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1 Hello minna-san! ^-^ I’ve wanted to write this story for a long time now. ^-^ I thought it would be fun to
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2 play on an old fairytale and force Sakura to figure out her feelings at the same time. If you have any
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3 suggestions, comments, or questions, please e-mail me. ^-^ Thanks for reading! *hugs*
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4
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5
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6 Sleeping Beauty
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7 By Amazoness Duo
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8 Amazonessduo@hotmail.com
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9
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10
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11 Gazing down at her sleeping form in the dark, I smile gently, lifting the blanket to cover her. Its
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12 times like this that make me realize how lonely my room normally is. The spacious confines where I keep
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13 my things seems like a bare cavern without her here. The darkness surrounding my bed in the large room is
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14 almost intimidating on its own. I usually have a video of her playing while I sleep. My room is practically a
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15 shrine to her, a constant reminder of her to me. Having her here… I quell the sudden wave of dizziness that
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16 threatens to overwhelm me just by her presence. She could never know the joy I felt just by her accepting
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17 my offer to spend the night. My fingers ever so gently brush through her beautiful short hair. She’s sleeping
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18 so peacefully. Lying next to her, I can’t help but feel some anxiety building at the bottom of my stomach.
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19 She is so perfect. Why can’t anyone see that? Never mind that; Li-kun already seems to notice. So the real
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20 question is why can’t I be the one to be there for her? A soft sigh escapes my lips. Of course not. I already
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21 got lucky enough to have her as my best friend. What are the chances that I could get that lucky again?
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22 Still…
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23 Sakura-chan looks like an angel. No, a goddess. Her gorgeous face looks up towards the heavens
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24 in its quiet slumber. It must have taken all of the artists in those same heavens to create such a beautiful
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25 creature as she. Dazedly, I find my fingers wandering across her warm cheek, pressing softly against it.
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26 There’s so much to say to her. But I already told her I’d explain when we were older. Anything I say would
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27 just confuse her. Or worse. So I’ll just let you sleep a little longer, Sakura-chan. When you’re older… My
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28 mind races for a moment, wondering if that day will ever come. Or maybe I was just fooling myself that I’d
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29 ever be able to truly explain to you how I feel. Leaning closer to her, I release another sigh. I can feel her
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30 breath against my face. You’re so wonderful, Sakura-chan. Oh, how I love you…
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31 My lips are almost touching hers now. Just another inch. Those lips… I’ve dreamt about them,
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32 about her. Licking my suddenly dry lips, that anxious feeling increasing by leaps and bounds. So close…
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33 My hand gently strokes her soft cheek. Eyes flutter shut as I lean forward…
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34 Sitting back up, I let out a frustrated cry. I can’t bring myself to do it. How can I steal her first
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35 kiss? No matter how much I want to, I can’t do that to her, even if she would never know. Just like how
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36 she’ll never know about how I feel. Shaking my head, I try to stop that line of thought before it gets any
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37 further.
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38 Whenever she’s around, my world feels complete. Whenever she’s not there, she’s all I can think
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39 about. I need her to live. I need her to be there, just as I need her as my best friend. I couldn’t live without
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40 that. But I want… I want her to hold me. I want to fall asleep in her arms, to wake up by her side, to tell her
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41 everything with a smile.
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42 Sitting on the edge of my bed, it seems like hours have passed. I’m not thinking about anything in
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43 particular. At least, nothing I can quite recall. My thoughts are on her. Its tempting to wake her up here and
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44 now and pour it all out to her, let her know once and for all exactly how I feel. Does she suspect it at all? Or
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45 does she just think I act strangely. A giggle almost surfaces at that. Maybe I do act a little strangely, but
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46 that’s just because no one understands to what extent Sakura-chan’s wonder lies. If they did, they’d do the
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47 same. She’s the most beautiful thing I could videotape. She dwarfs everything else I possibly could catch
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48 on film. She makes the costumes I sew look alive. They’re spectacular when they’re on her. She gives life
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49 to my designs. Everything about her touches me to the farthest reaches of my soul. How could I not treat
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50 her the way I do? How could I ever love someone else?
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51 She looks so radiant lying there in the pale moonlight. So peaceful. I can’t disturb that. Tomorrow.
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52 I’ll tell her tomorrow. Or the next day…
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53
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54 I shift around under silky sheets, trying to get comfortable again so I can get back to sleep. The
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55 bright light filtering through curtained windows makes that almost impossible. Finally giving in to the
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56 inevitable, I yawn tiredly, sitting up in bed. A moment of disorientation hits me before I remember where I
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57 am. This is Tomoyo’s room and I’d been spending the night. I yawn again and stretch, wondering if maybe
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58 I should go back to sleep. Nah, that would be rude. And now that I’m up, I’m not that tired anyway.
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59 Scooting over to the edge of the bed, I swing my legs over the side. My bare feet brush against the
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60 soft carpeting, feeling soft and warm under my toes. Glancing around, I notice that the only thing missing
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61 from Tomoyo’s room seems to be Tomoyo. She had been right here last night. Did she already go for
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62 breakfast? I finally spot her asleep at her desk, her head on her arms. How long has she been there? Not all
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63 night, I hope. Poor girl. Getting up, I pad along the soft carpet to her side, careful not to wake her. Her long
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64 white nightgown looks much more elegant than my pajamas, I note. But then, Tomoyo always has been
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65 more elegant. Sometimes I envied that. From her beautiful singing to the designs she made to the way she
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66 acted. Her mother made her keep her hair long, but that didn’t keep her from pulling off some ravishing
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67 hairstyles. The boys must be crazy for her.
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68 Of course, there were rumors from time to time. I always tried to quash them, but Tomoyo never
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69 seemed to mind. ‘Scary Tomoyo’. I hate when schoolmates would say things like that about her. She’s
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70 just… unique. That’s all. When it comes down to it, she’s the most trustworthy, sweetest person I know.
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71 But that never protected anyone from nasty rumors.
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72 I can’t help but sweatdrop when I see the half finished sketch peeking out from under her arms of
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73 me in another costume. It really does look beautiful from what I can see. She puts so much into them.
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74 Wearing them is the least I can do for all her help. Brushing some of her silky dark hair away from her
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75 face, I smile down at her. My smile fades immediately when I see her. Something’s wrong. Her normally
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76 serene face looks troubled, almost painfully so. That’s something I don’t really see much on her, and never
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77 this bad before. Her pale cheeks are red and puffy, as if she’d been crying. Did she cry herself to sleep? But
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78 why? And why didn’t she wake me up? She knows I’d try to help. “Tomoyo-chan…” I let out sadly. My
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79 hand goes to her shoulder, but I don’t know if I should wake her or just wait.
