117 slipped into a changing room to try it on. Upon emerging she sweat
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118 dropped as Tomoyo gleefully met her with the video camera. But
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119 somehow, despite the embarrassment, it secretly thrilled her to be
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120 filmed once again. Tomoyo's love was effusive, and came out in so
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121 many curious little ways: the costumes, the camera, and the funny
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122 little remarks. Sakura realized how painfully she missed her friend's
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123 eccentricities, these odd little tokens of her affection. Of course,
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124 Sayoran loved her, too, in his way. And so did her father, and
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125 brother. But somehow, she felt herself a treasured part of Tomoyo's
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126 life, a unique receptacle of the pale woman’s effusive love. The girl
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127 had always made her feel special, filling her with a confidence and
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128 courage that she otherwise lacked. Holding the hem of the skirt she
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129 twirled like a dancer, delighting Tomoyo and earning stares from the
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130 other customers. Stopping in mid-pirouette, she caught her breath and
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131 gazed at the camera and her dear friend behind it. She smiled,
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132 curtseyed, and then quickly dashed into the changing room. For some
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133 reason she was crying. Sitting on the little bench and dabbing her
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134 eyes with the skirt, she shook her head in bewilderment.
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135
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136 "Baka, why are you crying?” she thought. "Because, because I don't
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137 feel like this with anyone else. Because I'm never this happy unless
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138 I'm with her. Because I can only be with her for a few more days, and
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139 then she'll be gone again". Sakura sat with her fists clenched, tears
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140 trickling down her cheeks. She wiped them away, desperately
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141 struggling to regain her composure. She heard a soft voice outside
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142 the door, tinged with concern,
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143
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144 "Sakura-chan, are you all right?"
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145
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146 "Hai", she gasped out, breathing raggedly, "I'll be out in just a
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147 minute."
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148
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149 Sakura emerged with a smile, easing the worry on Tomoyo's pale face.
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150 The Mistress of the Cards fiddled with the price tag on the skirt,
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151 looked at the money in her handbag, and then stared again at the
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152 price. Finally, she looked at Tomoyo uncertainly. Her companion
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153 smiled and said, "It looks very pretty on Sakura-chan". That was good
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154 enough, and a saleslady was soon wrapping the purchase into a tidy,
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155 tied up bundle.
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156
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157 After buying the skirt, the two perused the dishes and china sets.
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158 They were entranced by the exquisitely beautiful Haviland
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159 collections, with Sakura declaring the strawberry pattern her
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160 favorite, while Tomoyo favored a serving tray with little fishes
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161 playing around the rims. Sakura noticed a crowd gathering, and with
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162 Tomoyo in tow went to see what was going on. By the bridal section a
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163 fashion show had begun, featuring Western and Chinese wedding
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164 dresses. Sakura oohh-ed and ahh-ed at the dazzling display of satin
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165 and lace. The traditional red and gold brocade of a Chinese costume
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166 was exotically beautiful, and she glanced over to see Tomoyo's
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167 reaction. The lavender-haired was smiling, but it was an odd, frozen
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168 smile, as if she wore it to hold back some secret distress. Sakura
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169 felt a sudden stab of pain in her chest as she remembered Tomoyo's
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170 unspoken love for her special person, and the heartbreaking line in
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171 one of her letters, "It doesn't matter if I have a wedding." She
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172 gripped Tomoyo's hand tightly and whispered, "Let's go," practically
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173 yanking her friend away. Sakura avoided the startled woman's face,
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174 for fear those glistening blue eyes might start her crying all over
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175 again. She tugged Tomoyo along, nearly running out of the store and
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176 into the mid-day heat. Finally, Sakura paused in the shade of a
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177 building and looked at Tomoyo, who was breathless but smiling. Sakura
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178 smiled, too, and asked,
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179
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180 “Are you hungry? Sayoran-chan says there’s a great noodle restaurant
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181 not far from here, the Dai Pai Dong.”
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182
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183 Tomoyo smiled and replied, “That would be nice. I love noodles. ”
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184
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185 Walking hand in hand down Jardine's Bazaar, the women threaded their
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186 way past street merchants and hawkers with every imaginable ware for
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187 sale. There were booths laden with jade and gold, silks and luxurious
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188 fabrics, and odd potions and medicinals. Finally they worked their
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189 way to the Night Market and, between Tomoyo’s English and Sakura’s
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190 Chinese, were seated in a more-or-less quiet table in a darkened
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191 corner. After pointing out their orders on a tray of plastic replicas
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192 of the daily specials, the two friends chatted about the beautiful
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193 clothing and jewelry they had seen, and all the places they would go
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194 on Sayoran’s little list. When the noodles arrived they were
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195 surprised at the bounteous feast, and knew they could never finish.
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196 Once the dishes were cleared, Sakura poured the tea and pondered what
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197 to say. Tomoyo looked at her and sensed that something was amiss. Her
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198 gentle smile, silently reassuring, urged the reticent brunette to
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199 speak. Finally, Sakura burst out in an agitated voice,
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200
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201 “Tomoyo-chan, do you think you can love someone besides your one,
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202 True Love?”
