annotate old/stories/dearsakura-27.txt @ 4:69f0191c9016 moonlitnights tip

added error.log and access.log
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:42:35 -0400
parents fc00894c1d4a
children
rev   line source
rlm@2 1 Dear Sakura
rlm@2 2 by Amazoness Duo and G.P.
rlm@2 3 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@2 4 pearsong1954@yahoo.com
rlm@2 5
rlm@2 6 Sakura smiled at her brother as he drove in front of the Daidouji
rlm@2 7 mansion. The young woman nervously gathered up her purse and a bag
rlm@2 8 with the newly finished costume inside. Her brother eyed her
rlm@2 9 carefully and asked,
rlm@2 10
rlm@2 11 “You have my cell phone number?” She nodded, and he answered in his
rlm@2 12 big-brother-casual voice, “Call me when you need a ride back. Or for
rlm@2 13 whatever. I took the day off”
rlm@2 14
rlm@2 15 Sensing her mood, his voice softened and he spoke quietly, “Don’t be
rlm@2 16 so worried. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you. And tell her I say
rlm@2 17 hello.”
rlm@2 18
rlm@2 19 Sakura seemed ready to cry, but instead leaned over and wrapped her
rlm@2 20 arms around him. He squeezed back as she whispered, “Thank you”, and
rlm@2 21 slipped out the door without looking back. He watched her run up to
rlm@2 22 the gate, his eternal little sister. Driving there in the car he
rlm@2 23 almost told her about Tomoyo's love. But Sakura loved surprises, and
rlm@2 24 this figured to be the biggest one in her life. Besides, Tomoyo had
rlm@2 25 waited all these years, so she should be the one to tell. He shook
rlm@2 26 his head as he drove away, secretly thrilled that his sister had
rlm@2 27 finally found love.
rlm@2 28
rlm@2 29 Sakura’s hand shook as she rang the buzzer of the intercom. The last
rlm@2 30 time she felt so nervous was the wedding. Tomoyo was there, too,
rlm@2 31 guiding her every step of the way, consoling and calming, a mother
rlm@2 32 and sister and confidante. But this was something she would have to
rlm@2 33 do on her own. She was thrilled, excited, and scared to death. What
rlm@2 34 would Tomoyo say? Would she be embarrassed, or amused, or upset?
rlm@2 35 Tomoyo would never say or do anything to hurt her. But she worried
rlm@2 36 that this revelation might be bothersome for her friend, who would
rlm@2 37 bear her feelings in silence as she had born the pain of her special
rlm@2 38 someone for years. Maybe there was no place for Sakura’s love in her
rlm@2 39 heart. The pale woman already had her special someone, and Sakura
rlm@2 40 could no more take the place of that person than anyone could replace
rlm@2 41 Tomoyo in her own heart. Sakura sighed and shook her head, and then
rlm@2 42 was startled by a voice bursting from the intercom,
rlm@2 43
rlm@2 44 “Daidouji residence”.
rlm@2 45
rlm@2 46 Sakura recovered from her surprise and answered, “Oh, hello, yes,
rlm@2 47 I’m sorry. This is Kinomoto Sakura. I’m here to see Tomoyo-chan, I
rlm@2 48 mean, Daidouji Tomoyo”.
rlm@2 49
rlm@2 50 During the lengthy pause her thoughts returned to Tomoyo. Since
rlm@2 51 realizing her love for the beautiful woman, Sakura had slowly
rlm@2 52 determined what to do. She would tell Tomoyo of her love. She could
rlm@2 53 no more keep that a secret than she could stop breathing. Just last
rlm@2 54 night on the phone she nearly blurted out, “Tomoyo-chan, I love you!”
rlm@2 55 So she had to tell her. But what then? If Tomoyo-chan’s special
rlm@2 56 someone would not have her, well... Well what? Well, she thought,
rlm@2 57 distracted at her own uncertainty, she can have me. A surge of
rlm@2 58 determination rippled through her body as she clenched her fists.. I
rlm@2 59 may not be her True Love, but at least I love her. I can be with her,
rlm@2 60 and make her as happy as I can. It’s the least I can do, after all
rlm@2 61 she’s done for me. And after what I did to her. Sakura felt heartsick
rlm@2 62 about the way she had ignored her friend for all those years. She
rlm@2 63 could not change the past, but she could be a loving part of Tomoyo’s
rlm@2 64 future. She smiled and whispered to herself, “I’ll live my life for
rlm@2 65 her, if she’ll have me”.
