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1 Dear Sakura
2 The Banquet
3 by G.P. and Amazoness Duo
4 pearsong1954@yahoo.com
5 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
6
7
8 Sakura’s Feathery wings ached as she struggled to stay aloft in the
9 howling wind. Buffeted by a frigid gust, she grimaced and tried to
10 steady herself on the unsteady currents. Scanning the nightscape of
11 the great city, she spied Tokyo Tower alight, a blazing beacon in the
12 dark, moonless night. Squinting to focus, she made out a familiar
13 figure, long hair tossed about by the fierce wind. The girl’s flowing
14 dress fluttered crazily as she teetered unsteadily on the edge of a
15 platform high above the ground. Standing with arms folded, hands
16 against her chest, she clutched something tightly to her breast. In
17 horror, Sakura realized who it was and screamed her name,
18
19 "Tomoyo-chan!!"
20
21 She woke with a start and stared out at the gray-blue garden, dimly
22 lit by the early dawn. With a cold shiver she realized it was that
23 dream again. But this time, she knew who the figure on the Tower was.
24 But what was she doing there, and why was it Tomoyo-chan? Realizing
25 she was still entwined with Tomoyo, Sakura released a little sigh of
26 relief. She snuggled against the sleeping woman, taking comfort in
27 her warm presence. Gazing at the pale face, so peaceful and calm,
28 Sakura felt the fear in her heart vanish. Fingers playing with a lock
29 of lustrous lavender hair, she watched the woman cradled in her arms
30 breathe softly in a gentle slumber.
31
32 Sakura felt an ocean of love welling within, buoying her heart like
33 a little cork. Yesterday was a dream of moonlight and mountains,
34 gardens and fountains, and a magical kiss that swept her soul up into
35 the velvety night. She blushed at the memory of that kiss, but more
36 out of passionate remembrance than embarrassment. Never had anything
37 affected her like this. The treacly-hot sweetness lingered still, the
38 scent and taste and touch of Tomoyo flooding back as she closed her
39 eyes. Her body shivered and her heart thudded with an aching longing.
40 She wanted to cry and laugh and hug the beautiful, still form
41 drowsing in her arms. On the edge of tears she whispered hoarsely,
42
43 “Tomoyo-chan, I love you.”
44
45 It was true. This visit had stirred up feelings that Sakura only
46 dimly suspected. At first, Tomoyo’s absence had been masked by the
47 excitement of married life in Hong Kong. But over the weeks, being
48 away from her constant companion had begun to erode her confidence,
49 her happiness, and her very soul. Sakura’s bright world was slowly
50 spinning out of balance, becoming dark and shrouded in shadows. When
51 Tomoyo called and said she was coming to visit, Sakura felt a rush of
52 sheer joy. And now, after just two days together, she felt utterly
53 reborn. But why? Tomoyo was her best friend, but the love that
54 gripped Sakura now was like nothing she had ever felt. Wasn’t this
55 how she was supposed to feel with her True Love? Then why didn’t she
56 feel like this with Syaoran? Of course she loved him dearly- but not
57 like this. But why not? He was her husband, her special someone. He
58 had risked his life and given her the power to fight against the
59 darkness unleashed by Eriol. Without his help, those shadows might
60 have engulfed the world in a pall of forgetting. Everyone knew they
61 were fated to be together; in fact, Sakura was one of the last to
62 know. She smiled, remembering the time she ran after Syaoran’s bus
63 with her little teddy bear. But for all the kisses they had shared as
64 newlyweds, there had never been one like last night. Why?
65
66 Syaoran’s kisses were strong and demanding, blunt and forceful like
67 the man himself. Sometimes she felt delightfully swept away when he
68 took her in his arms like some imperious warrior. But Tomoyo’s kiss
69 was tender, tantalizing, sensuous, and oh-so-slow. While Syaoran was
70 always in a hurry to get somewhere, Tomoyo seemed to be lingering,
71 delighted to share those intimate seconds together. Remembering the
72 moment, Sakura blushed deeply, lightly holding her fingers to her
73 lips. But it was more than that. Syaoran kissed as if to prove his
74 love. When Tomoyo kissed, it was Love itself that poured from her
75 heart and filled Sakura’s being. Nobody had ever loved her like
76 Tomoyo-chan. Everything she did flowed from the depths of her love:
77 the costumes, the quirky comments, and now the kiss. Sakura marveled
78 at this, for if she loved her best friend so, then what was Tomoyo’s
79 love for her special someone like? It seemed awful that they did not
80 know of her love, for if they did surely they would feel it as the
81 greatest of blessings. Surely they would rescue her from the
82 loneliness that haunted her. And after seeing the pain etched on her
83 face last night, Sakura was determined that her friend must not live
84 a life in cruel isolation.
85
86 But Tomoyo's effusive love was not the only thing that made the kiss
87 special, for Sakura's intense reaction when their lips first touched
88 had set them both soaring. Her entire being inflamed with fire and
89 light, she returned Tomoyo’s ardent passion with her own. And this
90 brought her back to the original puzzle: Why was her love for the
91 woman in her arms so deep and powerful , more so even than for her
92 husband? Sakura's face mirrored her confusion as she grappled for an
93 answer that would not come. "Hoeeee", she thought, "this would be so
94 much easier if I could do something. But I just don't know what to
95 do." At that moment, a light tap on her shoulder freed her from her
96 confusion. She glanced up and saw Syaoran standing by her, dressed
97 for work. She smiled brightly and whispered,
98
99 "Can you help me get Tomoyo-chan to her room?"
100
101 He rolled his eyes and returned the smile, then carefully took the
102 woman from his wife's arms and carried her to the guest room. She was
103 surprisingly light, and he gently eased her onto the futon, still
104 asleep. Sakura, who had followed along, knelt beside the sleeping
105 girl and tucked her in with all the care and concern of a loving
106 mother. Leaning over, she brushed the dark hair from her pretty face,
107 and kissed the pale cheek. Tomoyo smiled in response, as if all the
108 beautiful dreams in the world were hers. The husband and wife tiptoed
109 out of the room, and Sakura carefully latched shut the great mahogany
110 door.
