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     1.2 +++ b/stories/dearsakura-07.txt	Fri Feb 19 06:24:59 2010 -0500
     1.3 @@ -0,0 +1,876 @@
     1.4 +Dear Sakura
     1.5 +The Banquet
     1.6 +by G.P. and Amazoness Duo
     1.7 +pearsong1954@yahoo.com
     1.8 +amazonessduo@hotmail.com
     1.9 +
    1.10 +
    1.11 +Sakura’s Feathery wings ached as she struggled to stay aloft in the
    1.12 +howling wind. Buffeted by a frigid gust, she grimaced and tried to
    1.13 +steady herself on the unsteady currents. Scanning the nightscape of
    1.14 +the great city, she spied Tokyo Tower alight, a blazing beacon in the
    1.15 +dark, moonless night. Squinting to focus, she made out a familiar
    1.16 +figure, long hair tossed about by the fierce wind. The girl’s flowing
    1.17 +dress fluttered crazily as she teetered unsteadily on the edge of a
    1.18 +platform high above the ground. Standing with arms folded, hands
    1.19 +against her chest, she clutched something tightly to her breast. In
    1.20 +horror, Sakura realized who it was and screamed her name,
    1.21 +
    1.22 +"Tomoyo-chan!!"
    1.23 +
    1.24 +She woke with a start and stared out at the gray-blue garden, dimly
    1.25 +lit by the early dawn. With a cold shiver she realized it was that
    1.26 +dream again. But this time, she knew who the figure on the Tower was.
    1.27 +But what was she doing there, and why was it Tomoyo-chan? Realizing
    1.28 +she was still entwined with Tomoyo, Sakura released a little sigh of
    1.29 +relief. She snuggled against the sleeping woman, taking comfort in
    1.30 +her warm presence. Gazing at the pale face, so peaceful and calm,
    1.31 +Sakura felt the fear in her heart vanish. Fingers playing with a lock
    1.32 +of lustrous lavender hair, she watched the woman cradled in her arms
    1.33 +breathe softly in a gentle slumber.
    1.34 +
    1.35 +Sakura felt an ocean of love welling within, buoying her heart like
    1.36 +a little cork. Yesterday was a dream of moonlight and mountains,
    1.37 +gardens and fountains, and a magical kiss that swept her soul up into
    1.38 +the velvety night. She blushed at the memory of that kiss, but more
    1.39 +out of passionate remembrance than embarrassment. Never had anything
    1.40 +affected her like this. The treacly-hot sweetness lingered still, the
    1.41 +scent and taste and touch of Tomoyo flooding back as she closed her
    1.42 +eyes. Her body shivered and her heart thudded with an aching longing.
    1.43 +She wanted to cry and laugh and hug the beautiful, still form
    1.44 +drowsing in her arms. On the edge of tears she whispered hoarsely,
    1.45 +
    1.46 +“Tomoyo-chan, I love you.”
    1.47 +
    1.48 +It was true. This visit had stirred up feelings that Sakura only
    1.49 +dimly suspected. At first, Tomoyo’s absence had been masked by the
    1.50 +excitement of married life in Hong Kong. But over the weeks, being
    1.51 +away from her constant companion had begun to erode her confidence,
    1.52 +her happiness, and her very soul. Sakura’s bright world was slowly
    1.53 +spinning out of balance, becoming dark and shrouded in shadows. When
    1.54 +Tomoyo called and said she was coming to visit, Sakura felt a rush of
    1.55 +sheer joy. And now, after just two days together, she felt utterly
    1.56 +reborn. But why? Tomoyo was her best friend, but the love that
    1.57 +gripped Sakura now was like nothing she had ever felt. Wasn’t this
    1.58 +how she was supposed to feel with her True Love? Then why didn’t she
    1.59 +feel like this with Syaoran? Of course she loved him dearly- but not
    1.60 +like this. But why not? He was her husband, her special someone. He
    1.61 +had risked his life and given her the power to fight against the
    1.62 +darkness unleashed by Eriol. Without his help, those shadows might
    1.63 +have engulfed the world in a pall of forgetting. Everyone knew they
    1.64 +were fated to be together; in fact, Sakura was one of the last to
    1.65 +know. She smiled, remembering the time she ran after Syaoran’s bus
    1.66 +with her little teddy bear. But for all the kisses they had shared as
    1.67 +newlyweds, there had never been one like last night. Why?
    1.68 +
    1.69 +Syaoran’s kisses were strong and demanding, blunt and forceful like
    1.70 +the man himself. Sometimes she felt delightfully swept away when he
    1.71 +took her in his arms like some imperious warrior. But Tomoyo’s kiss
    1.72 +was tender, tantalizing, sensuous, and oh-so-slow. While Syaoran was
    1.73 +always in a hurry to get somewhere, Tomoyo seemed to be lingering,
    1.74 +delighted to share those intimate seconds together. Remembering the
    1.75 +moment, Sakura blushed deeply, lightly holding her fingers to her
    1.76 +lips. But it was more than that. Syaoran kissed as if to prove his
    1.77 +love. When Tomoyo kissed, it was Love itself that poured from her
    1.78 +heart and filled Sakura’s being. Nobody had ever loved her like
    1.79 +Tomoyo-chan. Everything she did flowed from the depths of her love:
    1.80 +the costumes, the quirky comments, and now the kiss. Sakura marveled
    1.81 +at this, for if she loved her best friend so, then what was Tomoyo’s
    1.82 +love for her special someone like? It seemed awful that they did not
    1.83 +know of her love, for if they did surely they would feel it as the
    1.84 +greatest of blessings. Surely they would rescue her from the
    1.85 +loneliness that haunted her. And after seeing the pain etched on her
    1.86 +face last night, Sakura was determined that her friend must not live
    1.87 +a life in cruel isolation. 
    1.88 +
    1.89 +But Tomoyo's effusive love was not the only thing that made the kiss
    1.90 +special, for Sakura's intense reaction when their lips first touched
    1.91 +had set them both soaring. Her entire being inflamed with fire and
    1.92 +light, she returned Tomoyo’s ardent passion with her own. And this
    1.93 +brought her back to the original puzzle: Why was her love for the
    1.94 +woman in her arms so deep and powerful , more so even than for her
    1.95 +husband? Sakura's face mirrored her confusion as she grappled for an
    1.96 +answer that would not come. "Hoeeee", she thought, "this would be so
    1.97 +much easier if I could do something. But I just don't know what to
    1.98 +do." At that moment, a light tap on her shoulder freed her from her
    1.99 +confusion. She glanced up and saw Syaoran standing by her, dressed
   1.100 +for work. She smiled brightly and whispered,
   1.101 +
   1.102 +"Can you help me get Tomoyo-chan to her room?"
   1.103 +
   1.104 +He rolled his eyes and returned the smile, then carefully took the
   1.105 +woman from his wife's arms and carried her to the guest room. She was
   1.106 +surprisingly light, and he gently eased her onto the futon, still
   1.107 +asleep. Sakura, who had followed along, knelt beside the sleeping
   1.108 +girl and tucked her in with all the care and concern of a loving
   1.109 +mother. Leaning over, she brushed the dark hair from her pretty face,
   1.110 +and kissed the pale cheek. Tomoyo smiled in response, as if all the
   1.111 +beautiful dreams in the world were hers. The husband and wife tiptoed
   1.112 +out of the room, and Sakura carefully latched shut the great mahogany
   1.113 +door.   