rlm@2 66
rlm@2 67 Finally, the intercom spoke up in a metallic, somewhat officious
rlm@2 68 voice, “You may enter”. As the buzzer sounded, she pushed the gate
rlm@2 69 open and walked onto the grounds of the mansion. There were so many
rlm@2 70 memories that lingered here, but she was too caught up by the thrill
rlm@2 71 of being close to Tomoyo to feel them. The pathway seemed terribly
rlm@2 72 long, and Sakura’s excitement mounted with every step. It was as if
rlm@2 73 her entire life had led up to this one point, to three simple words:
rlm@2 74 I love you. Near the end of the walkway she was running, desperate to
rlm@2 75 close the last remaining distance between her and the woman she
rlm@2 76 loved. Sakura wanted to hold the lavender-haired beauty in her arms,
rlm@2 77 to comfort and be comforted. Nearing the door, she felt a wave of
rlm@2 78 delirious happiness as she dashed forward in a final burst of speed.
rlm@2 79 Nothing mattered but Tomoyo; not the past, or the future, not her
rlm@2 80 failed marriage or the magic or even life itself. Catching her
rlm@2 81 breath, she knocked excitedly on the door, her heart flooded with a
rlm@2 82 giddy mix of joy, anticipation, and desire. When the door opend she
rlm@2 83 let out a curious little yelp, and nearly flew into the arms of a
rlm@2 84 waiting Sonomi.
rlm@2 85
rlm@2 86 At the last second she pulled back, nearly tumbling backwards. Still
rlm@2 87 staggering, she grinned sheepishly, bowing low and apologizing,
rlm@2 88 “Gomenesai, Sonomi-sama. I, I thought you were Tomoyo-chan. Ohayo.
rlm@2 89 Ohayogozaimasu”.
rlm@2 90
rlm@2 91 Sakura looked up cheerfully and saw Sonomi regarding her with quiet
rlm@2 92 reserve. For the longest time she was silent as Sakura stood and
rlm@2 93 smiled. Finally, the woman bowed politely and spoke in a flat tone of
rlm@2 94 voice, “Come in”.
rlm@2 95
rlm@2 96 Sakura entered, feeling a warm glow at the sight of Tomoyo’s
rlm@2 97 gorgeous mother. She remembered their delightful talks about life at
rlm@2 98 school, her friendship with Tomoyo, and her own mother. She was a
rlm@2 99 supurb cook, and delighted in having the daughter of Nadeshiko over
rlm@2 100 for luncheons and dinners. Sakura always felt a maternal love and
rlm@2 101 concern from Sonomi that wrapped her like a blanket, happy and snug.
rlm@2 102 With an odd pang, she thought how lucky Tomoyo was to have had such a
rlm@2 103 wonderful mother. Sonomi indicated a seat, and they both sat down.
rlm@2 104 Smoothing her skirt, Sakura glanced at her host, wondering why she
rlm@2 105 was so silent. Nervously, the young woman peeked at her watch and
rlm@2 106 looked up, smiling and speaking anxiously,
rlm@2 107
rlm@2 108 “I’m sorry. I hope I’m not too early?”
rlm@2 109
rlm@2 110 Sonomi glared in righteous anger at the Cardmistress. Finally, the
rlm@2 111 older woman broke the uneasy silence. “How could you do that to my
rlm@2 112 baby girl? How could you hurt her so terribly? She trusted you! She
rlm@2 113 loved you!” Sonomi turned on the younger woman, her dark blue eyes
rlm@2 114 looking like the sky before a terrifying storm hits. “My little girl
rlm@2 115 gave you everything and you disregarded her as nothing more than a
rlm@2 116 plaything that you had grown tired of! She sacrificed her happiness
rlm@2 117 for you, but even that wasn’t good enough! You couldn’t even thank
rlm@2 118 her for that!” The business woman was now shaking with fury, hatred
rlm@2 119 boiling up at this spawn of Fujitaka. The man had managed to ruin her
rlm@2 120 life and now his daughter was having a delightful time ruining the
rlm@2 121 life of her own child. “Get the hell out of my house, Sakura. And if
rlm@2 122 I ever see you again...” She balled up her fists, her whole body
rlm@2 123 shaking. Her soul felt scalded by the rage boiling over inside of
rlm@2 124 her. “You stay away from my daughter!” Part of her cried out in pain,
rlm@2 125 in regret for saying such things to the girl her daughter loved, to
rlm@2 126 the child of her own love, to this sweet and naďve girl. But her
rlm@2 127 anger had finally gotten the best of her. She could no longer sit by
rlm@2 128 while Sakura slowly killed her daughter. She wasn't about to let the
rlm@2 129 Cardmistress hurt her darling Tomoyo any longer. It no longer
rlm@2 130 mattered to her that Sakura was Nadeshiko’s daughter or that Tomoyo
rlm@2 131 wanted her to be happy. “Tomoyo-chan always wanted you to be happy,
rlm@2 132 but what about her happiness? She suffered and strived so that you
rlm@2 133 would be happy, Sakura, and what did you do? Nothing. You never
rlm@2 134 thanked her. You never tried to return the favor. It was as if you
rlm@2 135 simply expected it of her. She devoted herself to you, but you gave
rlm@2 136 her nothing in return. You never once concerned yourself with her
rlm@2 137 happiness. You’re selfish, Sakura-chan. You went off to live your
rlm@2 138 happy life without a look back to see if Tomoyo was equally happy, if
rlm@2 139 your best friend was also living a happy life. Tomoyo-chan needed you
rlm@2 140 and you abandoned her. You failed her. She always thought you would
rlm@2 141 come back and save her, but you never did. And I hate you for that.”