111
112 Tomoyo slowly awoke in the plush comfort of a silken quilt. She
113 rolled onto her side, breathing in the sweet scent of cut lilies that
114 Sakura had placed in her room the day before. The light from the
115 garden shone brightly, as if the sun had already reached its zenith.
116 Propping herself up on one elbow, she stared at the clock and was
117 startled to see the hands approaching noon. Still awakening, she
118 remembered the garden from last night, illumined not by the noisy
119 yellow sun as it was now, but bathed in moonlight. Swiftly the jumble
120 of recollections fell into place: breaking down in front of Sakura,
121 sobbing uncontrollably, the woman clasping her tightly. And then, she
122 blushingly remembered the kiss.
123
124 Suddenly sitting up, she held a hand to her breast and felt her
125 heart beat wildly. Never had she felt such bliss. Her body trembled
126 as she remembered how their lips lightly touched, how they embraced,
127 how her tongue slipped delicately into Sakura’s honey-sweet mouth.
128 Wide-eyed, she shivered as the lingering passion gripped her slender
129 frame. Holding herself tightly, she closed her eyes, begged her heart
130 be still, and tried to think.
131
132 Her first thought came on a little ripple of fear, “What did I do?
133 She saw me cry, she saw me lonely and in pain. Now I’ve hurt her. Oh,
134 I’ve hurt my Sakura-chan.” In all their time together, Tomoyo had
135 labored to hide her secret agony from Sakura’s sparkling eyes, lest
136 she tarnish that bright, genki spirit. Why had she broken down now,
137 why had the carefully contrived masks fractured in her hands?
138 Frantically she tried to remember what she had said and done. All she
139 could recall was Sakura’s unceasing worry about Tomoyo’s loneliness,
140 about the special person she could never have, or even tell of her
141 love. She had felt trapped like an animal, unable to say that her
142 special person was right there with her, in front of her, as she
143 always had been. With nothing to say and nowhere to run, her heart
144 shattered, the jagged shards rending her soul. And then her tears, so
145 long held back, were unleashed in an uncontrollable torrent. Yet what
146 happened next was utterly astonishing.
147
148 When Sakura pulled her close and embraced her, Tomoyo’s pain was
149 washed away. She remembered with awe the warmth and love that poured
150 into her, healed her, and made her whole again. Here was something
151 far beyond the Cards, which made their powers seem mere tricks and
152 trifles. In the blink of an eye, Tomoyo had gone from a bitter grief
153 that would welcome death to joy and peace enough for all eternity.
154 Pain and woe and fear had no home when she was in her arms. And
155 Sakura’s own spirit, rather than being dimmed by Tomoyo’s pain,
156 blazed forth and brought comfort and elation to them both. Here was a
157 mystery, for Sakura had actually seemed glad to know of Tomoyo’s
158 distress, as if knowing brought her more solace than not knowing.
159 Almost like a Doctor-sensei who exults in her capacity to heal the
160 hurts of others. Shaking off this thought, Tomoyo resolved never to
161 let it happen again, lest Sakura be burdened with a pain she could
162 not mend. As for her own pain, it was beyond the reach of all
163 healing, save for being with her one, true love. And that, of course,
164 was impossible.
165
166 Sakura had found her true love in Li-kun, and Tomoyo could not, must
167 not, sully that happiness. To sacrifice her happiness for that of her
168 loved one seemed a small price, indeed. But the kiss she had shared
169 with her beautiful friend bewildered her, for the love she had felt
170 from Sakura matched her own unrestrained ardor. Sakura did not return
171 the kiss out of surprise or pity, but with a stunning passion, as if
172 she craved a love long denied her. Tomoyo had resolved on her flight
173 to Hong Kong to bottle up her feelings, lest it burden her friend, or
174 damage their wonderful relationship. But in that garden she was
175 enraptured by the scent of tropical flowers, hypnotized by the beauty
176 and voice of the radiant brunette, and bewitched by the luminous
177 moonlight. Her love slipped the iron chains she had forged, and flew
178 to freedom, flew to her. She remembered slowly leaning into the kiss,
179 and Sakura reaching out like a plant welcoming the sun. And this was
180 what baffled her. Sakura should have reacted with embarrassment,
181 should have laughed nervously or made light of what was happening.
182 But her love was as strong and compelling as Tomoyo's own.
183
184 Tomoyo sat in bed, fingers distractedly caressing a little crease in
185 her cyan nightgown. She smiled and thought, it was as if we were
186 really lovers. I’ve been granted a vision of life together, both of
187 us madly in love, with only ourselves in the whole, wide world.
188 Tomoyo closed her eyes and thanked the spirits of the garden who had
189 brought her these wondrous moments. Arigato gozaimasu, she thought,
190 I'll treasure them forever. Opening her eyes she noticed a single
191 braid entwined with green ribbons, and remembered Sakura doing her
192 hair in this very bed. She put her hand to her cheek and felt a hot
193 crimson flush creeping up her neck and shoulders. Such a marvelous
194 day and night it had been! She could bear anything for memories like
195 these. But even in the tender glow of felicity she gently chided
196 herself. She had now been given something unhoped for, a pearl of
197 great price to hold in her heart forever. But she must not distress
198 her friend with her own private longings. Sakura’s fragile feelings
199 were precious, and Tomoyo would not let anything harm them. From now
200 on, she would be more careful. She would bind Love with adamantine
201 chains and keep her feelings under control. But when the smiling face
202 of the delightful brunette came to her, her heart fluttered
203 helplessly in response. It was as if Love playfully rattled those
204 adamantine chains, sweetly mocking Tomoyo’s futile efforts to bind
205 her.
206
207
208 The dark-haired girl arose, and stretched languidly. Today is the
209 banquet, she thought with a start. I have to get ready. They may need
210 me to help. And with that, she rushed to the cedar chest to get
211 dressed, and to see Sakura.