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203
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204 Tomoyo was startled by the woman’s sudden fervor. She looked down at
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205 the clear, pale green liquid that billowed in her little teacup.
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206 Finally she looked at Sakura, saw the urgency of her expression, and
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207 asked in as matter-a-fact a voice as she could manage,
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208
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209 “Sakura-chan, I’m not quite sure what you mean. Surely a person
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210 would still love their parents, and their brothers and sisters, even
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211 if they had found their one, True Love.”
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212
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213 Sakura frowned and looked at the table, slowly shaking her head,
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214 searching for the right words,
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215
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216 “I know that…that you would still love your family, but…Tomoyo-chan,
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217 you love your special person very much, don’t you?”
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218
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219 Tomoyo felt her thudding heart as she gazed at Sakura’s beautiful
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220 face. If only she could speak her true feelings, just once! Instead,
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221 she smiled and spoke in a clear, musical voice,
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222
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223 “I love them with all my heart, and all my life.”
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224
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225 Sakura stared, wild emotions tearing at her self-control. In a
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226 halting voice she whispered,
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227
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228 “Tomoyo-chan, could you….could you ever love anybody else?”
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229
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230 Tomoyo looked at her friend and desperately struggled to maintain
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231 her mask. Why was she asking this? What could she mean? Why is she
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232 doing this? Her mind raced through all the possibilities: she wants
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233 me to meet someone, she wants to help me somehow. Tomoyo wished she
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234 had never come, that she were back with Sonomi in the far away
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235 mountains. Or even that Sakura had just forgotten all about her,
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236 forever. But that thought stung, and brought her to the verge of
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237 tears. Forcing a smile to hide her fraying heart, Tomoyo spoke
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238 truthfully, for she was too shaken to lie,
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239
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240 “Sakura-chan, I could never, ever love anyone but my special person.”
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241
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242 Crestfallen, Sakura sank back into her chair. Her smile was shaky,
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243 but sincere. Breathing deeply, she said,
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244
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245 “ I guess I knew that already.” She glanced away, staring at the
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246 restaurant’s red carpet as if it held all the great secrets of the
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247 world. “I don’t even know why I was asking.” With teary eyes she
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248 gazed at Tomoyo and took both her hands. “Your special person is so
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249 very lucky to have your love. I only wish they knew.”
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250
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251 Tomoyo felt the soft, warm hands tenderly holding her own. She
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252 closed her eyes tightly, but darkness brought no relief. Sadly she
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253 thought to herself, “I wish you knew too, Sakura-chan. But I can’t
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254 ever let you know.”
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255
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256 III.
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257 The westering sun lit up the city in a golden glow as the electric
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258 tram slowly climbed the heights of Victoria Peak. In a strange
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259 transition, the dense, urban world gave way to a mountainous jungle.
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260 Only the occasional mansion dotted the landscape as the little tram
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261 pulled it's way ever higher. The two women were burdened with bags
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262 and packages, but Sakura was determined to see the sunset that
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263 Sayoran called, "the most beautiful sight in all of Hong Kong." She
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264 knew they could stop off at the Li mansion, but that would cost
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265 precious time. The Peak was the highest point in the area, and
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266 overlooked the city and all the little islands of the bay. When they
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267 finally reached the top, they were greeted by still more stores,
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268 museums, and restaurants. Sakura's face lit up when she saw a set of
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269 rental lockers, which they used to store the day's accumulation of
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270 bargains. Then, Sakura took out her husband's crudely drawn map and
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rlm@2
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271 stared at it in puzzlement.
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rlm@2
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272
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rlm@2
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273 "He's such an awful map maker," she frowned. Tomoyo giggled and said,
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rlm@2
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274
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rlm@2
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275 "The streets are very well marked, not like back home. I guess maps
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rlm@2
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276 aren't as necessary here."
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rlm@2
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277
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rlm@2
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278 "Mmmmm," Sakura replied distractedly. Finally, pointing to the west
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rlm@2
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279 in triumph she exclaimed, "There. That's the way. I think." Sakura
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rlm@2
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280 strode forward into the great unknown, and Tomoyo smilingly followed.
