annotate old/stories/tomoyofirst.txt @ 4:69f0191c9016 moonlitnights tip

added error.log and access.log
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:42:35 -0400
parents fc00894c1d4a
children
rev   line source
rlm@2 1 First Date
rlm@2 2 A Tomoyo and Sakura story
rlm@2 3 by G. P.
rlm@2 4
rlm@2 5 Comments can be sent to the author at: treeandleaf2002@yahoo.com
rlm@2 6
rlm@2 7 Note: This story is s part of a series, but does not have to be read
rlm@2 8 consecutively. The first story was, "Love is the Crooked Thing".
rlm@2 9
rlm@2 10
rlm@2 11 That first night Sakura only just barely got to sleep before the sun
rlm@2 12 rose. Thank goodness for Sundays with nothing to do! But sleep ended
rlm@2 13 early with pounding at the door and a terrible voice bellowing,
rlm@2 14 "Monster! Phone call!"
rlm@2 15
rlm@2 16 "Ehhhhhh.....?"
rlm@2 17
rlm@2 18 Sakura staggered out of bed, blinking blearily at the alarm clock.
rlm@2 19
rlm@2 20 "Hoooeeeeee! I'm late!" In a mad dash, Sakura threw on her uniform
rlm@2 21 and rushed down the stairs to breakfast. Except, instead of a hot,
rlm@2 22 steaming meal, there was an empty table. There sat her dreadful
rlm@2 23 brother, calmly sipping coffee. Sakura shot a glance at the schedule
rlm@2 24 board, nervously thinking,
rlm@2 25
rlm@2 26 "Was I supposed to make breakfast?"
rlm@2 27
rlm@2 28 No, there was Oniichan's name, grrrrrrrr....in a furious windmill of
rlm@2 29 arms and fists, Sakura roared towards her brother, who kept her at
rlm@2 30 arm’s length while regarding her with amused detachment.
rlm@2 31
rlm@2 32 "Where's my breakfast I'm late for school why didn't you wake me up
rlm@2 33 if only I was bigger than you...."
rlm@2 34
rlm@2 35 Touya interrupted her with practiced ease, "Fridge, Sunday, you're
rlm@2 36 not, phone." Sakura froze in mid-flurry, staring at the phone. With a
rlm@2 37 sheepish look, she picked it up,
rlm@2 38
rlm@2 39 "Sakura here".
rlm@2 40
rlm@2 41 "Ohayo, Sakura-chan" The sweet, musical voice of her best friend.
rlm@2 42
rlm@2 43 "Ohayo, Tomoyo-chan!" A pause, and then she remembered- remembered
rlm@2 44 it all: The fortune telling, the maze, the song, Tomoyo....the kiss.
rlm@2 45 Sakura felt a crimson blush on her neck and cheek, as she stood
rlm@2 46 dumbstruck with her mouth open.
rlm@2 47
rlm@2 48 "I thought we might go on a picnic to the park today? Would you like
rlm@2 49 to go, or are you busy with schoolwork and chores?" Tomoyo's bright
rlm@2 50 and sunny voice only made the blush deepen.
rlm@2 51
rlm@2 52 "H-h-h-h-hai", Sakura managed to stutter out.
rlm@2 53
rlm@2 54 "I'll make o-bento. Shall I be there in an hour?"
rlm@2 55
rlm@2 56 "H-h-h-h-hai"
rlm@2 57
rlm@2 58 "Bye-bye, I'll see you soon!"
rlm@2 59
rlm@2 60 "H-h-h-h-hai", replied Sakura to the dial tone. Slowly she put down
rlm@2 61 the phone, closed her mouth, and stared at the floor. Just what had
rlm@2 62 happened the night before? Was it a dream, or had she really *sweat
rlm@2 63 drop* confessed her love to Tomoyo-chan? She staggered back to the
rlm@2 64 bedroom, her mind all awhirl…
rlm@2 65
rlm@2 66 Mechanically Sakura changed out of her uniform and into a yellow
rlm@2 67 blouse and a pleated, light brown skirt. Brushing her red-auburn
rlm@2 68 hair, she struggled to remember. Finally, she plopped on the bed with
rlm@2 69 a sigh and stared at the ceiling until she heard the knocking down
rlm@2 70 below. She rushed down the stairs, beating her brother to the
rlm@2 71 hallway. Nervously she reached for the handle, turned it, and opened
rlm@2 72 the door. There, smiling as always, stood Tomoyo. Dressed in a
rlm@2 73 beautiful, be-ribboned white dress with red trim, picnic basket in
rlm@2 74 hand, Tomoyo bowed and sang out,
rlm@2 75
rlm@2 76 "Ohayo, Sakura-chan".