212
213 But Sakura had already left for work, leaving a little note on
214 stationary bordered with lilacs that she had to attend a meeting at
215 school, and would be back in the early afternoon to help prepare the
216 night's banquet. Tucking away the kawaii little note, Tomoyo wandered
217 the great house, looking for the kitchen. Finally, by the dinning
218 hall she found it, and entered in through the double doors. There she
219 saw six chefs and numerous assistants, busy with preparations. Ieran-
220 sama stood among them like a general, calm and assured amidst the
221 chaos of the battlefield. The woman saw her approach, and Tomoyo
222 bowed low and held her bow until it was returned, though by a much
223 shallower bow as befitted their respective stations. Amid the clatter
224 and clang of the busy kitchen Tomoyo had to strain and raise her soft
225 voice to be heard,
226
227 "Good day, Ieran-sama. May I be of any help to you?"
228
229 The woman looked down at her sternly, but Tomoyo noticed the
230 slightest smile as she answered,
231
232 "A guest does not help with her own banquet, Daidouji Siuje. That
233 would be bad fortune." She had used Siuje, the Chinese form for Miss.
234 Tomoyo sensed she had been accorded a singular honor, and bowed
235 slightly in recognition. Ieran-sama smiled again, and turned to the
236 men in the kitchen, issuing a series of rapid orders in Cantonese.
237 She then asked,
238
239 "Would you care for some tea?"
240
241 Tomoyo nodded and followed her out of the kitchen and into the
242 dinning room. The older woman scanned the area, and then said matter-
243 of-factly,
244
245 "It's such a lovely day. Would you like to have tea in the garden?"
246 Ieran-sama watched her intently.
247
248 "Yes, thank you, that would be very nice," Tomoyo replied, her face
249 a mask.
250
251 Ieran-sama led the way down the dark halls, nodding to a servant as
252 she walked. They sat at a table under a mimosa tree dotted with soft,
253 puffy, pink blossoms. The table was made of a pale gray stone, old
254 and weather-stained. Presently a servant arrived with two small red
255 cups and a little red and green pot. Ieran-sama nodded her away, and
256 poured the young woman a steaming cup of strong, black tea. Tomoyo
257 thanked her, and sipped the hot, pungent liquid.
258
259 "Delicious," she smiled. The older woman gazed at her, carefully
260 studying her face. Sipping from her own cup, Ieran-sama sighed,
261
262 "You know, if I had your beauty there would be no need of magic."
263
264 Tomoyo blushed at the compliment, and the steady eyes that beheld
265 her. Closing her eyes, Ieran-sama asked,
266
267 "Are you enjoying Hong Kong?"
268
269 "Yes, very much so. It's really a beautiful city. I'm seeing so much
270 more than the last time I was here."
271
272 "Beautiful, but old, though they seem to delight in tearing down
273 everything they can," She grimaced slightly as she spoke. "But I am
274 happy you are finding your stay pleasant."
275
276 They chatted about the city, shopping in the Causeway, and the view
277 from Victoria Peak. Finally, Ieran-sama asked,
278
279 "Daidouji Siuje, you care very much for Sakura-san, don't you?"
280
281 Again Tomoyo felt the penetrating gaze fall upon her. She put down
282 her cup and nodded.
283
284 "You could have had her for yourself; you have the power. But you
285 encouraged Syaoran instead. Why?"
286
287 Tomoyo paused, and drew a deep breath. There was no sense in trying
288 to hide or conceal anything from her. She saw too much. Smiling, the
289 young woman replied,
290
291 "I wanted her to be happy. That was most important. I didn't think I
292 could make her happy, but I think Li-kun can."
293
294 The woman was silent, her dark eyes locked with Tomoyo's. Finally
295 she looked away and spoke in a cold, aloof tone,
296
297 "Daidouji Siuje, you are perceptive for your years, but have much to
298 learn about human hearts. When next you play matchmaker, be certain
299 before you act."
300
301 Ieran-sama rose and fixed Tomoyo with a hard stare. But then her
302 face softened, as if bright memories of girlhood called to her with a
303 giggle. She smiled a sad, wistful smile and spoke in a whispery,
304 feminine lilt,
305
306 "Daidouji Siuje, I know you would do anything for her. Anything. But
307 this time, please be sure of what you do. Some things done fly far
308 beyond recall."
309
310 She turned and walked away, leaving a pensive Tomoyo behind. Ieran-
311 sama felt a shadow of fear as she strode down the halls to the
312 kitchen. Something about Tomoyo troubled her. There was a sense of
313 brittle strength, a terrible fragility under that calm and placid
314 surface. She closed her eyes and spoke a silent blessing, a spell of
315 watchful protection on the troubling girl. It bothered her that she
316 liked Tomoyo, for such feelings could prove a distraction. The girl
317 was more than useful; she was somehow vital to the House of Li. And
318 that, Ieran-sama thought to herself, is more important than my
319 trifling human emotions.
320
321 Sakura hurried down the street that led to the Li residence. Having
322 to go for a teacher's meeting was exasperating, but it was her duty
323 to go, so she went. Besides, Tomoyo needed to sleep, though hopefully
324 she was up now. Sakura was visibly excited at the prospect of seeing
325 her again. She wanted to see and be with Tomoyo as much as possible
326 while she was still here. Her heart caught in her throat at this
327 thought, realizing the woman would soon leave for Japan. Sakura
328 practically ran up the hill, the house soon looming into view.
329 Standing outside was Tomoyo, scanning the street as if looking for
330 her. Sakura shouted out her name and waved, and as the dark-haired
331 woman caught sight of her she waved back. Running breathlessly,
332 Sakura charged up the walkway and threw herself into Tomoyo’s arms,
333 nearly toppling her over.
334
335 Tomoyo gasped in surprise and delight as she felt the reassuring
336 warmth of her beloved friend. She thought to herself, Sakura-chan’s
337 away for a few hours and I can’t stand it. How can I possibly leave
338 her? She fought back the tears and held on tightly. Finally,
339 reluctantly, the two parted, though Sakura took the pale woman’s
340 hands in hers as she spoke,
341
342 “Tomoyo-chan, I’m so sorry I had to go. I really missed you, isn’t
343 that silly? I was only gone a little bit, but I missed you so much.