rlm@2 142 Her voice was laced with venom, tears falling unnoticed down her
rlm@2 143 cheeks. Sonomi was crying, but it hardly concerned her. “You
rlm@2 144 destroyed her just as surely as your father destroyed me all those
rlm@2 145 years ago. I never wanted Tomoyo-chan to live through what I have. I
rlm@2 146 never wanted her to feel the pain of losing the only one she could
rlm@2 147 ever love. But you dashed my baby girl’s hopes and dreams right in
rlm@2 148 front of me. And I did nothing. I let you hurt her because I thought
rlm@2 149 that it was just like my love for Nadeshiko, that it was the way
rlm@2 150 things were. But you’re just like your father. You smile, happy in
rlm@2 151 what you have, but you disregard the pain you bring to others,
rlm@2 152 ignoring what you have taken from them. Whether it be my dearest
rlm@2 153 Nadeshiko or Tomoyo-chan’s loving heart, it doesn’t matter. You have
rlm@2 154 what you want, so why should you care that you hurt others through
rlm@2 155 your ignorance? You can smile blissfully while Tomoyo-chan cries
rlm@2 156 herself to sleep. I will never forgive you for that.”
rlm@2 157
rlm@2 158 Sakura was dumbstruck, caught completely off guard by Sonomi’s
rlm@2 159 sudden outburst. Her mouth opened and closed as words escaped her.
rlm@2 160 Tears began to trickle down her cheeks at Tomoyo’s mother’s words.
rlm@2 161 The look that Sonomi was giving Sakura broke her heart. This woman
rlm@2 162 had always looked at her with such love and kindness. But now, that
rlm@2 163 warmth was completely missing, replaced instead by a burning anger
rlm@2 164 that seared Sakura in her seat. Sonomi’s words played over and over
rlm@2 165 again in her head, a haunting chorus of guilt and anger as Sakura
rlm@2 166 realized her own voice was mixed into the painful truths. “I.. I
rlm@2 167 didn’t mean to..” Sakura got out weakly.
rlm@2 168
rlm@2 169 Getting out of her seat, Sonomi brushed back some dark hair from her
rlm@2 170 eyes with the same irritated presence of mind one might use to crush
rlm@2 171 a fly. Sakura’s tears, something that would at one time have brought
rlm@2 172 a deep and motherly sympathy from her, now only managed to fuel the
rlm@2 173 rage inside her battered and broken heart. “My baby girl has suffered
rlm@2 174 through hardships unnumbered for you. She has sailed a sea of
rlm@2 175 loneliness all by herself simply because she wanted to for her
rlm@2 176 princess. You don’t deserve all that she’s given you. You’re a
rlm@2 177 pathetic excuse for a friend. And if you don’t get out of my home,
rlm@2 178 Sakura-chan, I swear I’ll make you regret ever meeting my daughter.”