rlm@2 77
rlm@2 78 "Ohayo, Tomoyo-chan. Oniichan, I'm going to the park with Tomoyo-
rlm@2 79 chan".
rlm@2 80
rlm@2 81 "Don't forget you're cooking dinner tonight- something better than
rlm@2 82 last time, I hope", came the laconic reply.
rlm@2 83
rlm@2 84 Tomoyo covered the giggle with a white glove as Sakura gritted her
rlm@2 85 teeth in impotent rage. Remembering Tomoyo, she suddenly put her hand
rlm@2 86 behind her neck and laughed,
rlm@2 87
rlm@2 88 "Ha-ha-ha...um, should we go now?"
rlm@2 89
rlm@2 90 Tomoyo nodded happily, and the two friends slipped out the door.
rlm@2 91
rlm@2 92 Wordlessly the pair walked to the park, Tomoyo glancing up at the
rlm@2 93 occasional cloud and twittering bird, Sakura staring at the sidewalk,
rlm@2 94 deep in thought. The day was bright and alive, with a cool breeze
rlm@2 95 that whispered of the end of summer. At last they entered the park,
rlm@2 96 where Tomoyo broke the silence,
rlm@2 97
rlm@2 98 "Would you like to eat by the lake? I know a quiet spot under the
rlm@2 99 trees"
rlm@2 100
rlm@2 101 "Yes", nodded Sakura, a little too vigorously.
rlm@2 102
rlm@2 103 Tomoyo opened one of the picnic basket lids and took out a
rlm@2 104 delicately folded orange and brown cloth, decorated with a maple leaf
rlm@2 105 and pumpkin print. With easy grace she spread the cloth on the grass,
rlm@2 106 placed the basket to one side, and sat, legs tucked demurely
rlm@2 107 underneath her. Sakura dropped down quickly, looking at her hands in
rlm@2 108 embarrassment, finally holding them tightly in her lap. She was aware
rlm@2 109 of Tomoyo's lavender eyes regarding her with measured care. Never had
rlm@2 110 Sakura felt so ill at ease with her best friend. Her mind continually
rlm@2 111 wandered to the previous night, or rather, to what she thought she
rlm@2 112 remembered of it. Tomoyo looked on in concern as she set the table
rlm@2 113 with beautiful little white China plates, and delicately filigreed
rlm@2 114 Western silverware. Finally, she smiled and whispered,
rlm@2 115
rlm@2 116 "Sakura-chan, are you all right?"
rlm@2 117
rlm@2 118 Sakura didn't know what to say, so she blushed instead. She had
rlm@2 119 always liked Tomoyo as her best, most special friend. The dark-haired
rlm@2 120 girl was always there for her, someone to talk to, to share
rlm@2 121 adventures with, and to ask for help and advice. For the past month,
rlm@2 122 since learning about Yue, Sakura had been battered by a storm of
rlm@2 123 emotions. Finally, after reading the Clow Cards, she had followed the
rlm@2 124 maze deep within her own heart and, to her surprise and joy, had
rlm@2 125 found Tomoyo within. And last night, they had shared a kiss- a
rlm@2 126 lover's kiss. Her heart burned and ached with the thought of it, her
rlm@2 127 very first.
rlm@2 128
rlm@2 129 But what if it was not the same for Tomoyo? Had Sakura presumed too
rlm@2 130 much? Had she rushed in unbidden and unwelcome? Had she taken from
rlm@2 131 her friend what Tomoyo had been too startled or kind to refuse? She
rlm@2 132 knew now that her friend had professed love a year ago, though Sakura
rlm@2 133 was too dense to have known it then. Only in the past day had she
rlm@2 134 realized what Tomoyo had tried to tell her. And only now did she know
rlm@2 135 her own heart, overflowing with a fierce, ecstatic love for her
rlm@2 136 friend.