   1.114 +
   1.115 +Tomoyo slowly awoke in the plush comfort of a silken quilt. She
   1.116 +rolled onto her side, breathing in the sweet scent of cut lilies that
   1.117 +Sakura had placed in her room the day before. The light from the
   1.118 +garden shone brightly, as if the sun had already reached its zenith.
   1.119 +Propping herself up on one elbow, she stared at the clock and was
   1.120 +startled to see the hands approaching noon. Still awakening, she
   1.121 +remembered the garden from last night, illumined not by the noisy
   1.122 +yellow sun as it was now, but bathed in moonlight. Swiftly the jumble
   1.123 +of recollections fell into place: breaking down in front of Sakura,
   1.124 +sobbing uncontrollably, the woman clasping her tightly. And then, she
   1.125 +blushingly remembered the kiss.
   1.126 +
   1.127 +Suddenly sitting up, she held a hand to her breast and felt her
   1.128 +heart beat wildly. Never had she felt such bliss. Her body trembled
   1.129 +as she remembered how their lips lightly touched, how they embraced,
   1.130 +how her tongue slipped delicately into Sakura’s honey-sweet mouth.
   1.131 +Wide-eyed, she shivered as the lingering passion gripped her slender
   1.132 +frame. Holding herself tightly, she closed her eyes, begged her heart
   1.133 +be still, and tried to think.
   1.134 +
   1.135 +Her first thought came on a little ripple of fear, “What did I do?
   1.136 +She saw me cry, she saw me lonely and in pain. Now I’ve hurt her. Oh,
   1.137 +I’ve hurt my Sakura-chan.” In all their time together, Tomoyo had
   1.138 +labored to hide her secret agony from Sakura’s sparkling eyes, lest
   1.139 +she tarnish that bright, genki spirit. Why had she broken down now,
   1.140 +why had the carefully contrived masks fractured in her hands?
   1.141 +Frantically she tried to remember what she had said and done. All she
   1.142 +could recall was Sakura’s unceasing worry about Tomoyo’s loneliness,
   1.143 +about the special person she could never have, or even tell of her
   1.144 +love. She had felt trapped like an animal, unable to say that her
   1.145 +special person was right there with her, in front of her, as she
   1.146 +always had been. With nothing to say and nowhere to run, her heart
   1.147 +shattered, the jagged shards rending her soul. And then her tears, so
   1.148 +long held back, were unleashed in an uncontrollable torrent. Yet what
   1.149 +happened next was utterly astonishing.  
   1.150 +
   1.151 +When Sakura pulled her close and embraced her, Tomoyo’s pain was
   1.152 +washed away. She remembered with awe the warmth and love that poured
   1.153 +into her, healed her, and made her whole again. Here was something
   1.154 +far beyond the Cards, which made their powers seem mere tricks and
   1.155 +trifles. In the blink of an eye, Tomoyo had gone from a bitter grief
   1.156 +that would welcome death to joy and peace enough for all eternity.
   1.157 +Pain and woe and fear had no home when she was in her arms. And
   1.158 +Sakura’s own spirit, rather than being dimmed by Tomoyo’s pain,
   1.159 +blazed forth and brought comfort and elation to them both. Here was a
   1.160 +mystery, for Sakura had actually seemed glad to know of Tomoyo’s
   1.161 +distress, as if knowing brought her more solace than not knowing.
   1.162 +Almost like a Doctor-sensei who exults in her capacity to heal the
   1.163 +hurts of others. Shaking off this thought, Tomoyo resolved never to
   1.164 +let it happen again, lest Sakura be burdened with a pain she could
   1.165 +not mend. As for her own pain, it was beyond the reach of all
   1.166 +healing, save for being with her one, true love. And that, of course,
   1.167 +was impossible.
   1.168 +
   1.169 +Sakura had found her true love in Li-kun, and Tomoyo could not, must
   1.170 +not, sully that happiness. To sacrifice her happiness for that of her
   1.171 +loved one seemed a small price, indeed. But the kiss she had shared
   1.172 +with her beautiful friend bewildered her, for the love she had felt
   1.173 +from Sakura matched her own unrestrained ardor. Sakura did not return
   1.174 +the kiss out of surprise or pity, but with a stunning passion, as if
   1.175 +she craved a love long denied her. Tomoyo had resolved on her flight
   1.176 +to Hong Kong to bottle up her feelings, lest it burden her friend, or
   1.177 +damage their wonderful relationship. But in that garden she was
   1.178 +enraptured by the scent of tropical flowers, hypnotized by the beauty
   1.179 +and voice of the radiant brunette, and bewitched by the luminous
   1.180 +moonlight. Her love slipped the iron chains she had forged, and flew
   1.181 +to freedom, flew to her. She remembered slowly leaning into the kiss,
   1.182 +and Sakura reaching out like a plant welcoming the sun. And this was
   1.183 +what baffled her. Sakura should have reacted with embarrassment,
   1.184 +should have laughed nervously or made light of what was happening.
   1.185 +But her love was as strong and compelling as Tomoyo's own. 
   1.186 +
   1.187 +Tomoyo sat in bed, fingers distractedly caressing a little crease in
   1.188 +her cyan nightgown. She smiled and thought, it was as if we were
   1.189 +really lovers. I’ve been granted a vision of life together, both of
   1.190 +us madly in love, with only ourselves in the whole, wide world.
   1.191 +Tomoyo closed her eyes and thanked the spirits of the garden who had
   1.192 +brought her these wondrous moments. Arigato gozaimasu, she thought,
   1.193 +I'll treasure them forever. Opening her eyes she noticed a single
   1.194 +braid entwined with green ribbons, and remembered Sakura doing her
   1.195 +hair in this very bed. She put her hand to her cheek and felt a hot
   1.196 +crimson flush creeping up her neck and shoulders. Such a marvelous
   1.197 +day and night it had been! She could bear anything for memories like
   1.198 +these. But even in the tender glow of felicity she gently chided
   1.199 +herself. She had now been given something unhoped for, a pearl of
   1.200 +great price to hold in her heart forever. But she must not distress
   1.201 +her friend with her own private longings. Sakura’s fragile feelings
   1.202 +were precious, and Tomoyo would not let anything harm them. From now
   1.203 +on, she would be more careful. She would bind Love with adamantine
   1.204 +chains and keep her feelings under control. But when the smiling face
   1.205 +of the delightful brunette came to her, her heart fluttered
   1.206 +helplessly in response. It was as if Love playfully rattled those
   1.207 +adamantine chains, sweetly mocking Tomoyo’s futile efforts to bind
   1.208 +her. 
   1.209 + 
   1.210 +
   1.211 +The dark-haired girl arose, and stretched languidly. Today is the
   1.212 +banquet, she thought with a start. I have to get ready. They may need
   1.213 +me to help. And with that, she rushed to the cedar chest to get
   1.214 +dressed, and to see Sakura.
