1.1 --- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
     1.2 +++ b/stories/stepping.txt	Fri Feb 19 06:24:59 2010 -0500
     1.3 @@ -0,0 +1,1040 @@
     1.4 + Stepping Stones to the Future   
     1.5 +                       
     1.6 +                     
     1.7 +This is a fanfic about Tomoyo and
     1.8 +Sakura . It is a darker story than my previous 
     1.9 +ones and it made me cry as I was writing it on 
    1.10 +paper. I know that all of you are more 
    1.11 +knowledgeable about CCS than I am, but I hope 
    1.12 +you will like the story anyway. There are some 
    1.13 +female to female interactions but no hentai , 
    1.14 +and as always please send your comments to me at
    1.15 +rphjas@lycos.com. This is the reason I have begun 
    1.16 +writing again since 1975. I get to hear from you
    1.17 +and please, comments good or bad are always 
    1.18 +welcome can't get better without them because
    1.19 +I still want to put my dreams into words for 
    1.20 +you. Humbly yours Joe Saunders rphjas-san at
    1.21 +rphjas@lycos.com .
    1.22 +
    1.23 +At the Daidouji Estate:	
    1.24 +
    1.25 +Tomoyo was satisfied with her preparations. 
    1.26 +Everyone in the mansion was sound asleep and 
    1.27 +her bedroom door was locked. She had laid out 
    1.28 +several of her most precious treasures of Sakura
    1.29 +on her large four poster bed. She had 
    1.30 +painstakingly placed the camcorder and tripod in
    1.31 +the right location. The light in the gigantic 
    1.32 +room was at the perfect intensity. A soft 
    1.33 +melancholic melody could be heard in the 
    1.34 +background as Tomoyo worked in the room. Lying 
    1.35 +on the bureau next to her sewing bag, the 
    1.36 +manilla envelope waited to receive the soon to 
    1.37 +be completed videotape.
    1.38 +
    1.39 +Gazing into her mirror, Tomoyo made some adjustments to
    1.40 +her long lavender hair-tweaking a ribbon here or a bow there.
    1.41 +She judged her appearance before the mirror. She 
    1.42 +looked like an expert doll maker's masterpiece.
    1.43 +Beautiful lavender hair fell on her shoulders and
    1.44 +behind her back. Luminous lavender eyes 
    1.45 +sparkled in her seemingly porcelain-like face. 
    1.46 +Her long dress was a beautiful egg-shell blue 
    1.47 +covered with red lace, bows, and trim. Tomoyo 
    1.48 +sadly smiled at her reflection, but she could 
    1.49 +not cry because all of the tears had been shed 
    1.50 +during previous nights. 
    1.51 +
    1.52 +“I must look my best for my Sakura-chan.” thought Tomoyo as she 
    1.53 +steeled up her willpower. Picking up a small 
    1.54 +rubber eraser from the bureau top, she clasped 
    1.55 +both hands around it and brought them to her 
    1.56 +chest as if she were praying. 
    1.57 +
    1.58 +“Now for you, my Sakura-chan.”whispered Tomoyo.
    1.59 +“My one last gift to you...“
    1.60 +
    1.61 +
    1.62 +At the Kinomoto home: 
    1.63 +
    1.64 +
    1.65 +
    1.66 +
    1.67 +Sakura picked at her food even though she was 
    1.68 +hungry. She had been uneasy throughout supper.
    1.69 +
    1.70 +
    1.71 +Touya's teasing bounced off her ears and went
    1.72 +unnoticed. Her loving father's questions about 
    1.73 +her
    1.74 +
    1.75 +day were lethargically answered. At the end
    1.76 +of supper, she lazily waved at her father and 
    1.77 +elder
    1.78 +
    1.79 +brother as they went to their respective 
    1.80 +jobs. After finishing her chores, she listlessly
    1.81 +climbed the
    1.82 +
    1.83 +stairs and walked into her room.
    1.84 +
    1.85 +
    1.86 +
    1.87 +
    1.88 +“Welcome home, Sakura.”said Kero while he was
    1.89 +playing one of his favorite video games. 
    1.90 +
    1.91 +
    1.92 +
    1.93 +
    1.94 +“OhHi , Kero.”said Sakura as she went to
    1.95 +her desk to start her homework.           