344 How are you feeling? Did you get enough sleep? You must have been
345 awfully tired.”
346
347 Tomoyo basked in the sparkling glow of Sakura’s smile and replied
348 cheerfully,
349
350 “Sakura-chan doesn’t have to worry about me. I had a lovely sleep,
351 and beautiful dreams of my best friend, and I’ve even had tea and a
352 conversation with Ieran-sama. But I’m very glad to see you again. I
353 missed you, too.”
354
355 Sakura hugged her tightly again and half-whispered,
356
357 “I don’t know what I’m going to do when you’re gone.”
358
359 Tomoyo’s body stiffened at the words. She thought, I don’t know what
360 I’m going to do, either, Sakura-chan. I just don’t know. But calming
361 her thudding heart, she gently pulled away and smiled,
362
363 “All the more reason to enjoy the time we still have together. I
364 think Ieran-sama has work for you in the kitchen. She won’t let me
365 help, because she said it wouldn’t be good luck for the guest to work
366 for her own banquet. But maybe if you ask her you could do some of
367 the preparations in the dinning room, where we could talk?”
368
369 Sakura nodded, and the two walked hand-in-and through the house
370 before Sakura disappeared into the kitchen. She emerged shortly
371 thereafter, carrying a large pot full of vegetables. She set things
372 up on a table, and carefully began slicing radishes and carrots,
373 greens and bell peppers. Though not particularly fond of the peppers,
374 Tomoyo politely ignored their presence. When Sakura began to weep
375 cutting the onions, Tomoyo found a black lacquer bowl and filled it
376 with water. She placed it by the little chef, saying her Mother swore
377 it helped when cutting onions. The two talked away the afternoon as
378 Sakura chopped and sliced while an entranced Tomoyo simply watched.
379 Finally, Ieran-sama found them, and asked Tomoyo if she would like to
380 prepare herself for the banquet. Later Sakura too was dismissed from
381 her culinary chores, and went to her room to dress.
382
383 Syaoran was already in the bedroom getting ready. Sakura greeted him
384 with a kiss and began looking through her closet, She settled on a
385 black silk cheongsam, a birthday present from her husband. Typical of
386 the style, it had a fairly high collar and fastened diagonally along
387 the right front. The front, collar, and sleeves had a colorful floral
388 border trimmed in gold. The long hem was also trimmed, but only in
389 gold. The skirt was slit slightly above the knee, and Sakura decided
390 to wear black stockings and heels. Standing in front of the mirror,
391 she turned left, then right, waiting expectantly for a comment from
392 Syaoran. But he was too busy with his tie to notice, so Sakura sat
393 down at the vanity. Thinking about how to do her hair, she was
394 reminded of the night before, when she had brushed and braided
395 Tomoyo's beautiful, black-gray tresses. She closed her eyes as the
396 sensations echoed in her mind: the soft, silken feel of the lustrous
397 hair, the flowery-sweet scent, the way it caught the light and
398 shimmered darkly. Breathless, she opened her eyes and swallowed,
399 feeling a hot flash over her shivering body. As she picked up the
400 brush, her hand trembled. Nervously she glanced behind her, but
401 Syaoran was preoccupied and didn’t notice. She brushed in quick,
402 short strokes, trying to calm down.
403
404 As the brush shooshed through her short, auburn hair, Sakura again
405 tried to understand her volatile feelings for Tomoyo. The only thing
406 remotely close to this was Yukito-san, but that had been different.
407 She loved him, but gave it up because despite his affectionate
408 nature, she knew he did not love her in the same way. She knew he
409 loved her brother, and that Touga loved him. She had always been glad
410 of their happiness, despite her pain at the time. Yet for all the
411 intensity she felt for him, it was different than her feelings for
412 her best friend. It had been more than a crush, but was still just
413 the love of a young girl. Her feelings for Tomoyo were stronger,
414 deeper, and more compelling. But why was she wracked by these
415 feelings all of a sudden? Why had she never felt this way before?
416 Because I’ve never been away from her, she thought. We were always
417 together; I can’t think of a day we didn’t see each other, or talk on
418 the phone. Things haven’t felt right since I’ve arrived in Hong Kong.
419 Until now. Now that she is with me. I was away from Syaoran for
420 almost two years, and missed him terribly. But I’ve only been apart
421 from Tomoyo for three months, and it’s an eternity of heartbreak. I
422 don’t think I can live without her. I don’t know if I want to live
423 without her. But she’s my friend. Why do I feel like this for my
424 friend? Confused and frustrated, Sakura turned in her chair and
425 blurted out,
426
427 “Syaoran-chan, was Meiling-chan your best friend when you were young?”
428
429 Syaoran regarded her with a surprised look, and then replied slowly,
430
431 “I don’t know. I guess so. I never had many friends.”
432
433 “Did you like her?” Sakura’s voice sounded nervous and agitated.
434
435 Syaoran rolled his eyes and answered impatiently, “I guess I did. I
436 mean, she was a pain, sometimes, but I suppose she was all right.”
437
438 “Did you love her? Do you still love her?” Sakura asked, wide-eyed
439 and breathless.
440
441 Syaoran frowned and looked away as he mumbled his response, “Why are
442 you asking me that? Are you jealous or something? We didn’t have to
443 invite her tonight, you know.”
444
445 Sakura shook her head wildly and sputtered, “No, I didn’t mean it
446 like that. I’m not jealous at all. But I just wondered if, if best
447 friends could love each other.”
448
449 Syaoran snorted derisively as he slipped on his jacket, “Are you
450 about ready? The guests will be arriving soon, and I don’t want to be
451 late.”
452
453 Sakura smiled sheepishly, “You go on ahead. I’m almost done; I’ll be
454 there in a minute.”