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80 Tomoyo stirs against my touch, making the decision for me. Sitting up, her dark hair cascades
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81 down her back. She blinks sleepily, a hand going to her face as she brushes some hair from her eyes.
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82 “Sakura-chan? I’m sorry. I wanted to wake up before you so I could get breakfast ready. I must have slept
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83 in,” she says in her normally soft voice. She attempts to stand up, but I keep my hand gently on her
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84 shoulder to make sure she stays put.
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85 “Tomoyo-chan, what happened last night? Were you crying?” I ask quickly, urgently.
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86 The dark haired girl blinks a few times, apparently caught off guard. Her fingers brush past her
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87 cheek as if she’s trying to recall the events of the night before. Her face sinks into an almost desperate look
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88 before her smile that I know so well returns. Tilting her head to the side, she flashes me that smile, her eyes
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89 closed and her hands on her lap. “I’m so happy Sakura-chan was concerned for me. Arigato, Sakura-chan.”
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90 I shake my head, concern still gripping me. “But why, Tomoyo-chan? Why were you crying? Why
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91 didn’t you wake me? I’d have wanted to help,” I argue. “I’m your best friend. Whatever it is, I’m always
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92 here to help you. You’re very important to me. I don’t want to see you sad. You can always tell me
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93 anything.”
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94 Tomoyo looks away for a long moment. Silence envelops us as I await her answer. When she
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95 looks back at me, she’s smiling again. “It was nothing. I was watching an old video I have of you that
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96 always gets to me. That’s why I didn’t wake you up, because I was watching you bravely capturing Clow
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97 Cards despite your life being in danger.” She sighs dreamily as she often does, a hand going to her cheek.
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98 I’d usually blush, but right now there are more important things to worry about. “Sakura-chan makes such a
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99 wonderful magical girl.”
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100 “I’m serious, Tomoyo-chan. What’s going on? What aren’t you telling me? And don’t tell me that
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101 you were just crying over a videotape of me,” I say sternly, trying to force the point. I don’t want to, but I
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102 need to know. What’s she hiding from me? I thought I was her best friend.
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103
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104 I sit there, blinking uncomprehendingly at Sakura as my mind races to find a suitable explanation.
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105 Why isn’t she believing me? Whenever I pretend that I’m happy like this she’s fallen for it. Every single
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106 time. She never realizes that I’m hurting, that I’m masking how I truly feel. Because I don’t want to burden
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107 her with that. Because I don’t want her to have to deal with my problems. She’s my best friend. That’s
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108 good enough for me. If she knew when I was hurting inside, if she knew that it was always about her…. So
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109 why now? How did she all of the sudden see through my illusions this time? Sakura, this would be so much
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110 easier if you’d only let me pretend that everything was alright all the time. I do it for you. Why can’t you
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111 let me have that at least? Please, please don’t ask much further. I don’t know if I could ever say no to you.
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112 What I’d told her wasn’t truly a lie. It was more a slight bending of the truth. I had watched one of
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113 my videos of her last night. My favorite one. I believe it truly shows how wonderful she is. But that wasn’t
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114 why I was crying. I’d been crying since a while before that as I’d watched her blissfully sleeping form. It
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115 was about whether I’ll ever be able to tell her how I really feel. And if it even matters. I used to be able to
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116 tell myself that as long as she was happy, I would be as well. But now… The thought of forever being
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117 forced to watch her from afar, to never be able to have what I so dream of almost tears me apart. The
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118 knowledge that all of my dreams are nothing more than that. Maybe I’d been fooling myself just as much
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119 as I’d been fooling her that I was happy.
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120 I’d finally fallen asleep while trying to draw a new costume for her. I think it would have come out
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121 better if I’d been able to see through the tears. I’ll need to start it over again. Sakura deserves better than
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122 that. She deserves the best. How I wish I could be the one to give her the best. But I’ll always be there for
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123 her. I’ll help her through whatever I can, so I can make sure she winds up happy, no matter the results. I’ll
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124 be your guardian angel, Sakura.
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125 Sakura’s still staring at me expectantly, a little worriedly. I smile a little more, hoping that she will
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126 believe in me this time. “Its nothing, Sakura-chan. I was thinking too much about the future is all. It was
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127 late and I hadn’t had much sleep from all the costumes I had been working on this week. I guess it was just
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128 too much for some reason.”
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129 She looks disappointed at my answer. Her shoulder’s slump as she rubs one of her arms.
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130 “Tomoyo-chan…” Sakura pleads, her emerald green eyes begging me to be honest with her. Why are you
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131 doing this to me? I’m trying to protect you, Sakura. I don’t want to put you through this. At least not until
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132 you’re older. Don’t make me tell you now. Not now.
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133
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134 Why is she lying to me? Tomoyo won’t tell me why she was crying. But she can tell me anything.
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135 She knows that, doesn’t she? Her stormy blue eyes betray her soft smile, the turmoil in them leaping out to
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136 me. I reach out to her, but for once she shies away. I swiftly bring my hand back as if singed. How could
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137 this be happening? Whatever it is, it must be pretty bad if she won’t tell me. If she won’t trust me. I feel
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138 tears of my own welling up, but I can’t let those fall. Tomoyo needs me, even if she won’t tell me what’s
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139 going on. I sigh, frustrated. “Alright, Tomoyo-chan. You don’t have to say anything. Maybe this is another
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140 one of those things I won’t understand till I’m older.”
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141 Tomoyo blinks those stormy blue eyes of hers at me, watching me intently, quizzically. “Sakura-
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142 chan?” her soft voice ringing in my ears.
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143 Even with that fragile look on her ivory face, I can’t help but ball my fists in anger. “I’m sure
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144 you’ll have a whole lot to tell me when I’m older, huh? I guess I’m still too much of a child to understand
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145 anything, huh? I’m just too immature for you to trust, is that it?” As soon as those words are out, I instantly
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146 regret them. I open my mouth to apologize, but the damage is already done. My heart breaks in two as I see
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147 those hurt blue eyes turned up at me as if asking how I could say such things. My heart catches in my throat
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148 as I take a step back, trying desperately to put right what had gone wrong.