   1.215 +
   1.216 +But Sakura had already left for work, leaving a little note on
   1.217 +stationary bordered with lilacs that she had to attend a meeting at
   1.218 +school, and would be back in the early afternoon to help prepare the
   1.219 +night's banquet. Tucking away the kawaii little note, Tomoyo wandered
   1.220 +the great house, looking for the kitchen. Finally, by the dinning
   1.221 +hall she found it, and entered in through the double doors. There she
   1.222 +saw six chefs and numerous assistants, busy with preparations. Ieran-
   1.223 +sama stood among them like a general, calm and assured amidst the
   1.224 +chaos of the battlefield. The woman saw her approach, and Tomoyo
   1.225 +bowed low and held her bow until it was returned, though by a much
   1.226 +shallower bow as befitted their respective stations. Amid the clatter
   1.227 +and clang of the busy kitchen Tomoyo had to strain and raise her soft
   1.228 +voice to be heard,
   1.229 +
   1.230 +"Good day, Ieran-sama. May I be of any help to you?"
   1.231 +
   1.232 +The woman looked down at her sternly, but Tomoyo noticed the
   1.233 +slightest smile as she answered,
   1.234 +
   1.235 +"A guest does not help with her own banquet, Daidouji Siuje. That
   1.236 +would be bad fortune." She had used Siuje, the Chinese form for Miss.
   1.237 +Tomoyo sensed she had been accorded a singular honor, and bowed
   1.238 +slightly in recognition. Ieran-sama smiled again, and turned to the
   1.239 +men in the kitchen, issuing a series of rapid orders in Cantonese.
   1.240 +She then asked,
   1.241 +
   1.242 +"Would you care for some tea?"
   1.243 +
   1.244 +Tomoyo nodded and followed her out of the kitchen and into the
   1.245 +dinning room. The older woman scanned the area, and then said matter-
   1.246 +of-factly,
   1.247 +
   1.248 +"It's such a lovely day. Would you like to have tea in the garden?"
   1.249 +Ieran-sama watched her intently.
   1.250 +
   1.251 +"Yes, thank you, that would be very nice," Tomoyo replied, her face
   1.252 +a mask.
   1.253 +
   1.254 +Ieran-sama led the way down the dark halls, nodding to a servant as
   1.255 +she walked. They sat at a table under a mimosa tree dotted with soft,
   1.256 +puffy, pink blossoms. The table was made of a pale gray stone, old
   1.257 +and weather-stained. Presently a servant arrived with two small red
   1.258 +cups and a little red and green pot. Ieran-sama nodded her away, and
   1.259 +poured the young woman a steaming cup of strong, black tea. Tomoyo
   1.260 +thanked her, and sipped the hot, pungent liquid.
   1.261 +
   1.262 +"Delicious," she smiled. The older woman gazed at her, carefully
   1.263 +studying her face. Sipping from her own cup, Ieran-sama sighed,
   1.264 +
   1.265 +"You know, if I had your beauty there would be no need of magic."
   1.266 +
   1.267 +Tomoyo blushed at the compliment, and the steady eyes that beheld
   1.268 +her. Closing her eyes, Ieran-sama asked,
   1.269 +
   1.270 +"Are you enjoying Hong Kong?"
   1.271 +
   1.272 +"Yes, very much so. It's really a beautiful city. I'm seeing so much
   1.273 +more than the last time I was here."
   1.274 +
   1.275 +"Beautiful, but old, though they seem to delight in tearing down
   1.276 +everything they can," She grimaced slightly as she spoke. "But I am
   1.277 +happy you are finding your stay pleasant."
   1.278 +
   1.279 +They chatted about the city, shopping in the Causeway, and the view
   1.280 +from Victoria Peak. Finally, Ieran-sama asked,
   1.281 +
   1.282 +"Daidouji Siuje, you care very much for Sakura-san, don't you?"
   1.283 +
   1.284 +Again Tomoyo felt the penetrating gaze fall upon her. She put down
   1.285 +her cup and nodded.
   1.286 +
   1.287 +"You could have had her for yourself; you have the power. But you
   1.288 +encouraged Syaoran instead. Why?"
   1.289 +
   1.290 +Tomoyo paused, and drew a deep breath. There was no sense in trying
   1.291 +to hide or conceal anything from her. She saw too much. Smiling, the
   1.292 +young woman replied, 
   1.293 +
   1.294 +"I wanted her to be happy. That was most important. I didn't think I
   1.295 +could make her happy, but I think Li-kun can."
   1.296 +
   1.297 +The woman was silent, her dark eyes locked with Tomoyo's. Finally
   1.298 +she looked away and spoke in a cold, aloof tone,
   1.299 +
   1.300 +"Daidouji Siuje, you are perceptive for your years, but have much to
   1.301 +learn about human hearts. When next you play matchmaker, be certain
   1.302 +before you act."
   1.303 +
   1.304 +Ieran-sama rose and fixed Tomoyo with a hard stare. But then her
   1.305 +face softened, as if bright memories of girlhood called to her with a
   1.306 +giggle. She smiled a sad, wistful smile and spoke in a whispery,
   1.307 +feminine lilt,
   1.308 +
   1.309 +"Daidouji Siuje, I know you would do anything for her. Anything. But
   1.310 +this time, please be sure of what you do. Some things done fly far
   1.311 +beyond recall."
   1.312 +
   1.313 +She turned and walked away, leaving a pensive Tomoyo behind. Ieran-
   1.314 +sama felt a shadow of fear as she strode down the halls to the
   1.315 +kitchen.  Something about Tomoyo troubled her. There was a sense of
   1.316 +brittle strength, a terrible fragility under that calm and placid
   1.317 +surface. She closed her eyes and spoke a silent blessing, a spell of
   1.318 +watchful protection on the troubling girl. It bothered her that she
   1.319 +liked Tomoyo, for such feelings could prove a distraction. The girl
   1.320 +was more than useful; she was somehow vital to the House of Li. And
   1.321 +that, Ieran-sama thought to herself, is more important than my
   1.322 +trifling human emotions.
   1.323 +
   1.324 +Sakura hurried down the street that led to the Li residence. Having
   1.325 +to go for a teacher's meeting was exasperating, but it was her duty
   1.326 +to go, so she went. Besides, Tomoyo needed to sleep, though hopefully
   1.327 +she was up now. Sakura was visibly excited at the prospect of seeing
   1.328 +her again. She wanted to see and be with Tomoyo as much as possible
   1.329 +while she was still here. Her heart caught in her throat at this
   1.330 +thought, realizing the woman would soon leave for Japan. Sakura
   1.331 +practically ran up the hill, the house soon looming into view.
   1.332 +Standing outside was Tomoyo, scanning the street as if looking for
   1.333 +her. Sakura shouted out her name and waved, and as the dark-haired
   1.334 +woman caught sight of her she waved back. Running breathlessly,
   1.335 +Sakura charged up the walkway and threw herself into Tomoyo’s arms,
   1.336 +nearly toppling her over. 