rlm@2 137
rlm@2 138 But what if Tomoyo had changed? What if her love, unrequited for so
rlm@2 139 long, had grown old and faded? What if she loved someone else, still
rlm@2 140 treasuring Sakura as a friend, as someone she liked...but not like
rlm@2 141 that. The auburn-haired girl felt her stomach knot at the very
rlm@2 142 thought. Tomoyo, ever and always kind, would be loath to say that her
rlm@2 143 love was no more. Had she realized Tomoyo's feelings, and her own,
rlm@2 144 too late? Oh, what if she had missed her chance for Tomoyo's love,
rlm@2 145 forever? Sakura clenched her fists tightly, and felt her body tremble
rlm@2 146 with each halting sob.
rlm@2 147
rlm@2 148 Tomoyo looked at her friend in silent agony. Sakura's pain tore at
rlm@2 149 her heart. Nothing was worth this, nothing. She was certain now that
rlm@2 150 Sakura had come to regret her words of last night, but did not know
rlm@2 151 how to take them back gracefully. Gently, Tomoyo took her friend's
rlm@2 152 hands in her own and spoke in an even voice,
rlm@2 153
rlm@2 154 "Sakura-chan...Sakura-chan"
rlm@2 155
rlm@2 156 The Mistress of the Cards turned her tear-stained face away, trying
rlm@2 157 to yank her hands from Tomoyo. But the dark-haired girl had strong,
rlm@2 158 nimble fingers from countless hours of sewing, and held on with a
rlm@2 159 vise-like grip.
rlm@2 160
rlm@2 161 "Sakura-chan, please look at me". When the wet, shimmering green
rlm@2 162 eyes turned to her, Tomoyo nearly stumbled. It had taken hours of
rlm@2 163 torment to fashion the words, and now she hesitated. Had she lived a
rlm@2 164 hundred lifetimes, she never, ever would have thought she could say
rlm@2 165 this. How easy it would be to quietly live her life with Sakura's
rlm@2 166 sweet words ever in her ear, even if she no longer meant them. But
rlm@2 167 what she was going to say now was right, and Tomoyo knew it.
rlm@2 168 Composing herself with the greatest difficulty, she smiled and spoke
rlm@2 169 in a calm, even tone,
rlm@2 170
rlm@2 171 "Sakura-chan, I wanted to speak with you today. I wanted to tell you
rlm@2 172 something, about what you said to me last night". Sakura sat
rlm@2 173 motionless, like a fragile crystal statue. Tomoyo took a deep breath,
rlm@2 174 and continued,
rlm@2 175
rlm@2 176 "Sakura-chan, if you did not...really mean what you said last night,
rlm@2 177 it's all right. I will always like you as a friend, no matter what. I
rlm@2 178 want you to know that".
rlm@2 179
rlm@2 180 Inside her, a voice screamed, "Liar!" It's all right? If Sakura
rlm@2 181 really did not mean what she had said, if she had said, "I love you"
rlm@2 182 out of pity, or kindness, or confusion, it was not "all right"- it
rlm@2 183 was a black agony that Tomoyo dared not face. But better that than
rlm@2 184 her friend, no, her one, true love, should be bound by words she did
rlm@2 185 not mean. Breathing deeply, unburdened by the words that were so hard
rlm@2 186 to speak, Tomoyo looked with a start at Sakura's reaction. Like some
rlm@2 187 terrified animal, Sakura was slowly shaking her head back and forth,
rlm@2 188 a look of utter terror upon her.
rlm@2 189
rlm@2 190 Sakura's ashen face reflected her worst fear: that Tomoyo was gently
rlm@2 191 trying to untie the tangled knot that bound them. She was nearly
rlm@2 192 certain that Tomoyo no longer loved her, but was too kind to hurt her
rlm@2 193 by saying so. Never had she felt such a hopeless despair. She knew
rlm@2 194 she should let it all go, and walk away for Tomoyo's sake. But she
rlm@2 195 could not. Her overpowering love forced her to speak the words she
rlm@2 196 knew were wrong. Choking back a sob, Sakura blurted out,
rlm@2 197
rlm@2 198 "Don't you...Tomoyo-chan, don't you love me?"