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149
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150 How could she say that? I’m doing this for her. I don’t want to hurt her. Does she really think I
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151 don’t trust her? Oh, Sakura-chan, I just don’t want to hurt you… Hot tears roll down my face as Sakura
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152 stares at me from a few feet away, her mouth finally closing after trying to say something. Wiping at my
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153 stinging eyes, I bolt past her to my door. It surprises me that she doesn’t try to stop me from leaving. That
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154 just makes it hurt even more as I head barefoot down the stairs, my tears making everything a blur as I try
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155 desperately to get away. I love you. Don’t you know that? I’d do anything for you. I never want to hurt
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156 you…
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157
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158 What have I done? I slump back on Tomoyo’s bed, burying my face in my hands. What I’d give to
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159 take that back. The Time Card? No, I probably couldn’t just stop myself from saying something. It looks
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160 like I’m on my own this time. Why did that have to slip out? Of course she trusts me. Whatever they are,
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161 she has her reasons for keeping them from me. Lashing out at her like that must have hurt her terribly. I
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162 just… I wanted to know what she won’t tell me. What can it be that she’d go to the lengths of hiding it
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163 from me? And she was pretending to be happy so I wouldn’t know she was hurt. But why? We’re supposed
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164 to be there for each other. She’s always there for me. Why can’t I be there for her? Why won’t she let me?
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165 I sigh as I sit up on the bed, trying to think of where Tomoyo may have gone. Her mom was way
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166 too overly protective of her, so I doubt she left the house without her bodyguards. So she was probably still
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167 here somewhere. But it’s such a big place. The thought of looking for her through the whole place seems
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168 daunting. I have to find her and apologize. I need to make things better between us. She means too much to
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169 me. I can’t lose her. Taking a quick glance around her room, I take in the many costume designs, videos,
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170 and unfinished costumes. All for me.
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171 Kami-sama, what did I do?
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172
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173 Its cold out here. My feet are already numb from walking across the cold damp grass. I hug myself
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174 tightly, my body still wracked with sobs as her words come back to haunt me. It wasn’t supposed to be this
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175 way. She wasn’t supposed to know I hurt. She should have just waited until she was older and happy with
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176 someone else so I could watch her, be there for her, and completely forget about that little promise that I’d
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177 tell her that I love her.
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178 Uncertainty crashes over me like a wave breaking against the shore. Should I have just stayed and
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179 told her? Get this out in the open once and for all? It would prove that I still trust her and once and for all
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180 she’d know exactly how I felt. But would she understand? Would she understand the depth of how I feel?
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181 Just how much she means to me? How much I love her? A moment with her is worth a thousand deaths.
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182 Her smile is worth all the pain and misery this world has to offer. She’s and angel that lights my life from
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183 the midnight darkness that encompasses me. I want her to know that, but I fear that it would ruin things.
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184 That my angel would be frightened of me, no longer shining her light upon me. If I put it off, told her when
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185 she was older, then I could hope she’d understand more fully how I felt, even if it was from her love for
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186 someone else. Then maybe it wouldn’t ruin everything. I can’t live without her friendship. Like a flower
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187 without water, I’d shrivel up and die. I need you, Sakura… Please…
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188 Tears drip down off my chin. There’s so much to say, but its as if I can’t find my voice. I want to
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189 tell her with every piece of my soul, but I’m so afraid I’ll lose her. I’ve been paralyzed with indecision for
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190 so long and now I’ve ruined everything. If only I’d said something sooner. But then, would I still have lost
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191 her? Sakura-chan…
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192 Sakura thinks I don’t trust her, that I won’t tell her because I can’t use her help. I have to prove to
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193 her that that’s not the case. I have to let her know. Will that make things better? Please let it make things
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194 better. I just want to be your friend again. Forever.
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195 Standing up slowly, I shiver in the cold morning air. I gather my resolve and turn back to the
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196 house. This is it. I’ll tell you everything, Sakura-chan. I’ll finally tell you just how much you mean to me.
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197 For a long moment, I wonder if my tears are still blinding me. That can’t be her, can it? But it is.
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198 Sakura’s heading towards me, a worried expression etched on her face. I muster up a smile to try to
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199 convince her everything’s alright. I start running towards her. “Sakura-chan!”
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200
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201 There she is! She was in the backyard the whole time. Poor thing, its far too cold for that right
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202 now. I need to get her inside and apologize quickly. I just hope she’ll listen. Of course she will. This is
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203 Tomoyo, afterall. And she’s.. smiling? I can’t help but return the smile. Maybe I didn’t screw things up as
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rlm@2
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204 badly as I’d thought. Maybe…
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rlm@2
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205 I stumble forward as I sense the Clow Card moments before it hits. The glow envelopes Tomoyo
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rlm@2
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206 in a bright blue hue. It slowly fades away as Tomoyo drops to the cold grass in a jumble of ribbons and
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rlm@2
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207 dark hair. “Tomoyo-chan!!” I yell as I run up beside her, falling to my knees. Grabbing her shoulder, I give
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rlm@2
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208 her a shake, hoping she’ll open those pretty dark blue eyes of hers again, smile her usual smile at me and
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rlm@2
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209 everything will be back to normal.
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rlm@2
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210 She lays there almost deathly still in front of me. My heart thunders in my chest as my hopes are
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rlm@2
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211 dashed. “Tomoyo-chan, please get up. Please…” My arms go around her as I pull her close to me, tears
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rlm@2
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212 spilling from my eyes onto her cold cheek. I sit up suddenly, wiping at my tears. I felt her breathing. Softly,
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rlm@2
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213 almost sleepily. Is that… Is she asleep? Almost in answer, Tomoyo rolls over on her side. A sigh of relief
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rlm@2
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214 escapes my lips. I was so worried that she’d been hurt. But what did the Clow Card do? Is she okay? Will
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rlm@2
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215 she be alright?
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rlm@2
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216 I shake her again hoping she’ll wake up, but nothing happens. It figures. Clow Cards can never be
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rlm@2
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217 simple. Neither can my life, it seems. Right when things looked like they would work out for the best, this
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rlm@2
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218 had to jump in the way.
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rlm@2
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219 I softly brush my fingers through her dark hair. Don’t worry, Tomoyo-chan. I won’t let anything
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rlm@2
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220 happen to you. I’ll find a way to help you. No matter what.