   1.337 +
   1.338 +Tomoyo gasped in surprise and delight as she felt the reassuring
   1.339 +warmth of her beloved friend. She thought to herself, Sakura-chan’s
   1.340 +away for a few hours and I can’t stand it. How can I possibly leave
   1.341 +her? She fought back the tears and held on tightly. Finally,
   1.342 +reluctantly, the two parted, though Sakura took the pale woman’s
   1.343 +hands in hers as she spoke,
   1.344 +
   1.345 +“Tomoyo-chan, I’m so sorry I had to go. I really missed you, isn’t
   1.346 +that silly? I was only gone a little bit, but I missed you so much.
   1.347 +How are you feeling? Did you get enough sleep? You must have been
   1.348 +awfully tired.” 
   1.349 +
   1.350 +Tomoyo basked in the sparkling glow of Sakura’s smile and replied
   1.351 +cheerfully,
   1.352 +
   1.353 +“Sakura-chan doesn’t have to worry about me. I had a lovely sleep,
   1.354 +and beautiful dreams of my best friend, and I’ve even had tea and a
   1.355 +conversation with Ieran-sama. But I’m very glad to see you again. I
   1.356 +missed you, too.”
   1.357 +
   1.358 +Sakura hugged her tightly again and half-whispered,
   1.359 +
   1.360 +“I don’t know what I’m going to do when you’re gone.” 
   1.361 +
   1.362 +Tomoyo’s body stiffened at the words. She thought, I don’t know what
   1.363 +I’m going to do, either, Sakura-chan. I just don’t know. But calming
   1.364 +her thudding heart, she gently pulled away and smiled,
   1.365 +
   1.366 +“All the more reason to enjoy the time we still have together. I
   1.367 +think Ieran-sama has work for you in the kitchen. She won’t let me
   1.368 +help, because she said it wouldn’t be good luck for the guest to work
   1.369 +for her own banquet. But maybe if you ask her you could do some of
   1.370 +the preparations in the dinning room, where we could talk?”
   1.371 +
   1.372 +Sakura nodded, and the two walked hand-in-and through the house
   1.373 +before Sakura disappeared into the kitchen. She emerged shortly
   1.374 +thereafter, carrying a large pot full of vegetables. She set things
   1.375 +up on a table, and carefully began slicing radishes and carrots,
   1.376 +greens and bell peppers. Though not particularly fond of the peppers,
   1.377 +Tomoyo politely ignored their presence. When Sakura began to weep
   1.378 +cutting the onions, Tomoyo found a black lacquer bowl and filled it
   1.379 +with water. She placed it by the little chef, saying her Mother swore
   1.380 +it helped when cutting onions. The two talked away the afternoon as
   1.381 +Sakura chopped and sliced while an entranced Tomoyo simply watched.
   1.382 +Finally, Ieran-sama found them, and asked Tomoyo if she would like to
   1.383 +prepare herself for the banquet. Later Sakura too was dismissed from
   1.384 +her culinary chores, and went to her room to dress.
   1.385 +
   1.386 +Syaoran was already in the bedroom getting ready. Sakura greeted him
   1.387 +with a kiss and began looking through her closet, She settled on a
   1.388 +black silk cheongsam, a birthday present from her husband. Typical of
   1.389 +the style, it had a fairly high collar and fastened diagonally along
   1.390 +the right front. The front, collar, and sleeves had a colorful floral
   1.391 +border trimmed in gold. The long hem was also trimmed, but only in
   1.392 +gold. The skirt was slit slightly above the knee, and Sakura decided
   1.393 +to wear black stockings and heels. Standing in front of the mirror,
   1.394 +she turned left, then right, waiting expectantly for a comment from
   1.395 +Syaoran. But he was too busy with his tie to notice, so Sakura sat
   1.396 +down at the vanity. Thinking about how to do her hair, she was
   1.397 +reminded of the night before, when she had brushed and braided
   1.398 +Tomoyo's beautiful, black-gray tresses. She closed her eyes as the
   1.399 +sensations echoed in her mind: the soft, silken feel of the lustrous
   1.400 +hair, the flowery-sweet scent, the way it caught the light and
   1.401 +shimmered darkly. Breathless, she opened her eyes and swallowed,
   1.402 +feeling a hot flash over her shivering body. As she picked up the
   1.403 +brush, her hand trembled. Nervously she glanced behind her, but
   1.404 +Syaoran was preoccupied and didn’t notice. She brushed in quick,
   1.405 +short strokes, trying to calm down. 
   1.406 +
   1.407 +As the brush shooshed through her short, auburn hair, Sakura again
   1.408 +tried to understand her volatile feelings for Tomoyo. The only thing
   1.409 +remotely close to this was Yukito-san, but that had been different.
   1.410 +She loved him, but gave it up because despite his affectionate
   1.411 +nature, she knew he did not love her in the same way. She knew he
   1.412 +loved her brother, and that Touga loved him. She had always been glad
   1.413 +of their happiness, despite her pain at the time.  Yet for all the
   1.414 +intensity she felt for him, it was different than her feelings for
   1.415 +her best friend. It had been more than a crush, but was still just
   1.416 +the love of a young girl. Her feelings for Tomoyo were stronger,
   1.417 +deeper, and more compelling. But why was she wracked by these
   1.418 +feelings all of a sudden? Why had she never felt this way before?
   1.419 +Because I’ve never been away from her, she thought. We were always
   1.420 +together; I can’t think of a day we didn’t see each other, or talk on
   1.421 +the phone. Things haven’t felt right since I’ve arrived in Hong Kong.
   1.422 +Until now. Now that she is with me. I was away from Syaoran for
   1.423 +almost two years, and missed him terribly. But I’ve only been apart
   1.424 +from Tomoyo for three months, and it’s an eternity of heartbreak. I
   1.425 +don’t think I can live without her. I don’t know if I want to live
   1.426 +without her. But she’s my friend. Why do I feel like this for my
   1.427 +friend? Confused and frustrated, Sakura turned in her chair and
   1.428 +blurted out,
   1.429 +
   1.430 +“Syaoran-chan, was Meiling-chan your best friend when you were young?”
   1.431 +
   1.432 +Syaoran regarded her with a surprised look, and then replied slowly,
   1.433 +
   1.434 +“I don’t know. I guess so. I never had many friends.”
   1.435 +
   1.436 +“Did you like her?” Sakura’s voice sounded nervous and agitated.
   1.437 +
   1.438 +Syaoran rolled his eyes and answered impatiently, “I guess I did. I
   1.439 +mean, she was a pain, sometimes, but I suppose she was all right.”
   1.440 +
   1.441 +“Did you love her? Do you still love her?” Sakura asked, wide-eyed
   1.442 +and breathless.
   1.443 +
   1.444 +Syaoran frowned and looked away as he mumbled his response, “Why are
   1.445 +you asking me that? Are you jealous or something? We didn’t have to
   1.446 +invite her tonight, you know.”
   1.447 +
   1.448 +Sakura shook her head wildly and sputtered, “No, I didn’t mean it
   1.449 +like that. I’m not jealous at all. But I just wondered if, if best
   1.450 +friends could love each other.”
   1.451 +
   1.452 +Syaoran snorted derisively as he slipped on his jacket, “Are you
   1.453 +about ready? The guests will be arriving soon, and I don’t want to be
   1.454 +late.”