    1.96 +           
    1.97 +
    1.98 +                   
    1.99 +                                
   1.100 +                                
   1.101 +                     
   1.102 +
   1.103 +
   1.104 +Kero flew up to the desk, licking his lips in 
   1.105 +anticipation of the evening dessert. 
   1.106 +
   1.107 +
   1.108 +
   1.109 +“Hey, 
   1.110 +Sakura where's my dessert?!”exclaimed Kero as
   1.111 +he angrily plopped down on her
   1.112 +
   1.113 +desktop.
   1.114 +
   1.115 +
   1.116 +
   1.117 +
   1.118 +Sakura looked at Kero with a dazed expression
   1.119 +and said,“Sorry, Kero-chan. Let me go back
   1.120 +
   1.121 +
   1.122 +downstairs to the kitchen and bring you my share.”
   1.123 +
   1.124 +
   1.125 +
   1.126 +With heartfelt concern, Kero said, “Don't 
   1.127 +worry about it, Sakura. You don't seem like your
   1.128 +usual
   1.129 +
   1.130 +self today. What's wrong?”He flexed his 
   1.131 +tiny biceps and continued, “Is that Li kid making
   1.132 +
   1.133 +
   1.134 +trouble for you? If so, I'll change into my 
   1.135 +true form and bat him around like a soccer ball!
   1.136 +
   1.137 +
   1.138 +Sakura shook her head and answered,“No, 
   1.139 +Kero-chan - He's been treating me ok. It's just 
   1.140 +that
   1.141 +
   1.142 +my heart has been feeling like a tick's 
   1.143 +been sucking the blood out of it until only a 
   1.144 +withered husk
   1.145 +
   1.146 +will remain. Oh Kero-chan, I can't
   1.147 +put it into words!”concluded Sakura with a 
   1.148 +sigh.
   1.149 +
   1.150 +
   1.151 +
   1.152 +Kero thought for a moment with his hand
   1.153 +balled under his chin. He asked, “When did this 
   1.154 +feeling
   1.155 +
   1.156 +start, Sakura?”
   1.157 +It started sometime
   1.158 +after school and continued as I skated along with
   1.159 +Tomoyo-chan. It has
   1.160 +
   1.161 +gotten worse since I got 
   1.162 +home and I can't figure out what it is!”
   1.163 +answered Sakura in a frustrated
   1.164 +
   1.165 +voice. 
   1.166 +
   1.167 +
   1.168 +
   1.169 +
   1.170 +Kero responded,“Calm down, Sakura. Banging 
   1.171 +your head against a wall won't solve anything.
   1.172 +
   1.173 +
   1.174 +Kero mused,'Since all of the Cards have been 
   1.175 +sealed and Eriol has left, I don't think it is
   1.176 +
   1.177 +
   1.178 +anything serious. Maybe you just left your 
   1.179 +recorder at school!”
   1.180 +
   1.181 +
   1.182 +
   1.183 +Sakura angrily swatted 
   1.184 +at Kero who nimbly dodged her hand. “It's not 
   1.185 +that simple, Kero!”yelled
   1.186 +
   1.187 +Sakura. “I think 
   1.188 +this is a premonition, but I just don't know what
   1.189 +it is about!”
   1.190 +
   1.191 +
   1.192 +
   1.193 +Kero guiltily looked at Sakura. “I'm sorry for 
   1.194 +trifling with you, Sakura. I wish
   1.195 +that I could help
   1.196 +
   1.197 +you better with this problem.
   1.198 +Hey maybe a nice hot bath and a good night's 
   1.199 +sleep will help you
   1.200 +
   1.201 +clear everything up in the 
   1.202 +morning!”
   1.203 +
   1.204 +
   1.205 +
   1.206 +
   1.207 +“You're probably right, Kero-chan.”said 
   1.208 +Sakura. “And I am sorry I tried to hit you. I 
   1.209 +know you
   1.210 +
   1.211 +were only trying to cheer me up.
   1.212 +
   1.213 +
   1.214 +
   1.215 +
   1.216 +Kero puffed out his little chest and said , 
   1.217 +“Apologies accepted, Sakura. Trust the great and
   1.218 +
   1.219 +
   1.220 +powerful Guardian Beast! All will be well by 
   1.221 +morning and I'll even forgive you for not 
   1.222 +bringing
   1.223 +
   1.224 +me any dessert!