455
456 Syaoran nodded and slipped out the door, leaving Sakura feeling
457 somehow foolish. With a little sigh she opened her jewelry box and
458 chanced upon the little flower hair pin Yukito-san had given her on
459 their trip to Hong Kong so many years ago. She picked it up and
460 smiled, remembering. Then she fixed it in her hair and tilted her
461 head in contemplation.
462
463 “Mmm,” she murmured approvingly, then stood and walked through the
464 door to meet the guests and find Tomoyo-chan.
465
466 Tomoyo heard the buzz of conversation through the large wooden door.
467 Feeling nervous, she remembered the techniques she had used in public
468 performance with the choir. She closed her eyes and slowed her
469 breathing, allowing her body to gradually relax. Tomoyo felt a hand
470 gently touch her shoulder, and looked up to see Fanren at her side.
471 With her fluency in Japanese, Ieran-sama had selected Fanren to
472 escort Tomoyo through the complexities of the banquet. Her eyes
473 sparkled as she spoke excitedly to the young Japanese woman,
474
475 “Aiyaaaaa, Tomoyo-san, you look gorgeous! I’d give you a kiss for
476 good luck but I don’t want to muss you up. I *knew* that cheongsam
477 would be a perfect fit.” She stood back and gazed admiringly. The
478 long, red silk dress was embroidered in golden thread with two
479 lovebirds snuggling together. The high collar and tight fit
480 accentuated Tomoyo’s willowy figure, giving her the look of a goddess
481 who deigned to dally awhile with mortals before ascending back to the
482 heavens. And if Tomoyo’s natural beauty made such a look possible,
483 several hours of meticulous work had gone into its perfection.
484
485 The four Li sisters had argued bitterly over who would get to dress
486 the Japanese beauty for her banquet. Finally they decided on a
487 division of labor that would give them all a chance to show their
488 skills. Fanren would select the clothing, Fuutie would do the make-
489 up, and both Feimei and Shiefa would work on the hair, as that would
490 be the most complex task of all. Fuutie sulked that Tomoyo’s beauty
491 made her job all too easy. Studying the woman’s flawless alabaster
492 skin, she shook her head in amazement. With a deft touch the Chinese
493 woman used a powdery crimson blush to highlight her cheeks, and a
494 plum colored eye shadow that complimented Tomoyo’s remarkable
495 amethyst eyes. She finished with a delicate pink lipstick, and smiled
496 as the other sisters gasped in delight. Fuutie giggled,
497
498 “Who needs a banquet? She looks delicious enough to eat!” The women
499 laughed as Tomoyo’s blush complimented Fuutie’s handiwork.
500
501 Before the makeup, Feimei and Shiefa had begun preparations on
502 Tomoyo’s hair. They protectively wrapped their work-in-progress with
503 white silk, waiting until Fuutie had finished before applying their
504 finishing touches. Huddled with an array of jewelry, flowers, and
505 accessories they worked with nimble fingers and a sharp eye for
506 beauty. When they had finally finished, Tomoyo looked in the gilded
507 mirror they held before her and stared in wonder. The hairstyle was a
508 genuine work of art, adroitly combining a traditional Chinese
509 coiffure with more modern styling. Her lavender hair was spun into
510 delicate locks and ringlets with two long, curling tresses in the
511 front that tumbled freely to her waist. The hair was entwined with
512 ornate red and gold jewelry that tinkled prettily as she walked, or
513 bowed, or turned her head. Finally, three snow-white gardenias
514 provided a fragrant contrast with the dark, shimmering hair. Tomoyo
515 stood and bowed deeply, thanking the women for their labors. The
516 sisters giggled and returned the bow as Shiefei replied,
517
518 “It was our pleasure. The doll designer herself makes a most
519 wonderful doll to play with.”
520
521 Now Fanren looked at Tomoyo and whispered, “Remember, if you get
522 stuck or aren’t sure what to say or do, press my hand twice and just
523 follow my lead. Ready?” Tomoyo smiled and nodded, and the two entered
524 arm in arm into the crowded reception room. They were met with a wall
525 of sound as the guests chatted loudly and enthusiastically. But when
526 the pair entered a hush quickly swept the crowd, followed by excited
527 whispers and astonished, occasionally envious, looks. Fanren
528 carefully navigated her charge through the innumerable Li’s and
529 assorted guests, starting with the most revered and prestigious,
530 calculating her bows and words with practiced precision. As if
531 choreographed, Tomoyo followed Fanren and listened as the Chinese
532 woman translated,
533
534 “The most honorable Coordinator of Clinical Services at the Prince
535 of Wales Hospital, Dr. C. Y. Li, offers his humble greetings to the
536 friend of his kinsman’s wife, Kinomoto Sakura. He wishes the
537 exquisite Daidouji Tomoyo to know that her presence at this banquet
538 brings great honor to the House of Li, and that her consummate beauty
539 must make the Lady Moon weep with helpless frustration for being so
540 outshone.”
541
542 Tomoyo answered with graceful solemnity,
543
544 “Please inform the most honorable Coordinator of Clinical Services
545 at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Dr. C. Y. Li, that I am sadly
546 unworthy of the sumptuous magnanimity of the august House of Li, and
547 that I thank him for his kind generosity in receiving me with a
548 veneration for which I am utterly undeserving.”
549
550 And so it went, from guest to honored guest. Tomoyo quickly
551 realized that she was the center of interest, and found herself
552 blushing as many of the younger men, and not a few women, proved
553 particularly attentive. Fanren was the perfect escort, explaining who
554 was who and what was said, fixing a loose golden bell in her hair
555 that was dangling on her forehead, and even slipping her a refreshing
556 watermelon juice drink. Tomoyo was sipping the cool, pink liquid when
557 she heard Fanren intone,
558
559 “The most honorable first son of the House of Li, Li Syaoran, and
560 his wife, who hails from the land of the Rising Sun, Kinomoto Sakura,
561 present their greetings and felicitations…”
562
563 Tomoyo whirled about, nearly dropping her drink in surprise. With a
564 hasty bow, she smiled joyfully and gazed adoringly at Sakura. The
565 cinnamon-haired woman stood as if in shock. With her mouth open and a
566 hand on her breast, Sakura stared in breathless astonishment.