   1.455 +
   1.456 +Sakura smiled sheepishly, “You go on ahead. I’m almost done; I’ll be
   1.457 +there in a minute.”
   1.458 +
   1.459 +Syaoran nodded and slipped out the door, leaving Sakura feeling
   1.460 +somehow foolish. With a little sigh she opened her jewelry box and
   1.461 +chanced upon the little flower hair pin Yukito-san had given her on
   1.462 +their trip to Hong Kong so many years ago. She picked it up and
   1.463 +smiled, remembering. Then she fixed it in her hair and tilted her
   1.464 +head in contemplation.
   1.465 +
   1.466 +“Mmm,” she murmured approvingly, then stood and walked through the
   1.467 +door to meet the guests and find Tomoyo-chan.
   1.468 +
   1.469 +Tomoyo heard the buzz of conversation through the large wooden door.
   1.470 +Feeling nervous, she remembered the techniques she had used in public
   1.471 +performance with the choir. She closed her eyes and slowed her
   1.472 +breathing, allowing her body to gradually relax. Tomoyo felt a hand
   1.473 +gently touch her shoulder, and looked up to see Fanren at her side.
   1.474 +With her fluency in Japanese, Ieran-sama had selected Fanren to
   1.475 +escort Tomoyo through the complexities of the banquet. Her eyes
   1.476 +sparkled as she spoke excitedly to the young Japanese woman,
   1.477 +
   1.478 +“Aiyaaaaa, Tomoyo-san, you look gorgeous! I’d give you a kiss for
   1.479 +good luck but I don’t want to muss you up.  I *knew* that cheongsam
   1.480 +would be a perfect fit.” She stood back and gazed admiringly. The
   1.481 +long, red silk dress was embroidered in golden thread with two
   1.482 +lovebirds snuggling together. The high collar and tight fit
   1.483 +accentuated Tomoyo’s willowy figure, giving her the look of a goddess
   1.484 +who deigned to dally awhile with mortals before ascending back to the
   1.485 +heavens. And if Tomoyo’s natural beauty made such a look possible,
   1.486 +several hours of meticulous work had gone into its perfection.
   1.487 +
   1.488 +The four Li sisters had argued bitterly over who would get to dress
   1.489 +the Japanese beauty for her banquet. Finally they decided on a
   1.490 +division of labor that would give them all a chance to show their
   1.491 +skills. Fanren would select the clothing, Fuutie would do the make-
   1.492 +up, and both Feimei and Shiefa would work on the hair, as that would
   1.493 +be the most complex task of all. Fuutie sulked that Tomoyo’s beauty
   1.494 +made her job all too easy.  Studying the woman’s flawless alabaster
   1.495 +skin, she shook her head in amazement. With a deft touch the Chinese
   1.496 +woman used a powdery crimson blush to highlight her cheeks, and a
   1.497 +plum colored eye shadow that complimented Tomoyo’s remarkable
   1.498 +amethyst eyes. She finished with a delicate pink lipstick, and smiled
   1.499 +as the other sisters gasped in delight. Fuutie giggled,
   1.500 +
   1.501 +“Who needs a banquet? She looks delicious enough to eat!” The women
   1.502 +laughed as Tomoyo’s blush complimented Fuutie’s handiwork.
   1.503 +
   1.504 +Before the makeup, Feimei and Shiefa had begun preparations on
   1.505 +Tomoyo’s hair. They protectively wrapped their work-in-progress with
   1.506 +white silk, waiting until Fuutie had finished before applying their
   1.507 +finishing touches. Huddled with an array of jewelry, flowers, and
   1.508 +accessories they worked with nimble fingers and a sharp eye for
   1.509 +beauty. When they had finally finished, Tomoyo looked in the gilded
   1.510 +mirror they held before her and stared in wonder. The hairstyle was a
   1.511 +genuine work of art, adroitly combining a traditional Chinese
   1.512 +coiffure with more modern styling. Her lavender hair was spun into
   1.513 +delicate locks and ringlets with two long, curling tresses in the
   1.514 +front that tumbled freely to her waist. The hair was entwined with
   1.515 +ornate red and gold jewelry that tinkled prettily as she walked, or
   1.516 +bowed, or turned her head. Finally, three snow-white gardenias
   1.517 +provided a fragrant contrast with the dark, shimmering hair. Tomoyo
   1.518 +stood and bowed deeply, thanking the women for their labors.  The
   1.519 +sisters giggled and returned the bow as Shiefei replied,
   1.520 +
   1.521 +“It was our pleasure. The doll designer herself makes a most
   1.522 +wonderful doll to play with.”
   1.523 +
   1.524 +Now Fanren looked at Tomoyo and whispered, “Remember, if you get
   1.525 +stuck or aren’t sure what to say or do, press my hand twice and just
   1.526 +follow my lead. Ready?” Tomoyo smiled and nodded, and the two entered
   1.527 +arm in arm into the crowded reception room. They were met with a wall
   1.528 +of sound as the guests chatted loudly and enthusiastically. But when
   1.529 +the pair entered a hush quickly swept the crowd, followed by excited
   1.530 +whispers and astonished, occasionally envious, looks. Fanren
   1.531 +carefully navigated her charge through the innumerable Li’s and
   1.532 +assorted guests, starting with the most revered and prestigious,
   1.533 +calculating her bows and words with practiced precision. As if
   1.534 +choreographed, Tomoyo followed Fanren and listened as the Chinese
   1.535 +woman translated,
   1.536 +
   1.537 +“The most honorable Coordinator of Clinical Services at the Prince
   1.538 +of Wales Hospital, Dr. C. Y. Li, offers his humble greetings to the
   1.539 +friend of his kinsman’s wife, Kinomoto Sakura. He wishes the
   1.540 +exquisite Daidouji Tomoyo to know that her presence at this banquet
   1.541 +brings great honor to the House of Li, and that her consummate beauty
   1.542 +must make the Lady Moon weep with helpless frustration for being so
   1.543 +outshone.”
   1.544 +
   1.545 +Tomoyo answered with graceful solemnity,
   1.546 +
   1.547 +“Please inform the most honorable Coordinator of Clinical Services
   1.548 +at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Dr. C. Y. Li, that I am sadly
   1.549 +unworthy of the sumptuous magnanimity of the august House of Li, and
   1.550 +that I thank him for his kind generosity in receiving me with a
   1.551 +veneration for which I am utterly undeserving.”
   1.552 +
   1.553 + And so it went, from guest to honored guest. Tomoyo quickly
   1.554 +realized that she was the center of interest, and found herself
   1.555 +blushing as many of the younger men, and not a few women, proved
   1.556 +particularly attentive. Fanren was the perfect escort, explaining who
   1.557 +was who and what was said, fixing a loose golden bell in her hair
   1.558 +that was dangling on her forehead, and even slipping her a refreshing
   1.559 +watermelon juice drink. Tomoyo was sipping the cool, pink liquid when
   1.560 +she heard Fanren intone,
   1.561 +
   1.562 +“The most honorable first son of the House of Li, Li Syaoran, and
   1.563 +his wife, who hails from the land of the Rising Sun, Kinomoto Sakura,
   1.564 +present their greetings and felicitations…”
   1.565 +
   1.566 +Tomoyo whirled about, nearly dropping her drink in surprise. With a
   1.567 +hasty bow, she smiled joyfully and gazed adoringly at Sakura. The
   1.568 +cinnamon-haired woman stood as if in shock. With her mouth open and a
   1.569 +hand on her breast, Sakura stared in breathless astonishment.