   1.225 +
   1.226 +
   1.227 +
   1.228 +Sakura weakly 
   1.229 +laughed at Kero's posturing and remarks. ”You're
   1.230 +probably right, Kero-chan and I
   1.231 +
   1.232 +am way too out 
   1.233 +of it to do anything constructive tonight.”
   1.234 +
   1.235 +
   1.236 +
   1.237 +
   1.238 +                                
   1.239 +                                
   1.240 +                                
   1.241 +         
   1.242 +
   1.243 +At The Daidouji Estate:      
   1.244 +                                
   1.245 +                                
   1.246 +        
   1.247 +
   1.248 +                      
   1.249 +                                
   1.250 +                                
   1.251 +
   1.252 +
   1.253 +Tomoyo had about five minutes before the 
   1.254 +camcorder and tape player turned on 
   1.255 +simultaneously.
   1.256 +
   1.257 +She had been secretly rehearsing
   1.258 +and preparing for this evening's performance for
   1.259 +over a week.
   1.260 +
   1.261 +While completing some minor 
   1.262 +adjustments to her hair and dress, Tomoyo did 
   1.263 +another quick run-
   1.264 +
   1.265 +thru of where she would stand
   1.266 +and the words she would sing from the lyrics she
   1.267 +had
   1.268 +
   1.269 +painstakingly written and memorized. She 
   1.270 +still clung onto the little eraser that Sakura 
   1.271 +had given
   1.272 +
   1.273 +to her at their first encounter. She 
   1.274 +thought, “Now I can say the words to Sakura that
   1.275 +I never dared
   1.276 +
   1.277 +to say. I can use my camcorder,
   1.278 +melody, and lyrics that I wrote from my innermost
   1.279 +heart and
   1.280 +
   1.281 +reveal my true feelings this one and 
   1.282 +only time.”
   1.283 +
   1.284 +
   1.285 +
   1.286 +'I must perform perfectly.'mused
   1.287 +Tomoyo as she walked to the small tapedx
   1.288 +placed on the
   1.289 +
   1.290 +floor which divided her bed into 
   1.291 +symmetrical halves.
   1.292 +
   1.293 +
   1.294 +
   1.295 +“For my beloved Sakura-
   1.296 +chan,“whispered Tomoyo. She inhaled deeply and 
   1.297 +then slowly exhaled
   1.298 +
   1.299 +- blowing away the facial 
   1.300 +masks that she used in her everyday life.
   1.301 +
   1.302 +
   1.303 +
   1.304 +“Now
   1.305 +my soul is bare for Sakura-chan to see.”
   1.306 +
   1.307 +
   1.308 +
   1.309 +The 
   1.310 +camcorder and tape player clicked on and Tomoyo 
   1.311 +began ...
   1.312 +
   1.313 +
   1.314 +
   1.315 +
   1.316 +
   1.317 +
   1.318 +
   1.319 +At the Kinomoto home:
   1.320 +
   1.321 +
   1.322 +
   1.323 +
   1.324 +Tossing and turning in her bed, Sakura tightly 
   1.325 +hugged the CardCaptor Sakuradoll that
   1.326 +
   1.327 +Tomoyo-
   1.328 +chan had given her long ago.Beads of perspiration
   1.329 +rolled down her face and soaked her
   1.330 +
   1.331 +pajamas. Her
   1.332 +features were contorted into looks of pain , 
   1.333 +distress, and denial. Gasping for air,
   1.334 +
   1.335 +Sakura 
   1.336 +bolted upright in her bed. She opened her eyes 
   1.337 +and frantically tried to quiet her racing
   1.338 +
   1.339 +heart.
   1.340 +
   1.341 +
   1.342 +
   1.343 +
   1.344 +“Hoe! what was that all about?”cried 
   1.345 +Sakura. But like wisps of smoke or fluffy clouds,
   1.346 +the
   1.347 +
   1.348 +nightmare refused to be captured. Trembling,
   1.349 +Sakura got out of bed and went to her desk. She
   1.350 +
   1.351 +
   1.352 +somehow knew that she had to open the drawer 
   1.353 +where the Book of the Star Cards was kept.