567 Coloring visibly, she blurted out when Fanren had finished,
568
569 “Tomoyo-chan, you look so beautiful!”
570
571 Syaoran rolled his eyes and Fanren giggled behind her hand as Tomoyo
572 bowed and answered in Japanese,
573
574 “I thank the devoted wife of the admirable Li Syaoran of the
575 esteemed House of Li for her kindness, hospitality, and gracious
576 indulgence of so unworthy a guest as myself. Furthermore, I assure
577 her that if there is anything pleasing about my humble appearance it
578 is due solely to the magnificent skills of the resourceful women of
579 the august House of Li. Yet I am saddened that all of their diligent
580 work shall be for naught, for the eyes of all the worthy guests who
581 attend this sumptuous banquet will see only the radiant splendor of
582 Kinomoto Sakura, and that all hearts will be forevermore hers.”
583
584 Suppressing a smile, Fanren then introduced Tomoyo to her
585 approaching host. Elegantly attired in traditional Chinese dress,
586 Ieran-sama glowed with a magical beauty. Utterly enchanted, Tomoyo
587 bowed and exchanged greetings, and then arm in arm accompanied her
588 host to the doors that led to the dinning room. Ieran-sama indicated
589 that she should enter, but Tomoyo hesitated and began the ritual that
590 Fanren had carefully outlined. As the guest, she was honored with
591 being the first to enter. But custom dictated that to do so without
592 lengthy remonstrance would be the worst of manners, implying an
593 intolerable arrogance. For several minutes the two women gently
594 besought the other to enter first, as the guests listened
595 approvingly, if a bit hungrily. Finally, Tomoyo graciously consented
596 and entered, and the others followed in a pre-arranged hierarchy of
597 importance and prestige.
598
599 With high ceilings and picture windows that overlooked the gaudily
600 illuminated city below, the dinning room gave an appearance of
601 spacious grandeur. Decorations were tastefully few, so as not to
602 detract from the real attraction: the food. Set in the center of the
603 room were five round tables of darkly polished and ornately carved
604 mahogany. Ieran indicated the seat of honor for Tomoyo, and again the
605 two enacted a minuet of humility and praise before finally sitting.
606 Ieran took the seat directly across form her, the chair closest to
607 the kitchen doors from whence the servers would bring the various
608 dishes of the feast. This was also a calculated gesture, for such a
609 seat was considered the lowliest of all, and demonstrated the host’s
610 high regard for all the other guests. Tomoyo’s heart soared as she
611 saw Sakura and Syaoran sitting at the same table, as well as the Li
612 sisters, Fanren as always by her side. She glanced at the table, set
613 with priceless porcelain bowls, plates, and spoons, beautifully
614 decorated in delicately wrought patterns of blue, white, and gold.
615 She marveled at the ivory chopsticks set with golden filigree, and
616 the elaborately engraved golden cups. Seeing that all were seated and
617 everything was in readiness, Ieran gave two sharp claps and the
618 kitchen doors instantly swung open. At long last, the banquet was
619 ready to begin.
620
621 Bursting out from the door were several uniformed servers, dressed
622 in bright red and yellow silks, carrying large trays of multi-colored
623 delicacies. Fanren explained that these were the cold dishes to begin
624 the meal. Great silver platters were swiftly arranged on every table,
625 as Ieran-sama moved gracefully through the hall, apologizing for the
626 meager fare, her guests in turn delightedly protesting that they were
627 unworthy of such an abundance of delicacies. When she returned to the
628 table, she served Tomoyo with elegant ease before finally sitting
629 down. A second wave of servers then appeared, displaying aged and
630 dusty earthenware urns, which brought gasps of surprise from the
631 guests, and a joyous buzz that swept the room. Fanren leaned and
632 whispered into Tomoyo’s ear,
633
634 “It’s Shao Xing rice wine, well over 50 years old. I hope you come
635 back here more often,” she giggled.
636
637 As the seals were broken a powerful aroma wafted over the entire
638 room. Servers filled the small golden cups with the dark amber
639 liquid. Ieran arose, and the other guests quickly followed. The woman
640 held her glass high as her eyes surveyed the audience, finally
641 settling intently upon Tomoyo. In a musical voice that carried
642 strongly over the hall, Ieran made her opening toast,
643
644 “To all who have come I offer a thousand thanks and ten thousand
645 blessings, for you honor the House of Li with your presence. To
646 Daidouji Tomoyo, honored guest from across the waters, I wish you
647 life as long as the Yangtze River, as full of happiness as the
648 springtime flood of the Pearl River Delta, and pray that Love may
649 come to you as swiftly as the rapids of the mountain born Nan-p’an.
650 Gan Bei!”
651
652 At this, the guests drained their cups, savoring the heady scent of
653 the priceless wine. The first toast done, all turned their attention
654 to the bounteous feast before them. The cold dishes were colorful and
655 varied, carefully arrayed on the large, heavy silver platters. Fanren
656 identified the various little dishes, and pointed out her favorites,
657
658 “That’s Boiled Pork Tongue, that’s Century Egg with Peppers, though
659 it’s really only a few months old, so don’t worry. This is Sichuan
660 Cucumber with Dried Prawn over on the left, and the red one is Five-
661 Spice Yellow River Carp, a very lucky dish!”
662
663 Tomoyo sampled and nibbled, mindful of Fanren’s advice to eat
664 lightly lest she be full before the main courses arrived. The flavors
665 were cold and crisp, designed to sharpen the palate for the hot
666 dishes to come. Somewhat to her surprise, Ieran-sama served the food
667 at the table, and assisted the servers at the other tables. Despite
668 the alluring repast, Tomoyo kept stealing little glances at Sakura,
669 who reacted with delight to each and every dish. She saw Tomoyo and
670 grinned, giving a cute little wave. Tomoyo felt her heart race at the
671 sight of her beautiful friend, but this private reverie was
672 interrupted when the next wave of servers swept into the noisy
673 dinning hall.