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rlm@2
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281
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rlm@2
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282 The path was twisty, and the climb somewhat steep. The Peak rose
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rlm@2
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283 almost 2,000 feet from sea level, and was covered in thick,
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rlm@2
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284 subtropical foliage, broken only by parks, gardens, and commercial
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rlm@2
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285 buildings at the top. The two stopped at a bench to catch their
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rlm@2
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286 breath, but Tomoyo sensed her friend's impatience, and said they
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rlm@2
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287 should press on before the sun could set. Sakura happily agreed, and
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rlm@2
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288 the pair again began to climb. The pale woman marveled at her
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rlm@2
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289 friend's stamina, her sure-footed ease on the difficult trail. While
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rlm@2
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290 walking, Tomoyo thought about the day, the thousand treasured moments
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rlm@2
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291 spent with Sakura. It was a blessing beyond hope to be with her, to
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rlm@2
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292 see her new life and happiness first hand. Though exhausted from the
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rlm@2
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293 vigorous climb, Tomoyo found new energy in just being with her
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rlm@2
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294 beloved. Suddenly the leaves and trees gave way, and the two women
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rlm@2
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295 stood in awe at the view of the city below them. The great
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rlm@2
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296 skyscrapers of Central were like little models below, the golden
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rlm@2
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297 yellow sunlight catching their sharp angles for the last time in the
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rlm@2
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298 day. The great city of commerce was slowly changing into a mecca of
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rlm@2
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299 entertainment as evening approached. Sakura took Tomoyo's hand and
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rlm@2
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300 spoke earnestly,
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rlm@2
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301
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rlm@2
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302 "Sayoran-chan said we should see the sunset over Lamma Island, and
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rlm@2
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303 then catch the city at night." Tomoyo nodded, and the two plunged
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rlm@2
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304 back on the path into the green world of trees and vines. The trail
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rlm@2
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305 was steeper now, but cooler as shade darkened their way. Sakura was
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rlm@2
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306 in her determined mode, and nothing would keep her from the sunset.
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rlm@2
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307 When her mind was set like this, she was almost a little scary.
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rlm@2
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308 Tomoyo was secretly thankful that she seemed to have given up her
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rlm@2
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309 quest to discover the identity of her True Love. Struggling up a
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rlm@2
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310 broken part of the trail, Tomoyo knew that in the end all her masks
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rlm@2
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311 would avail her nothing if Sakura truly wanted to know. At times, she
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rlm@2
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312 thought it might be better if they parted forever, lest the Mistress
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rlm@2
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313 of the Cards find that she herself was at the center of Tomoyo's
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rlm@2
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314 heart. That would be tragic for both of them, which was why this
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rlm@2
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315 might be the last time they would be together. If I drop out of her
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rlm@2
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316 life she'll forget about me and still have all the memories, Tomoyo
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rlm@2
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317 resolved wistfully. But how could I possibly do such a thing? How
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rlm@2
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318 could I live without hope of ever seeing her again? She knew the
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rlm@2
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319 answer already: because it would make her happy. And that was worth
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rlm@2
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320 any pain, no matter how long, or how cruel. Tomoyo was breathing
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rlm@2
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321 hard, from the climb as well as her secret thoughts, when suddenly
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rlm@2
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322 they stopped.
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rlm@2
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323
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rlm@2
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324 The sun was just beginning to set. The shredded clouds hung on the
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rlm@2
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325 horizon, pink and orange in the fading light. Lamma Island shone like
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rlm@2
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326 an emerald on fire, wrapped in a golden glow. The two women,
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rlm@2
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327 exhausted from the vigorous pace of the climb, plopped onto the
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rlm@2
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328 grass, still hand in hand. A great cruise ship slipped out of the
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rlm@2
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329 harbor and blasted a mournful farewell that rose all the way to the
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rlm@2
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330 top of the Peak. The pair sat entranced as the sun painted the world
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rlm@2
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331 in a riot of red and purple color. Darkness came slowly, soft, sweet
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rlm@2
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332 and tender. Sakura pointed out the first star high in the sky, and
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rlm@2
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333 closed her eyes to make a silent wish. Tomoyo saw the waxing moon;
|
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rlm@2
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334 nearly full now, nestled in black velvet like some luscious tropical
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rlm@2
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335 fruit.
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rlm@2
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336
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rlm@2
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337 She gazed at Sakura, her fairy-tale face touched by the moonlight.
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rlm@2
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338 She's like the Lunar Princess come to earth, Tomoyo thought. She
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rlm@2
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339 can't stay with me, and my heart will long for her all my days. But
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rlm@2
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340 this moment will be memory, a comfort and a solace to turn away the
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rlm@2
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341 pain. Sakura's dark lashes fluttered as she opened her eyes. Her wish
|
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rlm@2
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342 complete, she smiled sweetly at her dark-haired friend. Her green
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rlm@2
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343 eyes shone like far away stars, and Tomoyo felt her heart shudder and
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rlm@2
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344 break. Wracked by a flood of joy and sadness, Tomoyo let her mask go
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rlm@2
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345 and laid her head on Sakura's shoulder. The lavender hair tumbled
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rlm@2
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346 down in a luminous cascade, and her soft body cuddled against her
|
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rlm@2
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347 beloved friend. Sakura felt a wave of longing, her heart buoyed by
|
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rlm@2
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348 the magical presence of Tomoyo. She reached out and encircled the
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rlm@2
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349 woman with her arm, pulling her closer. High above, the stars wheeled
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rlm@2
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350 their way through the endless dark, but Tomoyo and Sakura were silent
|
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rlm@2
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351 and still. All that night the two sat side-by-side, nestled in
|
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rlm@2
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352 starlight and moon glow, like a statue of lovers from long ago.
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rlm@2
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353
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rlm@2
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354
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