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221
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rlm@2
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222 I can hear Kero yawn tiredly after he picks up the phone Tomoyo had given me to keep us in
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rlm@2
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223 touch. She always seems to call when I’m feeling bad. I wonder how she does that. The irate voice of the
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rlm@2
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224 Seal Beast calls me back from my wandering thoughts. “Sakura-chan, what is it? I was having the most
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rlm@2
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225 wonderful dream. There was this giant cake and I…”
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rlm@2
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226 “A Clow Card got Tomoyo-chan,” I say quickly, cutting him off. I know that will just irritate him
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rlm@2
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227 even more, but I don’t have time. Tomoyo needs my help.
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rlm@2
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228 “It had this giant strawberry on to…”
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rlm@2
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229 “Kero-chan!”
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rlm@2
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230 The Seal Beast finally stops relating his dream to me over the phone. I can hear him yawn tiredly
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rlm@2
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231 again before answering. “A Clow Card? Which one? What’d it do?”
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rlm@2
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232 In a rush of words, I pour out what had happened to Kero, praying that he’ll know what I need to
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rlm@2
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233 do to save Tomoyo. There has to be something to wake her up. I wait silently on my side of the phone,
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rlm@2
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234 waiting anxiously for his answer. It takes me a long moment to realize that I’m holding my breath.
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rlm@2
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235 “Hmm…” I can see him scratching his chin on the other side of the phone in my mind. I almost
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rlm@2
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236 smile for a moment before the gravity of the situation forces the thought away. “It sounds like the Sleep
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rlm@2
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237 Card. It must have been drawn to her for some reason. I’d say it’s got its love spell on her.”
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rlm@2
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238 “What? What’s that supposed to mean?” I switch the phone to my other ear as I pace back and
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rlm@2
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239 forth worriedly. Glancing down at Tomoyo, I sigh, closing my eyes.
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rlm@2
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240 “It put her to an eternal sleep to keep her from the pain of love. That’s its way of helping people
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rlm@2
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241 that are being caused too much anguish by those sorts of things, ya know?” The Seal Beast yawns again on
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rlm@2
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242 the other side of the phone.
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rlm@2
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243 “But… How could it… Why did…” I take a deep breath, trying to get a clear grasp on my
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rlm@2
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244 thoughts. “So Tomoyo-chan was…..” My eyes go wide as realization dawns on me. “That’s why she was
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rlm@2
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245 crying last night. It was over who she’s in love with.”
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rlm@2
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246 “Tomoyo-chan was crying over it? But she never seems to get affected by anything. Well,
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rlm@2
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247 anything but you,” Kero corrects himself. “That must be it. It really must have been hurting her, so sleep
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rlm@2
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248 thought her eternal slumber would be much more peaceful for her, where she could dream of her love and
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rlm@2
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249 won’t get hurt.”
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rlm@2
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250 “Poor Tomoyo-chan,” I whisper softly. I had no idea she had been hurting so badly. My fingers
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rlm@2
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251 gently brush past her pale cheek. She looks so peaceful lying there, dreaming sweet dreams. But I need to
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rlm@2
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252 wake her up. Because I need her here with me. “But how do I help her, Kero-chan?” I demand, my voice
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rlm@2
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253 quavering.
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rlm@2
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254 “Oh, that one’s easy,” the Seal Beast assures me.
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rlm@2
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255 “Yeah?” My voice nearly fails me as I hang on to his words.
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rlm@2
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256 “You just have to get her true love to kiss her. She’ll wake up as soon as that happens, her stormy
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rlm@2
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257 heart finally calmed.”
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rlm@2
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258 Standing there, I stare at the phone. Her true love? How am I supposed to find that? She never
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rlm@2
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259 talks about any of the boys at school, or anybody else for that matter. Who could it be? “But I have no idea
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rlm@2
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260 who that is!”
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rlm@2
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261 Silence reigns over the phone for what seems like an eternity. “Can I go back to sleep then?”
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rlm@2
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262
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rlm@2
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263 I slump heavily back on Tomoyo’s bed after I finally reach her room, her body lying on top of me.
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rlm@2
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264 Her long dark hair goes everywhere, some of it blinding me as it covers my face. I have Tomoyo’s pale,
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rlm@2
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265 cold body in my arms. It had been a struggle getting her all the way here from outside, but I couldn’t leave
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rlm@2
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266 her where she was. It just hits me as a lie here that I should have used the Power Card before attempting to
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rlm@2
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267 carry her to her room. I gently try to push her off of me onto the bed but it proves more difficult than I
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rlm@2
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268 thought it would be.
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rlm@2
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269 After a few tries, I finally roll her onto her back on the soft bed. As I sit up and catch my breath, I
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rlm@2
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270 silently watch her peacefully sleeping form. My eyes start to blur, a tear trickling down my cheek. I just
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rlm@2
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271 want her to wake up and be alright. But that won’t happen, will it? She’ll only wake up if I can help her.
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rlm@2
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272 But I don’t know how. She’s never told me about anyone she likes, let alone loves. She’s hinted at it, sure.
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rlm@2
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273 Like when she told me she’d be happy as long as the one she loved was happy, but she’s never told me who
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rlm@2
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274 that was.
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rlm@2
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275 Pacing frantically around her room, ignoring the cold in my own body, I search for anything that
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rlm@2
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276 could provide me with a clue as to who she loves. I go through all the things on her desk, but there are just
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rlm@2
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277 pictures of costumes for me and some cloth and things. Nothing. Part of me worries that I shouldn’t be
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rlm@2
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278 digging through her things, but this situation calls for it. Besides, I know she trusts me. There’s nothing
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rlm@2
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279 here she couldn’t tell me. ‘I’ll tell you when you’re older…’ I wince as that thought goes through my head.
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rlm@2
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280 What had she meant? She doesn’t really think I’m immature enough that I won’t understand, does she?
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rlm@2
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281 What did she want me to wait for? I push the thought away. Of course she trusts me. She’s always told me
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rlm@2
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282 how important I was to her.
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rlm@2
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283 My search becomes more harried and desperate as everything I find turns out to be a dead end.
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rlm@2
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284 Sifting through a neatly stacked pile of her tapes turns up nothing. All the titles are just about me. Sighing, I
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rlm@2
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285 run both hands through my hair, trying to think of something, anything, that will show who Tomoyo’s love
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rlm@2
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286 is. A diary? Does she keep a diary? Or maybe in her notebooks. I used to draw pictures of Yukito in my
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rlm@2
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287 notebooks. Maybe she’s done the same. Could it be onii-chan? She used to blush around him.