rlm@2 199
rlm@2 200 Stunned, Tomoyo stared into Sakura's frantic eyes, felt hands
rlm@2 201 painfully gripping her own, nails digging into her palms. This was
rlm@2 202 not at all what she expected. Now, dancing on the precipice, she felt
rlm@2 203 a breathless, suspended hush, as though all the cosmos listened for
rlm@2 204 her reply. For the first time she sensed the presence of the Clow
rlm@2 205 Cards, watching her and waiting. Blinking back the tears, she gazed
rlm@2 206 into Sakura's emerald eyes and drew a deep, steady breath. She knew
rlm@2 207 she could never lie, even if it was the right thing, even if it was
rlm@2 208 for her beloved's sake. Carefully taking her hand away, she gently
rlm@2 209 brushed back the girl's auburn hair, and tenderly caressed the pale,
rlm@2 210 teary cheeks. With a sweet, soothing voice, Tomoyo spoke,
rlm@2 211
rlm@2 212 "Sakura-chan, I loved you when I first saw you, love you now more
rlm@2 213 than words can tell, and will always love you, and only you, forever
rlm@2 214 and ever. I was never so happy as when you said you loved me, and
rlm@2 215 never so afraid as when I thought it might not be true. I was
rlm@2 216 worried that you might have regretted what you said last night. I
rlm@2 217 didn't want you to suffer for my sake, for the sake of my love for
rlm@2 218 you".
rlm@2 219
rlm@2 220 Crying again, Sakura buried her face in Tomoyo's chest and sobbed on
rlm@2 221 the soft, white of her dress,
rlm@2 222
rlm@2 223 “Tomoyo-chan, I love you! I..I didn’t think you loved me anymore…I
rlm@2 224 didn’t think…” She broke down, weeping incoherently.
rlm@2 225
rlm@2 226 With soft, loving strokes, Tomoyo smoothed the girl's beautiful
rlm@2 227 hair, touched by fire from the afternoon sun. Nestled in Tomoyo's
rlm@2 228 black-gray tresses, Sakura remembered crying like this before,
rlm@2 229 remembered the comforting solace of her mother's bosom. She hugged
rlm@2 230 her friend fiercely at the memory,
rlm@2 231
rlm@2 232 Looking down at the trembling, vulnerable girl, Tomoyo felt a sweet,
rlm@2 233 painful ache wash over her. She knew now that Sakura truly loved her,
rlm@2 234 and that her love was freely given. Tomoyo felt a deep, glowing
rlm@2 235 peace. Despite the terrible fear of losing Sakura's newly found love,
rlm@2 236 she had been honest and fair. It seemed odd that as the Cards had
rlm@2 237 tested their Mistress, so too was she tested by Sakura's love. Last
rlm@2 238 night was like a fairy tale, where her dearest wish had magically
rlm@2 239 come true. Today, like a story from long ago, she was tested by a
rlm@2 240 dark, terrible riddle: to take Sakura in silence, or speak, and risk
rlm@2 241 losing her forever. Tomoyo spoke, and now, in a miraculous, unlooked
rlm@2 242 for happy ending, she cradled the beautiful princess in her arms. Her
rlm@2 243 falling tears glistened in Sakura’s hair.
rlm@2 244
rlm@2 245 Tomoyo softly sang her Mother's favorite lullaby, gently rocking her
rlm@2 246 exhausted friend to sleep. Sakura dreamed of lavender-eyed angels in
rlm@2 247 glowing robes, dark tresses swirling as they floated slowly to Earth.
rlm@2 248 Tomoyo too grew drowsy in the afternoon sun as the song worked its
rlm@2 249 maternal magic. Dark lashes fluttering, she closed her eyes and soon
rlm@2 250 fell asleep in Sakura's arms.
rlm@2 251
rlm@2 252 There Sonomi found them, bathed in the orange-purple of the setting
rlm@2 253 sun. Hearing the song, her song, as she jogged through the park, she
rlm@2 254 came upon them, like two angels fallen to Earth. She stood and
rlm@2 255 stared, marveling at the fairy spirits entwinned in sleep. The
rlm@2 256 evening wind seemed to whisper the voice of Nadesico, soft and sweet
rlm@2 257 and approving. Finally she roused them from blissful slumber,
rlm@2 258 giggling to herself as they stretched and smiled and blinked
rlm@2 259 themselves awake. Laughing and singing, her loneliness forgotten,
rlm@2 260 Sonomi led the two girls home.