rlm@2 179 Her voice was low and menacing and it was with a measure of
rlm@2 180 satisfaction that she noted Sakura tremble. All the years of pent up
rlm@2 181 frustration, anger, and pain finally seemed to find a single focal
rlm@2 182 point. Nadeshiko had left her all those years ago for a man that had
rlm@2 183 taken everything from a younger Sonomi. But there had been nothing
rlm@2 184 she could do. She had only been able to run away. Run away and try to
rlm@2 185 mend her own broken heart. Part of that had been having a daughter of
rlm@2 186 her own. But she had been forced to watch her daughter also lose the
rlm@2 187 one she loved. It had all been maddening to Sonomi, a woman who
rlm@2 188 generally liked to take action. Now she finally had the object of her
rlm@2 189 current frustration, the person who had caused such terrible anguish
rlm@2 190 in her daughter’s heart. It wasn’t Fujitaka, but it sure was a good
rlm@2 191 enough second. All of her righteous fury was brought to bear upon the
rlm@2 192 Cardmistress and Sakura found her defenses against Sonomi severely
rlm@2 193 lacking.
rlm@2 194
rlm@2 195 Shaking her head, Sakura tried to swallow back her tears, her fists
rlm@2 196 balling at her sides as she tried to get a grip on the situation. She
rlm@2 197 couldn’t go now. If she left, then how could she ever tell Tomoyo
rlm@2 198 before she left? How could she finally fix things? How could she make
rlm@2 199 amends for her terrible mistake? “Sonomi-sama... Please, don’t... I
rlm@2 200 need to see Tomoyo-chan,” she pleaded desperately, getting to her
rlm@2 201 feet as well. She was less than an inch smaller than Sonomi, no
rlm@2 202 longer the little girl she once was. Yet even then, Sonomi still
rlm@2 203 towered over her, the pillar of strength that she had always been in
rlm@2 204 Sakura’s eyes. Part of her felt sick at a sudden realization. Tomoyo
rlm@2 205 had always said that Sakura would protect her, but now that wasn’t
rlm@2 206 the case. Tomoyo’s mother had come to her rescue, and she had come to
rlm@2 207 protect her from any more pain that Sakura could deliver. This role
rlm@2 208 reversal didn’t sit well at all with the Cardmistress. She wanted to
rlm@2 209 be the one protecting Tomoyo’s precious heart, not the one it was
rlm@2 210 being protected from.
rlm@2 211
rlm@2 212 With a swift motion of her head, Sonomi cut Sakura’s request short.
rlm@2 213 “I’m not about to let you go hurt her anymore than you already have,
rlm@2 214 Kinomoto-san. Now if you’ll excuse me, I had some work I must attend
rlm@2 215 to. Good day.” Turning curtly on her heel, Sonomi took a few steps
rlm@2 216 towards the entrance to the room. She decided to give Sakura several
rlm@2 217 minutes to leave before she had one of her bodyguards escort the
rlm@2 218 younger woman off the premises. Her heart regretted having to be so
rlm@2 219 cold to Sakura, but deep down she felt immense relief to finally be
rlm@2 220 able to affect the situation. She wasn’t idly sitting by while her
rlm@2 221 daughter crumpled in front of her. She would make this up to Tomoyo.
rlm@2 222 Somehow. She would piece her daughter back together, piece by piece
rlm@2 223 if need be. Her baby girl would be happy again one day. And if she
rlm@2 224 had anything to say about it, Sakura would never again be able to
rlm@2 225 pain her daughter anymore.
rlm@2 226
rlm@2 227 “Sonomi-sama!” Sakura yelled out, stumbling a few feet towards the
rlm@2 228 business woman. Her heart felt as if it had been torn out and left to
rlm@2 229 bleed on the floor. Tears dripped down her chin to the floor below,
rlm@2 230 some falling down to Sakura’s shaking hands. Despite the severity of
rlm@2 231 Sonomi’s words, Sakura couldn’t argue with the conviction behind
rlm@2 232 them. Deep down, she realized that they were right, that she had
rlm@2 233 slighted her best friend horrifically over the years. Tomoyo had
rlm@2 234 suffered immeasurably in her wake. She couldn’t blame Sonomi at all.
rlm@2 235 The woman was just trying to protect her precious daughter. Moreover,
rlm@2 236 she was correct. That realization sent Sakura reeling. She had
rlm@2 237 suspected for some time that she had hurt Tomoyo, that her ignorance
rlm@2 238 had pained her best friend. Ever since discovering her love for the
rlm@2 239 pale girl, that thought had gained strength. But never before had she
rlm@2 240 seen such furious intensity, such a glimpse into the pain that she
rlm@2 241 had unwittingly caused. And it was frightening. Not in her darkest
rlm@2 242 nightmares had she suspected that she could have done such damage.