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rlm@2
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288 No matter how hard I look, I can’t find a diary. I thought she might have a video diary, but all the
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rlm@2
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289 titles for the videos I could find didn’t sound like it. When she told me I was the only thing she liked to
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rlm@2
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290 videotape, I guess she was serious. I spent a while looking for it, but I’m not sure if she has one. I’ll have to
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rlm@2
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291 ask her if she wakes up. When she wakes up. Because she will. I’ll find out who she loves if it kills me.
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rlm@2
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292 And I’ll make him kiss her if I have to.
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rlm@2
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293 Her notebooks didn’t really help, either. They’re filled with her notes and pictures of me as
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rlm@2
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294 Cardcaptor Sakura. I recognize some of the costumes I’m wearing in them, actually. Some of the ones I
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rlm@2
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295 don’t recognize seem to be design sketches for when she finally does make the costume. I sweatdrop as I
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rlm@2
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296 flip through the notebook, noticing some of the odd costumes she has in mind. Shaking my head, I try to be
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rlm@2
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297 more serious. I promise I’ll wear ever single one of the costumes Tomoyo makes as long as she wakes up.
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rlm@2
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298 The only thing left that I can think of is that its onii-chan. But that doesn’t feel right. And I know
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rlm@2
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299 Touya doesn’t feel that way about Tomoyo. But if I figure out that he is the one she loves, I’ll make him. I
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rlm@2
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300 shiver a little at the thought of someone else having to kiss Tomoyo to wake her up. I wish there was
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rlm@2
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301 another way. But then, why should I feel bad about it if the person kissing her is the one she loves? Hoe…
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rlm@2
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302 This is all so confusing.
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rlm@2
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303 Reaching out, I brush her dark hair away from her face, smiling tearfully at my best friend. She
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rlm@2
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304 looks at rest this time, not the sad look on her face she had when I’d woken her up the first time this
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rlm@2
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305 morning. The Sleep Card seems to think this is for the best, that she won’t hurt anymore this way, but it
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rlm@2
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306 hurts me looking at her like this. The thought that I’ll never be able to have her with me again sends shivers
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rlm@2
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307 down my spine. Am I being selfish? Is she really better off this way? Wiping my tears from my eyes with
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rlm@2
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308 my pajama sleeve, I shake my head. I need her. I don’t want to go on without her like this. “Oh, Tomoyo-
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rlm@2
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309 chan,” I whisper. “Please wake up. Please just open your eyes and tell me it’s alright like you do so often. I
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rlm@2
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310 need to hear that. I need to know you’re there. I need you.” I bury my head against her side, hot tears
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rlm@2
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311 rolling down my cheeks. Sobbing against my unconscious best friend, I wind up falling asleep myself.
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312
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rlm@2
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313 What? Where am I? I feel disoriented. Blinking tiredly, I try to get a look around the room but I
|
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rlm@2
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314 can’t see past the soft white cloth in front of me. For a moment I think it’s my pillow before its movement
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rlm@2
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315 startles me. I stay deathly still, not quite awake enough to grasp what’s going on. The cloth keeps moving
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rlm@2
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316 up and down in a soft, relaxing rhythm. Yawning, I almost allow the gentle motion to lull me back to sleep
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rlm@2
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317 before a sense of urgency starts gnawing at me. There’s something I need to do, but what? And why is it so
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rlm@2
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318 important. Trying to wake myself up, I stretch out with a yawn. My hand travel’s across the soft cloth
|
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rlm@2
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319 before the texture changes. Its smoother, warmer now. Blinking curiously, I sit up, wiping some saliva from
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rlm@2
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320 the edge of my mouth. It feels as if the whole world has come crashing down on me at the sight. Tomoyo-
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rlm@2
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321 chan… She’s still asleep, breathing gently as if she doesn’t have a care in the world. Part of me clings to
|
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rlm@2
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322 the idea that it was all a dream, that she’s really just fine, but after shaking her for over a minute with no
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rlm@2
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323 response I have to give up on that hope.
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rlm@2
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324 My shoulder’s slump as I watch her sleeping peacefully. I should be out doing something to save
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rlm@2
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325 her but all I’ve done for the past two hours was sleep. Two hours? I glance over at her clock and push the
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rlm@2
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326 sleeve of a costume out of the way to make sure I hadn’t mistaken the time. I haven’t. How could I have
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rlm@2
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327 been out for two hours? She needs me and I wasn’t even doing anything to help her. But she felt so nice, so
|
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rlm@2
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328 warm. I was so sad and worried, but when I was lying there against her, it all seemed... peaceful. Warm.
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rlm@2
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329 Like everything was perfect. She always makes me feel that way. That’s part of why I want her to wake up
|
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rlm@2
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330 so badly. “Oh, Tomoyo-chan... What am I supposed to do? I usually have you here to help me when
|
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rlm@2
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331 dealing with things like this. I don’t know if I can do it on my own.” Brushing back some of her long
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rlm@2
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332 grayish black hair from her shoulder, I stop at the curls at the end of the lock of hair I’m holding. I move
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rlm@2
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333 the soft hair around between my fingers as I take a deep breath. “I never did get to cut your hair like you
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rlm@2
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334 wanted me to after Yukito cut Touya’s hair. And there are a lot of costumes I haven’t been able to where
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rlm@2
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335 for you. And you haven’t been able to videotape all those things you said you wanted to, like me getting
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rlm@2
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336 married and all. If you wake up, I promise I’ll do it all for you. I’ll cut your hair, I’ll wear the costumes,
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rlm@2
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337 I’ll let you videotape whatever you want. Just please wake up, Tomoyo-chan.” I clasp one of her snow
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rlm@2
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338 white hands with both of my own and bring it up to my cheek, fighting back the tears that threaten to spill
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rlm@2
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339 out anew. “There was so much you seemed to have planned. For me, for the both of us. You can’t just sleep
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rlm@2
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340 forever. You can’t.” Part of me wants to demand to know who she loves so I can save her but the other part
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rlm@2
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341 knows it would be pointless. I’ve wracked my brain over and over again and I can’t think of anyone.
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rlm@2
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342 Except Touya, but she blushes that same way around me even more often, so I don’t have much hope in
|
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rlm@2
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343 that. I lightly stroke her pale cheek, vowing to find out who it is. She smiles softly in her sleep, shifting
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rlm@2
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344 around to get more comfortable. If only I knew what she was thinking.