   1.354 +
   1.355 +After
   1.356 +opening the drawer, Sakura noticed a white light
   1.357 +coming from the deck. She urgently
   1.358 +
   1.359 +pickedthrough
   1.360 +the pile of Star Cards until she found the source
   1.361 +of the light. It emanated from the
   1.362 +
   1.363 +lastCardthat
   1.364 +appeared when she had overcome Eriols final 
   1.365 +challenge. The light was pulsing as
   1.366 +
   1.367 +if it were 
   1.368 +a heart beating. Suddenly, an arrow of light shot
   1.369 +out of the Card and passed through the
   1.370 +
   1.371 +window 
   1.372 +into the darkness engulfing Tomoeda . The Card 
   1.373 +flew behind the arrow of light. As the
   1.374 +
   1.375 +startled
   1.376 +Sakura watched these events, her hand 
   1.377 +accidentally touched the Light and Dark Card. 
   1.378 +In
   1.379 +
   1.380 +an instant, the two spirits of Light and Dark
   1.381 +materialized and stood before their Mistress.
   1.382 +
   1.383 +
   1.384 +
   1.385 +
   1.386 +As always, they were holding each other and 
   1.387 +looked regal beyond human comprehension.
   1.388 +
   1.389 +
   1.390 +
   1.391 +In a
   1.392 +feathery voice, Dark whispered,“Your soul mate's
   1.393 +heart is at it'sfinal breaking tonight and
   1.394 +
   1.395 +will
   1.396 +soon beat no more in this world. This heart cries
   1.397 +for mending but is willing to remain
   1.398 +
   1.399 +shattered 
   1.400 +for all time to insure your future happiness.” 
   1.401 +                                
   1.402 +            
   1.403 +
   1.404 +                  
   1.405 +                                
   1.406 +                                
   1.407 +
   1.408 +
   1.409 +In a similar voice, Light began to speak.“The
   1.410 +path to that heart is revealed by the arrow of 
   1.411 +the
   1.412 +
   1.413 +last Star Card. Follow the light quickly if
   1.414 +you wish to mend the Heart which my love Dark 
   1.415 +doth
   1.416 +
   1.417 +speak”
   1.418 +
   1.419 +
   1.420 +
   1.421 +Before Sakura could inquire about
   1.422 +their cryptic remarks, Dark and Light disappeared
   1.423 +into their
   1.424 +
   1.425 +Card.
   1.426 +
   1.427 +
   1.428 +
   1.429 +Sakura frantically grabbed 
   1.430 +the Key resting between her breasts and spoke 
   1.431 +the Words of Power to
   1.432 +
   1.433 +release it. With cheetah's
   1.434 +speed, she summoned Fly. White wings burst 
   1.435 +through her pajama top.
   1.436 +
   1.437 +Without changing her
   1.438 +garments, Sakura opened the window and raced 
   1.439 +after the last Star Card in
   1.440 +
   1.441 +the dark night of 
   1.442 +Tomoeda. Sakura's heart beat rapidly and she 
   1.443 +willed her magic to fly as fast as
   1.444 +
   1.445 +the winds. 
   1.446 +“I must find this person!”Sakura thought. “But
   1.447 +I wonder whom it could be? Is it
   1.448 +
   1.449 +Syaoran?“
   1.450 +
   1.451 +
   1.452 +
   1.453 +At the Daidouji estate:
   1.454 +
   1.455 +
   1.456 +
   1.457 +
   1.458 +
   1.459 +Tomoyo had viewed the completed videotapeseveral
   1.460 +times. Tears trickled from her lavender
   1.461 +
   1.462 +eyes and
   1.463 +wetted the dress. Lovingly, she enclosed the tape
   1.464 +and sealed the envelope. In her
   1.465 +
   1.466 +beautiful 
   1.467 +handwriting, the envelope proclaimed'To My 
   1.468 +Special Someone 'My Only Love -
   1.469 +
   1.470 +Sakura-chan'
   1.471 +
   1.472 +
   1.473 +
   1.474 +
   1.475 +She sealed the envelope and lifted her sewing
   1.476 +bag revealing a pair of newly sharpened
   1.477 +scissors.
   1.478 +
   1.479 +With one hand still holding the 
   1.480 +eraser, Tomoyo firmly grabbed the scissors and 
   1.481 +walked to her
   1.482 +
   1.483 +bed. She laid down and arranged 
   1.484 +some of her favorite hand-sewn costumes that 
   1.485 +Sakura had worn
   1.486 +
   1.487 +when she was capturing the Clow
   1.488 +Cards.'But, unfortunately those days are over', 
   1.489 +thought
   1.490 +
   1.491 +Tomoyo. 'Only in my heart do such 
   1.492 +moments still dwell. Sakura has chosen Syaoran 
   1.493 +and I never
   1.494 +
   1.495 +had the courage to open the gate 
   1.496 +allowing me entrance into Sakura's heart. He got
   1.497 +there first.'