rlm@2 243 The pure, unadulterated joy that had coated Sakura’s heart such a
rlm@2 244 short time before was now replaced with a deeply disturbing sorrow
rlm@2 245 that encompassed her soul. If she had broken her poor best friend
rlm@2 246 then she simply couldn’t leave. There had to be some way that she
rlm@2 247 could fix the damage she had done. She had to at least try to make up
rlm@2 248 for what she had done. If she left... “I can’t leave, Sonomi-sama...
rlm@2 249 I have to apologize to Tomoyo-chan..”
rlm@2 250
rlm@2 251 Turning back to face the younger woman, Sonomi’s face held a mixture
rlm@2 252 of hatred and pity for the brunette. She could hear the anguish in
rlm@2 253 Sakura’s voice, the pain that now gripped the Cardmistress. But
rlm@2 254 Sonomi couldn’t leave it that easily. She was quick to anger and slow
rlm@2 255 to forgive. Especially when it came to the few that she allowed
rlm@2 256 herself to love so completely. Her daughter and Nadeshiko were the
rlm@2 257 only women she allowed such a high place in her heart. She had seen
rlm@2 258 firsthand the pain Sakura had caused her only child and no amount of
rlm@2 259 apology could ever make up for that. “Get out, Kinomoto. I never want
rlm@2 260 to see you again,” she said coldly, her finger pointing to the door.
rlm@2 261
rlm@2 262 Sakura’s head drooped on her shoulders, sniffles coming up from the
rlm@2 263 crying brunette. She had caused everyone such trouble by her
rlm@2 264 naivette. Syaoran through their failed marriage, Sonomi by forcing
rlm@2 265 her to relive her own pain, and most of all, Tomoyo for taking her
rlm@2 266 for granted for all these years. All because she had failed to find
rlm@2 267 the love in her heart so many years ago. She had left a trail of bad
rlm@2 268 feelings and broken hearts in her wake. But there had to be some way
rlm@2 269 that she could make it all better. That she could somehow make things
rlm@2 270 all right. “I didn’t mean to...” Sakura sobbed weakly. ‘If you cry,
rlm@2 271 you won’t be able to solve anything,’ a voice whispered in Sakura’s
rlm@2 272 heart. ‘Sakura shouldn’t look so sad. That just makes me sad,’
rlm@2 273 another voice added. Sakura blinked through her tears, her vision
rlm@2 274 slowly clarifying as she looked up to Sonomi. “I never wanted to hurt
rlm@2 275 Tomoyo-chan. She’s the last person I ever wanted to hurt. I’m so, so
rlm@2 276 sorry, Sonomi-sama... I never wanted to hurt Tomoyo-chan. I love
rlm@2 277 her... I just want to make her happy...” she got out weakly.
rlm@2 278
rlm@2 279 Sonomi froze at Sakura’s words, her arm falling slowly to her side.
rlm@2 280 Those words that she had long ago wished to hear from a woman named
rlm@2 281 Nadeshiko played through her mind amidst Sakura’s sobs. ‘I love her,’
rlm@2 282 the younger woman had said. There had been genuine regret in her
rlm@2 283 voice, along with something else. Something that Sonomi knew full too
rlm@2 284 well. The unrequited love from the depths of one’s heart. The
rlm@2 285 business woman’s cold glare softened and finally melted away
rlm@2 286 altogether as she watched the crying form of her own love’s daughter.
rlm@2 287 Standing there, her fists clenched and head bowed, she looked like
rlm@2 288 the child that Sonomi remembered so vividly. The girl that had
rlm@2 289 captured her own daughter’s heart so many years ago. It was with some
rlm@2 290 surprise that Sonomi realized Sakura wasn’t here for a simple apology
rlm@2 291 or to take anything else from her daughter. She was here to give of
rlm@2 292 herself. The brunette may not be able to fix the damage she had
rlm@2 293 caused, but that didn’t matter. She had come to offer of herself for
rlm@2 294 the sake of the future, not for the ruins of the past.