   1.570 +Coloring visibly, she blurted out when Fanren had finished,
   1.571 +
   1.572 +“Tomoyo-chan, you look so beautiful!”
   1.573 +
   1.574 +Syaoran rolled his eyes and Fanren giggled behind her hand as Tomoyo
   1.575 +bowed and answered in Japanese,
   1.576 +
   1.577 +“I thank the devoted wife of the admirable Li Syaoran of the
   1.578 +esteemed House of Li for her kindness, hospitality, and gracious
   1.579 +indulgence of so unworthy a guest as myself. Furthermore, I assure
   1.580 +her that if there is anything pleasing about my humble appearance it
   1.581 +is due solely to the magnificent skills of the resourceful women of
   1.582 +the august House of Li. Yet I am saddened that all of their diligent
   1.583 +work shall be for naught, for the eyes of all the worthy guests who
   1.584 +attend this sumptuous banquet will see only the radiant splendor of
   1.585 +Kinomoto Sakura, and that all hearts will be forevermore hers.”
   1.586 +
   1.587 +Suppressing a smile, Fanren then introduced Tomoyo to her
   1.588 +approaching host. Elegantly attired in traditional Chinese dress,
   1.589 +Ieran-sama glowed with a magical beauty. Utterly enchanted, Tomoyo
   1.590 +bowed and exchanged greetings, and then arm in arm accompanied her
   1.591 +host to the doors that led to the dinning room. Ieran-sama indicated
   1.592 +that she should enter, but Tomoyo hesitated and began the ritual that
   1.593 +Fanren had carefully outlined. As the guest, she was honored with
   1.594 +being the first to enter. But custom dictated that to do so without
   1.595 +lengthy remonstrance would be the worst of manners, implying an
   1.596 +intolerable arrogance. For several minutes the two women gently
   1.597 +besought the other to enter first, as the guests listened
   1.598 +approvingly, if a bit hungrily. Finally, Tomoyo graciously consented
   1.599 +and entered, and the others followed in a pre-arranged hierarchy of
   1.600 +importance and prestige.
   1.601 +   
   1.602 +With high ceilings and picture windows that overlooked the gaudily
   1.603 +illuminated city below, the dinning room gave an appearance of
   1.604 +spacious grandeur. Decorations were tastefully few, so as not to
   1.605 +detract from the real attraction: the food. Set in the center of the
   1.606 +room were five round tables of darkly polished and ornately carved
   1.607 +mahogany. Ieran indicated the seat of honor for Tomoyo, and again the
   1.608 +two enacted a minuet of humility and praise before finally sitting.
   1.609 +Ieran took the seat directly across form her, the chair closest to
   1.610 +the kitchen doors from whence the servers would bring the various
   1.611 +dishes of the feast. This was also a calculated gesture, for such a
   1.612 +seat was considered the lowliest of all, and demonstrated the host’s
   1.613 +high regard for all the other guests. Tomoyo’s heart soared as she
   1.614 +saw Sakura and Syaoran sitting at the same table, as well as the Li
   1.615 +sisters, Fanren as always by her side. She glanced at the table, set
   1.616 +with priceless porcelain bowls, plates, and spoons, beautifully
   1.617 +decorated in delicately wrought patterns of blue, white, and gold.
   1.618 +She marveled at the ivory chopsticks set with golden filigree, and
   1.619 +the elaborately engraved golden cups. Seeing that all were seated and
   1.620 +everything was in readiness, Ieran gave two sharp claps and the
   1.621 +kitchen doors instantly swung open. At long last, the banquet was
   1.622 +ready to begin.
   1.623 +
   1.624 +Bursting out from the door were several uniformed servers, dressed
   1.625 +in bright red and yellow silks, carrying large trays of multi-colored
   1.626 +delicacies. Fanren explained that these were the cold dishes to begin
   1.627 +the meal. Great silver platters were swiftly arranged on every table,
   1.628 +as Ieran-sama moved gracefully through the hall, apologizing for the
   1.629 +meager fare, her guests in turn delightedly protesting that they were
   1.630 +unworthy of such an abundance of delicacies. When she returned to the
   1.631 +table, she served Tomoyo with elegant ease before finally sitting
   1.632 +down. A second wave of servers then appeared, displaying aged and
   1.633 +dusty earthenware urns, which brought gasps of surprise from the
   1.634 +guests, and a joyous buzz that swept the room. Fanren leaned and
   1.635 +whispered into Tomoyo’s ear, 
   1.636 +
   1.637 +“It’s Shao Xing rice wine, well over 50 years old. I hope you come
   1.638 +back here more often,” she giggled.
   1.639 +
   1.640 +As the seals were broken a powerful aroma wafted over the entire
   1.641 +room. Servers filled the small golden cups with the dark amber
   1.642 +liquid. Ieran arose, and the other guests quickly followed. The woman
   1.643 +held her glass high as her eyes surveyed the audience, finally
   1.644 +settling intently upon Tomoyo. In a musical voice that carried
   1.645 +strongly over the hall, Ieran made her opening toast,
   1.646 +
   1.647 +“To all who have come I offer a thousand thanks and ten thousand
   1.648 +blessings, for you honor the House of Li with your presence. To
   1.649 +Daidouji Tomoyo, honored guest from across the waters, I wish you
   1.650 +life as long as the Yangtze River, as full of happiness as the
   1.651 +springtime flood of the Pearl River Delta, and pray that Love may
   1.652 +come to you as swiftly as the rapids of the mountain born Nan-p’an.
   1.653 +Gan Bei!”
   1.654 +
   1.655 +At this, the guests drained their cups, savoring the heady scent of
   1.656 +the priceless wine. The first toast done, all turned their attention
   1.657 +to the bounteous feast before them. The cold dishes were colorful and
   1.658 +varied, carefully arrayed on the large, heavy silver platters. Fanren
   1.659 +identified the various little dishes, and pointed out her favorites,
   1.660 +
   1.661 +“That’s Boiled Pork Tongue, that’s Century Egg with Peppers, though
   1.662 +it’s really only a few months old, so don’t worry. This is Sichuan
   1.663 +Cucumber with Dried Prawn over on the left, and the red one is Five-
   1.664 +Spice Yellow River Carp, a very lucky dish!”
   1.665 +
   1.666 +Tomoyo sampled and nibbled, mindful of Fanren’s advice to eat
   1.667 +lightly lest she be full before the main courses arrived. The flavors
   1.668 +were cold and crisp, designed to sharpen the palate for the hot
   1.669 +dishes to come. Somewhat to her surprise, Ieran-sama served the food
   1.670 +at the table, and assisted the servers at the other tables. Despite
   1.671 +the alluring repast, Tomoyo kept stealing little glances at Sakura,
   1.672 +who reacted with delight to each and every dish. She saw Tomoyo and
   1.673 +grinned, giving a cute little wave. Tomoyo felt her heart race at the
   1.674 +sight of her beautiful friend, but this private reverie was
   1.675 +interrupted when the next wave of servers swept into the noisy
   1.676 +dinning hall. 