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rlm@2
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345 This is like a fairy tale gone horribly wrong. Tomoyo’s been placed in a deep sleep until she gets
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rlm@2
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346 kissed by her one true love. Unless I can find her prince charming, she’ll sleep forever. But every time I try
|
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rlm@2
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347 to get myself to go looking, I can’t force myself to leave her side. I could always use the Mirror or the
|
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rlm@2
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348 Illusion to stay here so her mother and her bodyguards won’t get suspicious, but I can’t even convince
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rlm@2
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349 myself to do that. Fairy tale’s always have a happy ending, don’t they? So things should work out in the
|
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rlm@2
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350 end, right? But what if this is like those one’s where it’s a painful lesson learned and it turns out horribly?
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rlm@2
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351 What if Tomoyo never wakes up? Taking a deep breath, I try to force back those thoughts, but it’s so hard.
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rlm@2
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352 On the verge of tears, I grasp onto my sleeping best friend looking for the comfort she always manages to
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rlm@2
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353 provide me. For a long moment, I just lie there holding onto her as I try to pull myself back together.
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rlm@2
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354 “Tomoyo-chan..” I whisper softly. “Come back to me.” Maybe it is selfish to want her back, but I don’t
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rlm@2
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355 care anymore. It hurts too much inside. I just want her here with me. I’d do anything to have her back.
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rlm@2
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356 Fairy tale... This is like a fairy tale... Sitting up on my knees on her bed, an idea starts to come to
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rlm@2
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357 me. If this is like a fairy tale, why can’t I play along? Fumbling for the key around my neck, I can see
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rlm@2
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358 Tomoyo holding up a new costume ready to videotape my escapades. Part of me is glad that she can’t
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rlm@2
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359 record this because I feel pretty foolish that I’m actually going to go through with it. But right now I’m
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rlm@2
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360 willing to try anything.
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rlm@2
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361 Holding my staff in front of me, I can’t shake the feeling that this is all just wrong. Tomoyo-chan
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rlm@2
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362 should be over there videotaping me, not asleep on the bed. I should be in some extravagant costume for
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rlm@2
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363 her, not in my pajamas. But I don’t really have much choice in any of that at the moment. I’ll let her tape
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rlm@2
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364 whatever she wants with me in whatever costumes she wants when this is all over and done with, even if it
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rlm@2
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365 all is embarrassing.
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rlm@2
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366 Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I bring down the staff onto the floating form of the Card
|
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rlm@2
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367 I’ve chosen. “Mirror!” A small mirror appears floating in front of me. I sweatdrop and look around before
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rlm@2
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368 getting closer to it. “Mirror, show me who Tomoyo loves the most.” Hey, it worked for the evil queen, it
|
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rlm@2
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369 should work for me. The image in the mirror shifts for a long moment. I clutch the staff to my chest
|
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rlm@2
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370 nervously as I await the results. Now I’ll just have to drag him here and get him to kiss Tomoyo. Well, at
|
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rlm@2
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371 least the hard part’s done. Thought I can’t help but feel a little jealous at the thought. Why should anyone
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rlm@2
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372 be kissing Tomoyo like that? I can’t see anyone who should be with her in my mind’s eye. It doesn’t feel
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rlm@2
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373 right to be finding someone to kiss her. But I don’t have time to worry about that. The image is almost clear
|
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rlm@2
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374 now. I push those thoughts out of my head as I prepare to catch a glimpse of this mystery man.
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rlm@2
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375 I can make out some of it, but it’s still not clear enough. Could it be Li-kun? No, it’s not him. The
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rlm@2
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376 boy in the mirror has short brown hair and vibrant green eyes. It looks like he likes to smile. It’s most
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rlm@2
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377 certainly not Touya. I allow myself a breath of relief at that. For some reason, I never did like it when she’d
|
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rlm@2
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378 blush around him. Tomoyo had told me that it was only because he reminded her of me, but still… The boy
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rlm@2
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379 in the mirror’s image begins to sharpen ever so slightly. He’s not quite as handsome as I thought he’d be.
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rlm@2
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380 I’d say he’s more pretty than handsome. I feel bad that I don't know Tomoyo as well as I’d hoped. Why
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rlm@2
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381 wouldn’t she tell me something this important? Why don’t I know what taste in boys she has? I’ll have to
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rlm@2
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382 make that all up to her later. The boy’s really starting to look familiar now, but he’s not fitting any of the
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rlm@2
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383 boys I can think of right now. Maybe someone keeps slipping my mind. As the image finally becomes
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rlm@2
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384 clear, I gasp in shock. The ‘boy’ in the mirror... It’s me...
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rlm@2
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385 My knees go weak at the sudden revelation. It can’t be, can it? But I’m a girl. She wouldn’t... How
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rlm@2
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386 could she... I slump to the ground, sitting down hard. The world feels like its spinning around me. There’s
|
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rlm@2
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387 no way that can be right. The Mirror must be wrong. Or maybe it’s trying to tell me something else. But
|
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rlm@2
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388 what?
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rlm@2
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389 “Tomoyo-chan?” Looking at Tomoyo’s sleeping body, a nervous pit starts to form in my stomach
|
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rlm@2
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390 as I try to figure out the odd answer that Mirror gave me. She knows the answer. I want to ask her to make
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rlm@2
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391 sense of it for me, to tell me what it means. But she can’t. And won’t, unless I can figure it out on my own.
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rlm@2
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392 And I think I already have.
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rlm@2
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393 “Hoe…”
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rlm@2
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394 Before I have a chance to figure out my feelings on the subject other than the shock and denial, a
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rlm@2
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395 knock at the door frightens me worse than any ghost story Touya or Naoko-chan have ever told me. And I
|
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rlm@2
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396 don’t have Tomoyo-chan to comfort me this time. Looking around the room, I try desperately to keep from
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rlm@2
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397 panicking. Another knock at the door almost gives me a heart attack after I finally stand up. Licking my dry
|
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rlm@2
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398 lips nervously, I open my mouth with an almost convincing lie to cover up the fact that its almost noon and
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rlm@2
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399 Tomoyo’s still asleep but it dies before I can say anything as I see the doorknob moving.
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rlm@2
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400 “Tomoyo-chan? Sakura-chan? Are you two still in here?” Tomoyo’s mother, Sonomi, asks as she
|
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rlm@2
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401 prepares to enter. Is that a playful note in her voice? Nah, that can’t be. Why would she have any clue about
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rlm@2
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402 this whole thing with Tomoyo-chan? Touya told me that Tomoyo was just as eccentric as her mother, but I
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rlm@2
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403 could never see it. Well, she does videotape me almost constantly and has had a costume ready for any
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rlm@2
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404 conceivable occasion I may need one. Oh, and the unshakable faith she has in me. And the… Okay, maybe
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rlm@2
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405 Touya was right. But I don’t have time for this right now.