rlm@2 295
rlm@2 296 Tears fell quietly to the floor as Sakura choked back her sobs, her
rlm@2 297 athletic body shaking with each attempt. How could she have been so
rlm@2 298 careless with the greatest gift she had ever received? Tomoyo had
rlm@2 299 given so much to her, but she had taken such a wonderful gift for
rlm@2 300 granted. She had ignored her darling friend and now she deserved
rlm@2 301 Sonomi’s anger. She deserved far worse than that. How could Tomoyo
rlm@2 302 accept her heart after what she had done? A hand on her shoulder
rlm@2 303 slowly drew Sakura’s attention. Was it a maid or a bodyguard to lead
rlm@2 304 her away? A hand on her chin rose her tear streaked eyes slowly until
rlm@2 305 she met Sonomi’s dark blue orbs. The older woman smiled gently at
rlm@2 306 her, soothingly. With a small hiccup as she suppressed another sob,
rlm@2 307 Sakura through herself into the older woman’s arms. Sonomi held onto
rlm@2 308 her like her own mother had an almost forgotten amount of time
rlm@2 309 before. Sakura’s heart felt some of the pain flutter away, though
rlm@2 310 some of it continued to cling deep inside of her. The knowledge of
rlm@2 311 just how badly she had hurt Tomoyo refused to give up the refuge of
rlm@2 312 her heart. But at least Sonomi wasn’t angry with her anymore. Maybe
rlm@2 313 there was still hope that she could make things all right after all.
rlm@2 314
rlm@2 315 Standing with the younger brunette in her arms, Sonomi let her own
rlm@2 316 eyes fall closed. “You’re not like your father. I was wrong. You’re
rlm@2 317 like Nadeshiko. You didn’t see the love your friend held for you and
rlm@2 318 didn’t realize what it would do. But you’re also like me, Sakura-
rlm@2 319 chan. You follow your impulses. You act on instinct. And sometimes
rlm@2 320 that hurts people. Neither of us give it enough time to really think
rlm@2 321 things through before we jump into action. We can only hope that it’s
rlm@2 322 not too late to fix our mistakes.” Standing at arms length, the
rlm@2 323 business woman smiled softly. “So I want to apologize. You’re a sweet
rlm@2 324 girl, Sakura-chan. And I’m sorry for letting myself forget that.”
rlm@2 325 Sonomi had mixed feelings about admitting to herself that Nadeshiko
rlm@2 326 herself had hurt her, that it hadn’t simply been Sakura’s father that
rlm@2 327 had caused her such pain, but she was glad to see that perhaps all
rlm@2 328 wasn’t lost with Nadeshiko’s daughter. She realized that she must
rlm@2 329 have known more how Tomoyo felt than she had realized. Sakura had
rlm@2 330 hurt Tomoyo in the same way that Nadeshiko had hurt her, through
rlm@2 331 ignorance and naivette. But Sonomi had never allowed herself to see
rlm@2 332 any of the pain Nadeshiko had caused her, unable to place any such
rlm@2 333 blame on her sweet and kind cousin. Just as Tomoyo could never blame
rlm@2 334 Sakura for the pain in her heart. Had that been part of the
rlm@2 335 frustration in Sonomi’s heart at watching Sakura so blatantly hurting
rlm@2 336 her daughter? It didn’t matter. Even in death, Sonomi could never
rlm@2 337 quit loving Nadeshiko. Something so trivial may explain a few things,
rlm@2 338 but it didn’t affect her feelings in the least. It only served to
rlm@2 339 make the business woman even more lonely for her cousin’s presence.
rlm@2 340 But if she couldn’t be reunited with her darling Nadeshiko at the
rlm@2 341 moment, at least she could help bring their daughters together. “I
rlm@2 342 was a bit hasty about you leaving. I couldn’t let you go without
rlm@2 343 seeing Tomoyo-chan. She should be in her room right now.”
rlm@2 344
rlm@2 345 Nodding eagerly, Sakura wiped away the last remnants of tears from
rlm@2 346 her eyes. “H..Hai!!” she said quickly, smiling at the head of the
rlm@2 347 Daidouji household. Her heart began to pound again as she followed
rlm@2 348 behind the older woman. She once again realized just how close she
rlm@2 349 was to seeing Tomoyo again, to being once again in her best friend’s
rlm@2 350 presence. It was a delightful feeling, but it was agonizing at the
rlm@2 351 same time. Would Tomoyo even be happy to see her? Would she accept
rlm@2 352 her heart when she offered it up? Sakura almost felt dizzy at the
rlm@2 353 possibilities as Sonomi led her upstairs.