   1.498 +
   1.499 +whispered Tomoyo as she stared at
   1.500 +an enlarged photo of Sakura on the ceiling. The 
   1.501 +picture had
   1.502 +
   1.503 +been difficult to place there 
   1.504 +tonight, but it was worth it. Her tears flowed 
   1.505 +more freely as she
   1.506 +
   1.507 +looked at the picture of 
   1.508 +Sakura - branding every feature in her heart and
   1.509 +soul while her right hand
   1.510 +
   1.511 +came upwards to her 
   1.512 +soft pale neck.
   1.513 +
   1.514 +
   1.515 +
   1.516 +
   1.517 +Suddenly a light appeared in Tomoyo's 
   1.518 +darkened room and she quickly sat up from her 
   1.519 +macabre
   1.520 +
   1.521 +position. A surprised Tomoyo saw a 
   1.522 +Sakura Card spinning in mid-air at the foot of 
   1.523 +her bed.
   1.524 +
   1.525 +Faster and faster it twirled -bathing 
   1.526 +the whole huge room with a heavenly light and 
   1.527 +making
   1.528 +
   1.529 +Tomoyo feel faint and dizzy even though 
   1.530 +she was sitting on her bed.
   1.531 +
   1.532 +
   1.533 +
   1.534 +
   1.535 +Then the sound of breaking glass filled the
   1.536 +room as Sakura flew headfirst into Tomoyo's
   1.537 +
   1.538 +
   1.539 +bedroom.“Tomoyo-chan - Tomoyo-chan, what are you
   1.540 +trying to do?”cried Sakura -bleeding
   1.541 +
   1.542 +from 
   1.543 +several cuts on her arms, hands, and face. With 
   1.544 +her natural athleticism, Sakura leapt from
   1.545 +
   1.546 +the 
   1.547 +floor and grabbed Tomoyo's wristforcing the 
   1.548 +steely jaws of the scissors away from her soft
   1.549 +
   1.550 +
   1.551 +neck.
   1.552 +
   1.553 +
   1.554 +
   1.555 +For the first time, the shocked Tomoyo 
   1.556 +wore none of her everyday masks and had no 
   1.557 +cheerful
   1.558 +
   1.559 +answers for Sakura's question. Her 
   1.560 +delicate gasping mouth opened and closed like a 
   1.561 +land-bound
   1.562 +
   1.563 +fish seeking water. Before Tomoyo 
   1.564 +knew it, the scissors were in Sakura's trembling
   1.565 +hands. The
   1.566 +
   1.567 +emotions of anger, fear, and concern
   1.568 +warred over the landscape that was 
   1.569 +Sakura's face
   1.570 +and
   1.571 +
   1.572 +eyes. However, concern with a touch of fear
   1.573 +and desperation won the battle on Sakura's face.
   1.574 +Her
   1.575 +
   1.576 +wings fluttered weakly and Sakura panted. 
   1.577 +The cuts from the broken glass burned her nerves.
   1.578 +She
   1.579 +
   1.580 +felt like she would collapse on the floor. 
   1.581 +Instead, she willed herself to sit by 
   1.582 +Tomoyo's 
   1.583 +side and
   1.584 +
   1.585 +violently threw the scissors across the
   1.586 +room.
   1.587 +
   1.588 +“Tomoyo-chan Why?”asked Sakura as the
   1.589 +evening's pent-up emotions in her heart 
   1.590 +erupted in
   1.591 +
   1.592 +full force. The tears flooded from her 
   1.593 +emerald-green eyes and stung her cuts. She looked
   1.594 +at
   1.595 +
   1.596 +Tomoyo's sad face as if to find the answer 
   1.597 +there. Tomoyo bent her head to her chest, 
   1.598 +whispering
   1.599 +
   1.600 +softly between sobs the manilla 
   1.601 +envelope-a videotape-on my bureau...Puzzled, 
   1.602 +Sakura
   1.603 +
   1.604 +squeezed Tomoyo's hands. With one eye on
   1.605 +Tomoyo, Sakura found the manilla envelope and
   1.606 +
   1.607 +
   1.608 +read Tomoyo's notation
   1.609 +admiring the lovely 
   1.610 +handwriting. Tomoyo looked up and saw Sakura's
   1.611 +
   1.612 +
   1.613 +cheek turn fiery red. Sadly, Tomoyo realized that
   1.614 +all of her plans for Sakura had failed. She was
   1.615 +
   1.616 +
   1.617 +supposed to be dead. She had not anticipated her
   1.618 +beloved Sakura's dramatic arrival. But instead
   1.619 +
   1.620 +
   1.621 +of dropping the envelope in revulsion, Sakura 
   1.622 +reverently opened the envelope and tenderly
   1.623 +
   1.624 +
   1.625 +plucked out the videotape. She walked to the VCR,
   1.626 +turned on the TV, and walked over to
   1.627 +
   1.628 +Tomoyo's 
   1.629 +bed.