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rlm@2
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406 Pulling up the sheet over Tomoyo-chan’s head, I whisper an apology to her before pulling out one
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rlm@2
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407 of my Cards. “Illusion! Show Sonomi-san that Tomoyo-chan’s awake and just fine,” I say quickly, almost
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rlm@2
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408 tripping over the words.
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rlm@2
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409 “Sakura-chan? I thought I heard you in there,” Sonomi says with a smile that only seems to show
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rlm@2
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410 up when she’s talking about me or my mother. Or how much I’m like or not like my mother. My eyes go as
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rlm@2
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411 wide as dinner plates as I see her standing there in Tomoyo’s bedroom doorway. Did she see me using the
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rlm@2
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412 Card? Does she already know? How am I supposed to explain that her daughter’s going to sleep for an
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rlm@2
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413 eternity and it’s all my fault? She’ll hate me for taking away her daughter the way she says my dad took
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rlm@2
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414 away her Nadeshiko. My fears start to lessen as she walks into the room, seemingly unconcerned about
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rlm@2
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415 having possibly seen me doing any sort of magic. “I was wondering where the two of you were. You’ve
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rlm@2
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416 been cooped up here all day. But that’s completely all right. I used to spend hours in dear Nadeshiko-chan’s
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rlm@2
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417 room when we were your age, talking about all sorts of things.” The older woman sighs dreamily, brushing
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rlm@2
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418 some of her oddly cut hair out of her eyes. She’s always so much happier when talking about my mother
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rlm@2
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419 than any other time I see her. For some reason something Tomoyo had once said about her mother’s
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rlm@2
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420 preferences when I’d asked about her female bodyguards comes to mind for a brief instant, but I shrug it
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rlm@2
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421 off. “It’s so nice to see the two of you spending so much time together. Sakura-chan, you really do make
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rlm@2
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422 Tomoyo-chan so happy whenever you visit. The house is always so much livelier when you’re here. You
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rlm@2
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423 must come visit us more often. It’s like having a little bit of dear Nadeshiko-chan with us.”
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rlm@2
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424 Tomoyo smiles and nods to the left of me, scaring me senseless as it sets in that she’s there. A
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rlm@2
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425 hand on my chest, I try to keep myself from being to obvious. It’s only Illusion doing just what I told it to.
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rlm@2
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426 “Hai.. Hai! I’m really happy to be here! I’m glad Tomoyo-chan’s happy to have me here!” I blurt out
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rlm@2
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427 nervously, hoping Tomoyo’s mother doesn’t notice how nervous I am.
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rlm@2
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428 Sonomi laughs a little as she gives a conspiratorial wink to her ‘daughter’. “More than you know,
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rlm@2
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429 Sakura-chan.” I blush deeply at that. No, I think I might know that. She must think I’m nervous because of
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rlm@2
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430 some of Tomoyo’s weird stuff that I never have really gotten used to. For the most part, I just classify
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rlm@2
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431 everything strange she does as that and ignore it. Her hobbies of videotaping me and making costumes for
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rlm@2
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432 me, the chocolates on Valentine’s Day, the weird things she says that don’t make sense because they seem
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rlm@2
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433 to suggest that she’s in love with me, all of it. Now I wish that I’d paid more attention to it all.
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rlm@2
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434 Sonomi’s voice cuts through my thoughts like a knife, bringing me back to reality. “Are either of
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rlm@2
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435 you hungry? You haven’t had anything all morning and I’ve had the chef cook up something extra special
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rlm@2
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436 sense you’re staying with us, Sakura-chan. And for after that there’s some cake, too. I don’t know if you’re
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rlm@2
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437 watching your figure, but I sure am.”
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rlm@2
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438 As I’m about to explain why Tomoyo can’t come down for what sounds like a great lunch (and
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rlm@2
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439 I’m sooooo hungry right now, too…), I hear a thud at the window. Glancing over at it, I see the familiar
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rlm@2
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440 form of Kero-chan with his face pressed against the window. I yelp before I can help myself. Nearly
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rlm@2
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441 stumbling through the illusion of Tomoyo, I pop up in front of the window, hoping that Sonomi didn’t see
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rlm@2
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442 the Seal Beast. “It.. It sounds great, Sonomi-san, but I think... Umm… Tomoyo-chan and I had something
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rlm@2
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443 we need to talk about before lunchtime. Thanks so much, though.” I smile widely, hoping she bought it.
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rlm@2
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444 Tomoyo nods happily, still smiling. I have to admit, Illusion did a wonderful job of recreating her, even
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rlm@2
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445 down to that beautiful nigh constant smile of hers.
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rlm@2
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446 Sonomi pouts a bit, looking disappointed. It seems that she really did want to have lunch with us. I
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rlm@2
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447 know she doesn’t get to see Tomoyo-chan often with how busy she is with her job, and I seem to remind
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rlm@2
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448 her of my mother because she always starts talking about her when I’m around. I feel bad about having to
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rlm@2
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449 get out of it, but she’d probably be even more disappointed if her daughter never wakes up. Her expression
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rlm@2
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450 quickly changes as she smiles at the image of Tomoyo-chan. “Alright. You two have fun then. Good luck,
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rlm@2
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451 Tomoyo-chan.” What was she wishing her luck with? Maybe with.. me? Does she think this is about
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rlm@2
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452 Tomoyo-chan telling me how she feels? She already has more times than I can count. I just never
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rlm@2
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453 understood. “Remember to come down as soon as you’re done talking. Or as soon as you get hungry. Bye,
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rlm@2
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454 girls!” With that, she leaves for the moment.
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rlm@2
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455 Sighing nervously, I lean back against the window. “Kero-chan!” I whirl around as I remember.
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rlm@2
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456 Pulling Tomoyo’s window open, the Seal Beast flies in. “Where have you been!? I’ve been sitting here
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rlm@2
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457 worried sick! I don’t know what to do about Tomoyo-chan and you leave me here all by myself. I don’t
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rlm@2
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458 even have her to help me this time so I was all alone.” I lower my voice so Sonomi won’t accidentally hear
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rlm@2
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459 us. Kero winces and floats over to the bed. “I’m sorry, Kero-chan. I’m just so worried about Tomoyo-
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rlm@2
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460 chan.” With a thought, Illusion returns to her Card form.