   1.677 +
   1.678 +These were the first of the hot dishes, exquisitely prepared,
   1.679 +steaming aromatically as they covered the massive tables. Again
   1.680 +Fanren was her guide through this culinary odyssey as Tomoyo gazed in
   1.681 +wonder at the mosaic of colors and scents. There was Stir-Fried
   1.682 +Triple-Winter, a savory mix of autumnal vegetables. The Shredded Duck
   1.683 +with Mango was piquant and breezily tropical. The Stir-Fried Liver
   1.684 +with Cloud Ears was surprisingly smooth, the tender liver contrasting
   1.685 +with the crunchy, earthy flavor of the Cloud Ear fungus.  The Hot and
   1.686 +Sour Cabbage was simple, but perfectly done, and went well with the
   1.687 +Spicy Tea Eggs that had the appearance of rich marble. Fanren touched
   1.688 +her sleeve lightly and whispered, “Remember, these are only the
   1.689 +appetizers. It is said that you must guard your appetite well against
   1.690 +these skirmishers that precede the main battle line!” Tomoyo nodded,
   1.691 +and wondered how she could possibly keep up. As the dishes were taken
   1.692 +away, she saw Ieran nudging Syaoran, who rose, blushing, to make the
   1.693 +next round of toasts. Standing unsteadily, almost cringing from the
   1.694 +eyes upon him, Syaoran stumbled through his pre-written piece.
   1.695 +Finally, he looked at Tomoyo and smiled genuinely as he finished,
   1.696 +
   1.697 +“It is said by the sages that those who play the game do not see it
   1.698 +as clearly as those who watch. To the most watchful and perceptive
   1.699 +person I know, the honorable and esteemed Daidouji Tomoyo. Gan bei!”
   1.700 +
   1.701 +Before the drinks were drained, more of the red-clad servers
   1.702 +appeared, hoisting huge, meticulously carved winter melons. The one
   1.703 +at Tomoyo’s table was carved in the fantastic shape of a dragon
   1.704 +chasing a crescent moon. The top was removed, and the steamy scent of
   1.705 +winter melon and expensive Kinka ham soup drifted over the table.
   1.706 +Fanren whispered that the melon was very yin, and served to clear and
   1.707 +cleanse the palate for the meaty, yang courses to come. And in short
   1.708 +order they did, plates and bowls beyond counting, with a wild variety
   1.709 +of colors and flavors. At the center of every table was Peking Roast
   1.710 +Duck, specially prepared by a Master Chef of Hong Kong who did
   1.711 +nothing but this classic, who had served Kings and Presidents
   1.712 +throughout the world. Fanren described several of the dishes, but her
   1.713 +hungry eyes moved Tomoyo to beg her to eat and talk later. Tomoyo
   1.714 +winced at the sharp tang of Crystal Boiled Pork with Garlic Sauce,
   1.715 +and smiled at the sweet Fujian Lychee Pork. The Sweet-As-Honey
   1.716 +Venison was just as the Emperor Qian Long had described the recipe
   1.717 +200 years ago. So tender was the Chicken and Red Date Stew that Ieran-
   1.718 +sama pulled the soft flesh from the bird with just her chops\ticks.
   1.719 +But most sublime was the duck. Glistening reddish-brown in it’s
   1.720 +coating of malt sugar, the crispy-sweet skin held the meltingly
   1.721 +flavorful meat within. The skin and meat were eaten in delicate
   1.722 +little pancakes, with a Tian Mian Jiang sauce made from a jealously
   1.723 +guarded, secret Imperial recipe. Fanren whispered to Tomoyo, who
   1.724 +leaned over to hear,
   1.725 +
   1.726 +“They say the in the 1930’s a chef was tortured to death by a
   1.727 +warlord rather than divulge the secret recipe.”
   1.728 +
   1.729 +Tomoyo looked at the sauce with great respect, and gravely spoke a
   1.730 +silent little prayer of thanks to the brave chef. Finally the tables
   1.731 +were cleared and hot towels distributed as the toasts began again,
   1.732 +this time with 70 year-old wine. Tomoyo sipped carefully, worried
   1.733 +that she might grow silly with too much of the potent drink. She
   1.734 +noticed several male guests playing guessing games with fingers, the
   1.735 +loser draining a cup that was instantly refilled. Again the doors
   1.736 +burst open, and now bowls of soup were displayed, with the legendary
   1.737 +Braised Shark’s Fin soup holding center stage. The soup glittered and
   1.738 +sparkled, a liquid treasure of incomparable worth. Yet the other
   1.739 +soups were hardly outshone, forming a rainbow of glimmering colors
   1.740 +and flavors. After sampling the soups (and the Braised Shark Fin
   1.741 +twice), Fanren smiled and nudged Tomoyo, indicating Ieran-sama, who
   1.742 +was standing at the table and waiting while the bowls were cleared
   1.743 +away. Suddenly through the doors came enormous oval platters, so huge
   1.744 +they were carried by two straining men at each end. The platters were
   1.745 +laid at each table, and as was customary,  the one at Tomoyo’s was
   1.746 +placed with the head pointing to the guest of honor. All she could do
   1.747 +was stare incredulously at the sight. 
   1.748 +
   1.749 +Upon each platter was a giant fish, seared crisply, laid upon a bed
   1.750 +of mossy green seaweed and delicately cut scallions that looked for
   1.751 +all the world like the waves of the sea. But what fixated Tomoyo’s
   1.752 +attention was a singular movement, which gave the impression of the
   1.753 +tremendous fish swimming in the rolling ocean waves. And what made
   1.754 +this possible, Tomoyo realized with a creeping horror, was that the
   1.755 +fish was still alive. It’s eyes looked about in confused terror, and
   1.756 +it’s mouth gasped for the water that it would never breathe again. It
   1.757 +took all of Tomoyo’s years of practice with Sakura to wear a smiling
   1.758 +mask, as if she were enchanted by the piteous spectacle. And poor
   1.759 +Sakura, she noticed, was woozy and looked as if she might pass out as
   1.760 +Syaoran vigorously shook her arm. Tomoyo then saw Ieran-sama take two
   1.761 +large silver knives from a bowing server who presented them in a red-
   1.762 +velvet lined wooden box. Standing by her pale guest, she lifted them
   1.763 +high above her head and took a deep breath. Swift as lightning she
   1.764 +struck, wielding the knives like short-swords. In an instant the two
   1.765 +cheeks of the mighty fish had been neatly carved and placed perfectly
   1.766 +on Tomoyo’s plate. The hall roared and clapped its approval, and
   1.767 +Tomoyo bowed deeply in thanks for these choicest portions of the
   1.768 +opulent offering. With that, the other servers attacked the fish at
   1.769 +their tables and served the excited guests. Tomoyo silently
   1.770 +apologized to the poor fish that had suffered so for her sake, and
   1.771 +courteously ate the delicacy, though the exquisite flavor gave her
   1.772 +little pleasure.