674
675 These were the first of the hot dishes, exquisitely prepared,
676 steaming aromatically as they covered the massive tables. Again
677 Fanren was her guide through this culinary odyssey as Tomoyo gazed in
678 wonder at the mosaic of colors and scents. There was Stir-Fried
679 Triple-Winter, a savory mix of autumnal vegetables. The Shredded Duck
680 with Mango was piquant and breezily tropical. The Stir-Fried Liver
681 with Cloud Ears was surprisingly smooth, the tender liver contrasting
682 with the crunchy, earthy flavor of the Cloud Ear fungus. The Hot and
683 Sour Cabbage was simple, but perfectly done, and went well with the
684 Spicy Tea Eggs that had the appearance of rich marble. Fanren touched
685 her sleeve lightly and whispered, “Remember, these are only the
686 appetizers. It is said that you must guard your appetite well against
687 these skirmishers that precede the main battle line!” Tomoyo nodded,
688 and wondered how she could possibly keep up. As the dishes were taken
689 away, she saw Ieran nudging Syaoran, who rose, blushing, to make the
690 next round of toasts. Standing unsteadily, almost cringing from the
691 eyes upon him, Syaoran stumbled through his pre-written piece.
692 Finally, he looked at Tomoyo and smiled genuinely as he finished,
693
694 “It is said by the sages that those who play the game do not see it
695 as clearly as those who watch. To the most watchful and perceptive
696 person I know, the honorable and esteemed Daidouji Tomoyo. Gan bei!”
697
698 Before the drinks were drained, more of the red-clad servers
699 appeared, hoisting huge, meticulously carved winter melons. The one
700 at Tomoyo’s table was carved in the fantastic shape of a dragon
701 chasing a crescent moon. The top was removed, and the steamy scent of
702 winter melon and expensive Kinka ham soup drifted over the table.
703 Fanren whispered that the melon was very yin, and served to clear and
704 cleanse the palate for the meaty, yang courses to come. And in short
705 order they did, plates and bowls beyond counting, with a wild variety
706 of colors and flavors. At the center of every table was Peking Roast
707 Duck, specially prepared by a Master Chef of Hong Kong who did
708 nothing but this classic, who had served Kings and Presidents
709 throughout the world. Fanren described several of the dishes, but her
710 hungry eyes moved Tomoyo to beg her to eat and talk later. Tomoyo
711 winced at the sharp tang of Crystal Boiled Pork with Garlic Sauce,
712 and smiled at the sweet Fujian Lychee Pork. The Sweet-As-Honey
713 Venison was just as the Emperor Qian Long had described the recipe
714 200 years ago. So tender was the Chicken and Red Date Stew that Ieran-
715 sama pulled the soft flesh from the bird with just her chops\ticks.
716 But most sublime was the duck. Glistening reddish-brown in it’s
717 coating of malt sugar, the crispy-sweet skin held the meltingly
718 flavorful meat within. The skin and meat were eaten in delicate
719 little pancakes, with a Tian Mian Jiang sauce made from a jealously
720 guarded, secret Imperial recipe. Fanren whispered to Tomoyo, who
721 leaned over to hear,
722
723 “They say the in the 1930’s a chef was tortured to death by a
724 warlord rather than divulge the secret recipe.”
725
726 Tomoyo looked at the sauce with great respect, and gravely spoke a
727 silent little prayer of thanks to the brave chef. Finally the tables
728 were cleared and hot towels distributed as the toasts began again,
729 this time with 70 year-old wine. Tomoyo sipped carefully, worried
730 that she might grow silly with too much of the potent drink. She
731 noticed several male guests playing guessing games with fingers, the
732 loser draining a cup that was instantly refilled. Again the doors
733 burst open, and now bowls of soup were displayed, with the legendary
734 Braised Shark’s Fin soup holding center stage. The soup glittered and
735 sparkled, a liquid treasure of incomparable worth. Yet the other
736 soups were hardly outshone, forming a rainbow of glimmering colors
737 and flavors. After sampling the soups (and the Braised Shark Fin
738 twice), Fanren smiled and nudged Tomoyo, indicating Ieran-sama, who
739 was standing at the table and waiting while the bowls were cleared
740 away. Suddenly through the doors came enormous oval platters, so huge
741 they were carried by two straining men at each end. The platters were
742 laid at each table, and as was customary, the one at Tomoyo’s was
743 placed with the head pointing to the guest of honor. All she could do
744 was stare incredulously at the sight.
745
746 Upon each platter was a giant fish, seared crisply, laid upon a bed
747 of mossy green seaweed and delicately cut scallions that looked for
748 all the world like the waves of the sea. But what fixated Tomoyo’s
749 attention was a singular movement, which gave the impression of the
750 tremendous fish swimming in the rolling ocean waves. And what made
751 this possible, Tomoyo realized with a creeping horror, was that the
752 fish was still alive. It’s eyes looked about in confused terror, and
753 it’s mouth gasped for the water that it would never breathe again. It
754 took all of Tomoyo’s years of practice with Sakura to wear a smiling
755 mask, as if she were enchanted by the piteous spectacle. And poor
756 Sakura, she noticed, was woozy and looked as if she might pass out as
757 Syaoran vigorously shook her arm. Tomoyo then saw Ieran-sama take two
758 large silver knives from a bowing server who presented them in a red-
759 velvet lined wooden box. Standing by her pale guest, she lifted them
760 high above her head and took a deep breath. Swift as lightning she
761 struck, wielding the knives like short-swords. In an instant the two
762 cheeks of the mighty fish had been neatly carved and placed perfectly
763 on Tomoyo’s plate. The hall roared and clapped its approval, and
764 Tomoyo bowed deeply in thanks for these choicest portions of the
765 opulent offering. With that, the other servers attacked the fish at
766 their tables and served the excited guests. Tomoyo silently
767 apologized to the poor fish that had suffered so for her sake, and
768 courteously ate the delicacy, though the exquisite flavor gave her
769 little pleasure.