rlm@2 354
rlm@2 355 “Tomoyo-chan? You have a visitor,” Sonomi said cheerfully from the
rlm@2 356 doorway. She waited a moment, expecting a response from her
rlm@2 357 introverted daughter. When none came, she frowned and knocked on the
rlm@2 358 door. Perhaps Tomoyo had fallen asleep watching one of her videos
rlm@2 359 again. But as no answer seemed forthcoming, Sonomi began to worry
rlm@2 360 that that wasn’t the case. Her naturally protective instincts finally
rlm@2 361 got the best of her and she pushed the door open, hurrying inside her
rlm@2 362 daughter’s room. Sakura followed right behind her. The business
rlm@2 363 woman’s stormy eyes darted across the room for any sign of her pale
rlm@2 364 daughter, but the dark haired girl seemed to have gone missing. Her
rlm@2 365 eyes settled on Tomoyo’s bags for a second, but the items were still
rlm@2 366 there, half packed. Tomoyo hadn’t been scheduled to leave for another
rlm@2 367 few days at the least. Sonomi’s eyes frantically scanned the large
rlm@2 368 room for any sign of her child. Pictures of Sakura adorned the room
rlm@2 369 like a religious shrine, the occupant having grown only more
rlm@2 370 obsessive in recent years. That didn’t particularly surprise Sonomi,
rlm@2 371 as she had seen Tomoyo’s room often enough over the years to know
rlm@2 372 just how much of it was dedicated to the brunette. Something on
rlm@2 373 Tomoyo’s desk finally caught the worried mother’s eye and she hurried
rlm@2 374 over, Sakura just steps behind. “Oh God...” Sonomi got out weakly.
rlm@2 375 Her knees felt like they were about to collapse, the blood slowly
rlm@2 376 draining from her body. On Tomoyo’s desk lay a bloody shard of glass,
rlm@2 377 dried blood covering the wood finish of the desk. Nearby rested a
rlm@2 378 crumpled costume design. Sonomi’s heart felt like it had stopped with
rlm@2 379 all the suddenness of an explosion. Her mind raced back to just
rlm@2 380 several days earlier, to her daughter’s carefully bandaged hand. Her
rlm@2 381 head shook slowly in shock as she picked up the shard of glass. “No,
rlm@2 382 Tomoyo-chan...” ‘I want you to see a doctor about that,’ her own
rlm@2 383 voice rang in her ears. And Tomoyo had agreed, but she had looked
rlm@2 384 so... different. As if a part of her had been missing. Or killed.
rlm@2 385 Sonomi continued to shake her head, holding the blood stained shard
rlm@2 386 of glass to her chest. “Tomoyo-chan...” Her heart felt like the glass
rlm@2 387 shard had been wedged inside of it. Not now. Not when Sakura had
rlm@2 388 finally come to rescue her baby. She couldn’t be too late to rescue
rlm@2 389 her child. But all of the signs were pointing to that. Images of her
rlm@2 390 broken child plagued Sonomi’s mind like a horrific vision of the
rlm@2 391 future. Her sweet, darling child lying broken and lifeless on the
rlm@2 392 floor. What made it all the worse was that Sonomi could remember her
rlm@2 393 own failed suicide attempt from years earlier. How close had she
rlm@2 394 herself come to dying back then? And Tomoyo was a much more
rlm@2 395 meticulous planner than she herself had been. If Tomoyo intended to
rlm@2 396 go through with it, she would very well go through with it. Tomoyo
rlm@2 397 had been the only thing that had made Sonomi’s life worth living for
rlm@2 398 so many years. The idea of losing her only child in such a violent
rlm@2 399 fashion froze her heart. Her mind tried desperately to locate her
rlm@2 400 child, but nothing came to mind. She was blank.
rlm@2 401
rlm@2 402 Sakura looked from the distraught Sonomi to the desk and back. Her
rlm@2 403 fingers traced slowly over the blood stains on Tomoyo’s desk, her
rlm@2 404 heart pounding desperately in her chest. Part of her didn’t want to
rlm@2 405 admit that anything was wrong, the idea of Tomoyo disappearing
rlm@2 406 completely from her life seeming as absurd as a life without water or
rlm@2 407 air. Her trembling fingers grappled around the crumpled costume
rlm@2 408 design when her eyes caught sight of Tomoyo’s handwriting on the
rlm@2 409 back. She quickly smoothed out the piece of paper on top of the
rlm@2 410 bloodstained desk, her mind frantically searching for any clues to
rlm@2 411 her friend’s sudden disappearance. Suddenly Tomoyo’s aversion to
rlm@2 412 meeting her last night began to make sense. She hadn’t intended on
rlm@2 413 ever seeing Sakura again. She had played her final part the night
rlm@2 414 before, pretending to be her happy and pleasant best friend one last
rlm@2 415 time. Sakura silently cursed herself for not having seen through
rlm@2 416 Tomoyo’s cracks, to seeing the lost and lonely little girl
rlm@2 417 underneath.