   1.773 +
   1.774 + The other fish and seafood dishes were delicious, though happily
   1.775 +less dramatic. The Chao Zhou Zheng Chang Yu was a delicately steamed
   1.776 +pomfret fish, subtly accented with slivers of celery, salt plum, and
   1.777 +tomato. The Crispy Fried Mandarin fish and the enormous Stir-Fried
   1.778 +Lobster with Chicken in Hot Sauce provided a spicy, crunchy contrast.
   1.779 +The Baby Slipper Lobsters and Fujian Fried Chili Crabs were balanced
   1.780 +nicely by the squid with bamboo shoots, the squid sliced and scored
   1.781 +to look like some delicate flowers from a lost kingdom of the sea.
   1.782 +Tomoyo barely managed to nibble one of the tasty Shrimp-stuffed
   1.783 +Lychees when she turned to Fanren and whispered in a worried tone,
   1.784 +
   1.785 +“Fanren-san, gomenesai, but I don’t know how much more I can eat.
   1.786 +It’s wonderfully delicious, but I am so very full.”  
   1.787 +
   1.788 +Fanren giggled and whispered back,
   1.789 +
   1.790 +“Aiyaaa, for someone so charmingly petite you’ve done very well,
   1.791 +Tomoyo-chan. Don’t worry, the cai foods are done, now all that’s left
   1.792 +are the fan courses: grains, noodles, and rice. And it would be
   1.793 +insulting to at the rice, as that would mean there wasn’t enough food
   1.794 +to fill you up!”
   1.795 +
   1.796 +At this Tomoyo looked relieved, especially as the next round of
   1.797 +toasts ended and numerous noodle dishes were spread over the table.
   1.798 +Tomoyo noticed that, despite the inviting aroma and magnificent
   1.799 +presentation, most of the guests merely picked and nibbled.  Much to
   1.800 +the surprise and delight of the Li family, Tomoyo ate a goodly
   1.801 +portion of the Fried Noodles Xiamen and the curiously named, “Wealth
   1.802 +and Good Deeds” with Yi noodles, which Fanren explained was made of a
   1.803 +rare hair moss that grew only in the northernmost reaches of the
   1.804 +country. Tomoyo asked Fanren to provide a translation for something
   1.805 +she whispered, which the Chinese woman laughingly gave, Then the
   1.806 +honored guest spoke haltingly to the table in Cantonese,
   1.807 +
   1.808 +“I am very fond of noodles.”   
   1.809 +
   1.810 +This brought laughter all around as everyone regarded the beautiful
   1.811 +woman with warmth and affection. Tomoyo realized that conversation at
   1.812 +the banquet was sparse, yet there existed a glowing sense of
   1.813 +communion among all the guests. She remembered Fanren saying before
   1.814 +the banquet that food in China was a form of communication that
   1.815 +rendered mere words unnecessary. She thought about this now, as the
   1.816 +dishes were cleared away yet again.  She fondly remembered school
   1.817 +lunches with Sakura, where the girl’s silent presence was more than
   1.818 +enough to fill her heart. She gazed at her now, a beautiful, married
   1.819 +woman, terra-cotta hair catching the light of the chandeliers above.
   1.820 +For all the joyous opulence of the banquet, she yearned most of all
   1.821 +for a quiet moment with her beautiful friend. Memories of the night
   1.822 +before in the moonlit garden suddenly filled her heart. With a sweet
   1.823 +shiver she thought, my Sakura-chan is a dream come to life. How lucky
   1.824 +I have been to be with her. Finally, Tomoyo noticed the nudging of
   1.825 +Fanren, who pointed to the little wine cup before her. With a look of
   1.826 +recognition, Tomoyo smiled and rose to give her toast.
   1.827 +
   1.828 +The guests were stunned at the wine that was now presented, for it
   1.829 +was of Imperial vintage, still bearing the seal of the Great Dowager
   1.830 +Empress from over a hundred years ago. As the priceless liquid was
   1.831 +poured, all eyes turned to Tomoyo, who rose and held her cup prettily
   1.832 +with one hand on the side and one on the bottom. She then began the
   1.833 +speech she and Fanren had prepared the night before.
   1.834 +
   1.835 +In imperfect but earnest Cantonese, Tomoyo thanked all who had come
   1.836 +to honor her with this splendid banquet. She protested her
   1.837 +unworthiness for so great an homage, and her great fortune in
   1.838 +experiencing a feast whose memories would bring her joy all the years
   1.839 +of her life. She wished happiness and long life to all, especially
   1.840 +the esteemed members of the House of Li that had so graciously
   1.841 +extended their incomparable hospitality. Finally, she bowed deeply to
   1.842 +Ieran-sama, and thanked her host for the beauty, bounty, and
   1.843 +brilliance of an unforgettable evening. 
   1.844 +
   1.845 +“Gan bei,” Tomoyo spoke out in her musical voice as all present
   1.846 +downed their drinks, utterly enchanted by the charming, pale beauty
   1.847 +from Japan. With that, the symbolic bowls of rice were placed and
   1.848 +quickly removed with not a grain consumed. Finally, a dizzying array
   1.849 +of luscious desserts was placed before the protesting guests, as well
   1.850 +as Iron Goddess of Mercy tea, brewed from the uppermost bud and twin
   1.851 +leaves of the finest plants from Fujian. When the final cup of tea
   1.852 +had been drained, Ieran-sama rose and thanked the guests profusely,
   1.853 +signaling the end of the banquet. Effusive appreciation was showered
   1.854 +on the Li family by the departing company, who protested Ieran-sama’s
   1.855 +humble apologies by declaring the banquet as the most memorable in
   1.856 +years. Some left tipsy, most left stuffed, but all left happy to have
   1.857 +been a part of so memorable an occasion. In the dark of the nearly
   1.858 +empty reception room, Fanren stood before Tomoyo and gently took her
   1.859 +by the hand.
   1.860 +
   1.861 +Tomoyo’s azure eyes sparkled as she spoke,
   1.862 +
   1.863 +“Fanren-san, thank you so very much for helping me with my dress,
   1.864 +and my toast, and serving as my escort. I don’t know how I would have
   1.865 +made it through without you. I’m ever in your debt.”
   1.866 +
   1.867 +The woman smiled, and lightly rested her palm on Tomoyo’s soft, pale
   1.868 +cheek. Her voice betrayed the emotion that welled up inside her,
   1.869 +
   1.870 +“I am the one thankful for sharing this magical evening with such an
   1.871 +enchanting princess. I know by your eyes where your heart’s desire
   1.872 +lies. But if ever your precious heart should find room for another,
   1.873 +forget me not, Diadouji Tomoyo-chan, whose beauty in truth outshines
   1.874 +Lady Moon.”
   1.875 +
   1.876 +With a final caress of her delicate hand, Fanren leaned over, and
   1.877 +lightly kissed the blushing cheek of the honored guest. With that she
   1.878 +was gone, leaving Tomoyo breathless, but smiling.
   1.879 +