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rlm@2
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461 Kero smiles and shrugs. “It’s okay, Sakura-chan. Just get me some of that cake later and I’ll be
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rlm@2
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462 fine. Sonomi-san has the best cakes. I need to meet her chef.” He crosses his arms thoughtfully for a
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rlm@2
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463 moment as he floats over Tomoyo-chan. I slip the sheets off of her and sit down on her bedside.
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rlm@2
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464 “I can’t get the cake if Tomoyo-chan doesn’t wake up. And what took you so long to get here?” I
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rlm@2
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465 ask again. It doesn’t seem like him to wait that long.
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rlm@2
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466 “Actually, I thought you would have solved the problem by now,” Kero says matter-of-factly. “I
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rlm@2
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467 thought this would be easier for you if I wasn’t here. But it’s a good thing I got here when I did. I’d hate to
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rlm@2
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468 miss the cake when you do wake her up.”
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rlm@2
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469 I blush inwardly at the thought of waking her up. That’s right, isn’t it? In order to wake her up, she
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rlm@2
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470 needs a kiss from me... I clutch my hands to my cheeks in embarrassment. “Hoe...”
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rlm@2
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471 “So did you figure out how to wake her up yet?” Kero asks anxiously.
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rlm@2
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472 I nod slowly. “Hai. But you knew I would, didn’t you.” He just smiles and crosses his small arms
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rlm@2
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473 over his chest sagely. Taking a deep breath, I like my lips nervously. “Isn’t there another way? I never
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rlm@2
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474 thought I’d be kissing her...” I blush again at that.
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rlm@2
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475 “What?!” Kero asks in shock. One of Kero’s eyes seems to be larger than the other. “You? But I
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rlm@2
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476 thought...”
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rlm@2
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477 I cross my own arms as I stare at the floating bear. “And why not me? I’m not good enough for
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rlm@2
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478 her?” He sure seemed shocked by the idea that I could be the one she was in love with. But now it seems
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rlm@2
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479 completely obvious.
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rlm@2
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480 Kero shakes his head quickly. “No, it’s not that, it’s just…”
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rlm@2
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481 “Besides, I thought you knew. Right now it feels like I’m the only one who didn’t know about it.”
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rlm@2
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482 A sigh escapes my lips as I look down at her. “I was mad that she wouldn’t tell me, but she kept telling me.
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rlm@2
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483 I just didn’t listen. She wanted to wait till I was older because she thought I wouldn’t understand. And I
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rlm@2
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484 didn’t. It took this to show me.” My arms wrap around my peacefully sleeping best friend tightly as I hug
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rlm@2
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485 her close to me. “I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out, Tomoyo-chan.”
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rlm@2
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486 Sitting up next to her, I look down at her soft ivory skin and pale lips. She looks so sweet
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rlm@2
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487 slumbering there. My fingers go to her forehead, brushing some of her dark hair from her face. I’ve never
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rlm@2
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488 felt so nervous in my life. And I don’t have her to comfort me yet. But I will as soon as I manage to pull
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rlm@2
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489 this off. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes. “I love you, too,” I whisper softly. It sounds like Kero takes
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rlm@2
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490 that even worse than finding out that she loves me. My lips press softly against hers a split second
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rlm@2
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491 afterwards, nervously at first, but their warm inviting feel quickly draws me in. My heart starts pounding in
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rlm@2
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492 my chest as I hold the kiss. It takes me a long moment before I realize that she’s kissing me back.
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rlm@2
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493 “Tomoyo-chan!” I yell excitedly as I throw my arms around her again, this time greeted by her
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rlm@2
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494 own pulling me closer. Tears of joy start dripping down my cheeks as the realization that she’s back
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rlm@2
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495 shatters all the grief that I’d been holding. She smiles gently at me, our faces inches from each other. “I’m
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rlm@2
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496 so sorry…”
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rlm@2
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497 Tomoyo silences me with a soft kiss. “Don’t ever feel sorry, Sakura-chan. I knew you would
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rlm@2
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498 rescue me in the end. I just thought it was a little too much to hope for that you could feel the same way.”
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rlm@2
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499 She smiles up at me, fat crystalline tears dripping down her cheeks from her perfect blue eyes. The turmoil
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rlm@2
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500 of emotions flooding through her must be horrible. Yet I’ve never seen her this happy before. I can’t help
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rlm@2
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501 but smile myself as I hug her closer. Her long dark hair smells wonderful even while it tickles my nose. “I
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rlm@2
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502 love you, Sakura-chan,” she whispers happily in her wonderfully sweet voice, holding onto me as if she’s
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rlm@2
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503 afraid that I’ll disappear as quickly as a dream. I can’t blame her. I’ve never felt like this before. It’s all
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rlm@2
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504 almost overwhelming. I blush as I feel her fingers gently brushing the hair from my teary eyes.
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rlm@2
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505 My throat starts to swell as I look down at her, my best friend. She’s always been by my side,
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rlm@2
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506 there to help me through anything. I always knew she was important to me, but I’d never figured out just
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rlm@2
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507 how important. But now that I have, I’ll never let her go again. “I love you, too, Tomoyo-chan.” I yawn
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rlm@2
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508 tiredly as my eyes start to flutter closed. I try to keep them open on the blurry image of Tomoyo, but the
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rlm@2
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509 fall shut again heavily. Leaning my head against her shoulder, I snuggle closer, her arms around me lulling
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rlm@2
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510 me to sleep. “Hanya…”
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rlm@2
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511
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rlm@2
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512 Shaking my head sadly, I watch Sakura and Tomoyo pass out in each other’s arms. I wanted to
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rlm@2
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513 warn Sakura to catch the Sleep Card, but I couldn’t interrupt. Besides, no one ever listens to me as it is.
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rlm@2
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514 Why would they? I’m just Keroberas, the Seal Beast. Ah well, they’ll wake up in a few hours now that
|
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rlm@2
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515 they’ve both found their true love. Still, it gave Sleep a good getaway by putting them to sleep like that.
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rlm@2
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516 That just means more cake for me! Grinning to myself, I head for the door. It looks like today turned out
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rlm@2
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517 pretty well after all. Daidouji-san always has great cake!
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rlm@2
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518
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rlm@2
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519
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rlm@2
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520
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rlm@2
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521
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