770
771 The other fish and seafood dishes were delicious, though happily
772 less dramatic. The Chao Zhou Zheng Chang Yu was a delicately steamed
773 pomfret fish, subtly accented with slivers of celery, salt plum, and
774 tomato. The Crispy Fried Mandarin fish and the enormous Stir-Fried
775 Lobster with Chicken in Hot Sauce provided a spicy, crunchy contrast.
776 The Baby Slipper Lobsters and Fujian Fried Chili Crabs were balanced
777 nicely by the squid with bamboo shoots, the squid sliced and scored
778 to look like some delicate flowers from a lost kingdom of the sea.
779 Tomoyo barely managed to nibble one of the tasty Shrimp-stuffed
780 Lychees when she turned to Fanren and whispered in a worried tone,
781
782 “Fanren-san, gomenesai, but I don’t know how much more I can eat.
783 It’s wonderfully delicious, but I am so very full.”
784
785 Fanren giggled and whispered back,
786
787 “Aiyaaa, for someone so charmingly petite you’ve done very well,
788 Tomoyo-chan. Don’t worry, the cai foods are done, now all that’s left
789 are the fan courses: grains, noodles, and rice. And it would be
790 insulting to at the rice, as that would mean there wasn’t enough food
791 to fill you up!”
792
793 At this Tomoyo looked relieved, especially as the next round of
794 toasts ended and numerous noodle dishes were spread over the table.
795 Tomoyo noticed that, despite the inviting aroma and magnificent
796 presentation, most of the guests merely picked and nibbled. Much to
797 the surprise and delight of the Li family, Tomoyo ate a goodly
798 portion of the Fried Noodles Xiamen and the curiously named, “Wealth
799 and Good Deeds” with Yi noodles, which Fanren explained was made of a
800 rare hair moss that grew only in the northernmost reaches of the
801 country. Tomoyo asked Fanren to provide a translation for something
802 she whispered, which the Chinese woman laughingly gave, Then the
803 honored guest spoke haltingly to the table in Cantonese,
804
805 “I am very fond of noodles.”
806
807 This brought laughter all around as everyone regarded the beautiful
808 woman with warmth and affection. Tomoyo realized that conversation at
809 the banquet was sparse, yet there existed a glowing sense of
810 communion among all the guests. She remembered Fanren saying before
811 the banquet that food in China was a form of communication that
812 rendered mere words unnecessary. She thought about this now, as the
813 dishes were cleared away yet again. She fondly remembered school
814 lunches with Sakura, where the girl’s silent presence was more than
815 enough to fill her heart. She gazed at her now, a beautiful, married
816 woman, terra-cotta hair catching the light of the chandeliers above.
817 For all the joyous opulence of the banquet, she yearned most of all
818 for a quiet moment with her beautiful friend. Memories of the night
819 before in the moonlit garden suddenly filled her heart. With a sweet
820 shiver she thought, my Sakura-chan is a dream come to life. How lucky
821 I have been to be with her. Finally, Tomoyo noticed the nudging of
822 Fanren, who pointed to the little wine cup before her. With a look of
823 recognition, Tomoyo smiled and rose to give her toast.
824
825 The guests were stunned at the wine that was now presented, for it
826 was of Imperial vintage, still bearing the seal of the Great Dowager
827 Empress from over a hundred years ago. As the priceless liquid was
828 poured, all eyes turned to Tomoyo, who rose and held her cup prettily
829 with one hand on the side and one on the bottom. She then began the
830 speech she and Fanren had prepared the night before.
831
832 In imperfect but earnest Cantonese, Tomoyo thanked all who had come
833 to honor her with this splendid banquet. She protested her
834 unworthiness for so great an homage, and her great fortune in
835 experiencing a feast whose memories would bring her joy all the years
836 of her life. She wished happiness and long life to all, especially
837 the esteemed members of the House of Li that had so graciously
838 extended their incomparable hospitality. Finally, she bowed deeply to
839 Ieran-sama, and thanked her host for the beauty, bounty, and
840 brilliance of an unforgettable evening.
841
842 “Gan bei,” Tomoyo spoke out in her musical voice as all present
843 downed their drinks, utterly enchanted by the charming, pale beauty
844 from Japan. With that, the symbolic bowls of rice were placed and
845 quickly removed with not a grain consumed. Finally, a dizzying array
846 of luscious desserts was placed before the protesting guests, as well
847 as Iron Goddess of Mercy tea, brewed from the uppermost bud and twin
848 leaves of the finest plants from Fujian. When the final cup of tea
849 had been drained, Ieran-sama rose and thanked the guests profusely,
850 signaling the end of the banquet. Effusive appreciation was showered
851 on the Li family by the departing company, who protested Ieran-sama’s
852 humble apologies by declaring the banquet as the most memorable in
853 years. Some left tipsy, most left stuffed, but all left happy to have
854 been a part of so memorable an occasion. In the dark of the nearly
855 empty reception room, Fanren stood before Tomoyo and gently took her
856 by the hand.
857
858 Tomoyo’s azure eyes sparkled as she spoke,
859
860 “Fanren-san, thank you so very much for helping me with my dress,
861 and my toast, and serving as my escort. I don’t know how I would have
862 made it through without you. I’m ever in your debt.”
863
864 The woman smiled, and lightly rested her palm on Tomoyo’s soft, pale
865 cheek. Her voice betrayed the emotion that welled up inside her,
866
867 “I am the one thankful for sharing this magical evening with such an
868 enchanting princess. I know by your eyes where your heart’s desire
869 lies. But if ever your precious heart should find room for another,
870 forget me not, Diadouji Tomoyo-chan, whose beauty in truth outshines
871 Lady Moon.”
872
873 With a final caress of her delicate hand, Fanren leaned over, and
874 lightly kissed the blushing cheek of the honored guest. With that she
875 was gone, leaving Tomoyo breathless, but smiling.
876