rlm@2 418
rlm@2 419
rlm@2 420 ‘Dear Sakura-chan,
rlm@2 421 As I sit here writing this, I see your beautiful face in my mind’s
rlm@2 422 eye, your sweet smile sending ripples throughout the stormy ocean of
rlm@2 423 my soul. I know that you may hate me for this, and though I could
rlm@2 424 hardly bear the thought of you ever hating me, I know that I must go
rlm@2 425 through with this. I’m not sure if I can explain why, but it doesn’t
rlm@2 426 really matter. Please know that you have always been the most
rlm@2 427 treasured thing in my life. I would never wish to hurt you. That’s
rlm@2 428 why I have to say goodbye.’
rlm@2 429
rlm@2 430 Swallowing painfully, Sakura forced her way through the rest of this
rlm@2 431 unsent letter, forcing back tears as she tried to make out Tomoyo’s
rlm@2 432 beautiful strokes. Every word struck her with deadly precision, every
rlm@2 433 revelation shaking the beliefs she had once held in her heart. But
rlm@2 434 despite the truths they revealed, Sakura could find no comfort in
rlm@2 435 them. They only seemed to add up to a desperate and frantic Tomoyo
rlm@2 436 who was determined to escape Sakura’s life for Sakura’s sake and her
rlm@2 437 own. That Tomoyo had been so hell bent on Sakura’s happiness even to
rlm@2 438 the bitter end both astonished and frightened Sakura. It seemed that
rlm@2 439 Tomoyo was always proving just how deep her love ran. Halfway through
rlm@2 440 the letter, Sakura read and reread through the dark haired girl’s
rlm@2 441 confessions in a near delirious frenzy. “She loves me...” Sakura
rlm@2 442 whispered, her eyes skimming the passage again. “She loves me. That’s
rlm@2 443 why she left. She left... for me..” She shook her head, as if unable
rlm@2 444 to comprehend the logic behind such an action. But in Tomoyo’s
rlm@2 445 eccentric way, it made perfect sense. Tomoyo had left to save
rlm@2 446 Sakura’s marriage, to protect Sakura’s new life. She had no way of
rlm@2 447 knowing that Sakura had thrown it all away for her, had perhaps left
rlm@2 448 to keep that from happening. The brunette felt a chill run up and
rlm@2 449 down her spine. Because she had been too late, she may have lost
rlm@2 450 Tomoyo forever. In a final desperate attempt to save everything,
rlm@2 451 Tomoyo had left after Sakura’s phone call the night before. Where she
rlm@2 452 was now, Sakura couldn’t hope to guess. She had been too late to
rlm@2 453 rescue her princess after all. She had failed Tomoyo. Tears stung her
rlm@2 454 eyes like liquid fire, her body begging her to collapse as the
rlm@2 455 strength drained away from her.
rlm@2 456
rlm@2 457 “Everything will always be all right,” Sakura whispered to herself.
rlm@2 458 Sonomi turned to look at her in confusion, but Sakura stood up as
rlm@2 459 strength rushed in to fill the vacuum. With a thought, brilliant blue
rlm@2 460 wings unfurled from Sakura’s back, nearly sending Sonomi sprawling.
rlm@2 461 There had to be time. Sakura could still find Tomoyo. She could still
rlm@2 462 put things right. She had to. This was her final test, the test of
rlm@2 463 her heart. Tomoyo believed in her. She believed that Sakura would
rlm@2 464 come and save her. Sakura couldn’t disappoint her. She couldn’t fail
rlm@2 465 Tomoyo. “I love her,” Sakura whispered determinedly, her long wings
rlm@2 466 spreading behind her.
rlm@2 467
rlm@2 468 Sonomi watched in awe as an angelic Sakura darted out the window,
rlm@2 469 glass shards glinting in the early morning light like shooting stars.
rlm@2 470 “Sakura-chan...” Sonomi watched as Sakura flew away, as angelic as
rlm@2 471 she had always imagined Nadeshiko’s angel. “Find her, Sakura-chan.
rlm@2 472 Find my baby girl before it’s too late. Please help her be on time,
rlm@2 473 Nadeshiko-chan,” Sonomi pleaded as she clutched onto the blood
rlm@2 474 sullied piece of glass that warned of a tragic fate for her daughter.
rlm@2 475 Exhausted, the business woman collapsed to her knees, praying
rlm@2 476 desperately that her daughter wouldn’t be joining the woman she loved
rlm@2 477 so soon.