   1.630 +
   1.631 +
   1.632 +
   1.633 +
   1.634 +“May I sit next to you, Tomoyo-chan?”asked
   1.635 +Sakura. Tomoyo looked with awe at her beloved
   1.636 +
   1.637 +
   1.638 +and nodded. The empty Card stopped spinning and 
   1.639 +it's light dimmed enough for the two girls to
   1.640 +
   1.641 +
   1.642 +watch the screen. Sakura held Tomoyo's hand with
   1.643 +all of her might as the tape started.
   1.644 +
   1.645 +
   1.646 +
   1.647 +
   1.648 +
   1.649 +On the
   1.650 +TV screen, Tomoyo appeared.'She looks like an 
   1.651 +angel.'thought Sakura. Tomoyo was
   1.652 +
   1.653 +bathed in 
   1.654 +light and her beautiful voice could be heard.
   1.655 +
   1.656 +
   1.657 +
   1.658 +
   1.659 +“Sakura-chanIwanted to give you one final
   1.660 +gift. It is a song I wrote for you and only you.
   1.661 +I
   1.662 +
   1.663 +know you are crying right now because of my 
   1.664 +death. I willed for my Mother to give you this
   1.665 +
   1.666 +
   1.667 +video after my private funeral. But please my 
   1.668 +Sakura-chan. Do not cry for me! My time in this
   1.669 +
   1.670 +
   1.671 +world is done. Your quest for the Clow Cards is 
   1.672 +complete. Your need for me is over. I only desire
   1.673 +
   1.674 +
   1.675 +your eternal happiness and a joyful future with
   1.676 +Syaoran. Like your Mother, I will be in Heaven- a
   1.677 +
   1.678 +
   1.679 +Guardian Angel only for you. And when your 
   1.680 +life's journey is done, I will be waiting for 
   1.681 +you
   1.682 +
   1.683 +with open arms to hug you and loving hands 
   1.684 +to guide you into Heaven. Maybe there you and I
   1.685 +
   1.686 +
   1.687 +can be in love together because on Earth our Love
   1.688 +can never be.”,Tomoyo paused- closed her
   1.689 +
   1.690 +eyes,
   1.691 +and clasped her hands to her chest. She inhaled,
   1.692 +opened her delicate mouth, and began to
   1.693 +
   1.694 +sing...
   1.695 +
   1.696 +
   1.697 +Sakura stared at the TV - mesmerized by 
   1.698 +Tomoyo's lavender eyes and angelic beauty. A 
   1.699 +blush
   1.700 +
   1.701 +bloomed on her cheeks. Her tears freely 
   1.702 +flowed and a warmth filled her heart and soul. 
   1.703 +After
   1.704 +
   1.705 +finishing the beautiful song, Tomoyo said,
   1.706 +“I will always be with you My Beloved Sakura-
   1.707 +chan. I
   1.708 +
   1.709 +have loved you since I first saw you in
   1.710 +Tomoeda Elementary and this eraser has been the 
   1.711 +most
   1.712 +
   1.713 +precious gift I have ever received because
   1.714 +it came from you”Tomoyo whispered as she
   1.715 +
   1.716 +
   1.717 +lowered her praying hands and opened one 
   1.718 +revealing the plain rubber eraser. This is only a
   1.719 +
   1.720 +
   1.721 +temporary separation, My Love. I am just going
   1.722 +ahead of you to my destiny.Tomoyo's armsspread
   1.723 +wide as if to engulf Sakura. A smile appeared on
   1.724 +her face. However, her lavender eyes
   1.725 +
   1.726 +seemed to 
   1.727 +lose their color.“Sayonara Sakura-chan I will
   1.728 +watch over you and Love you
   1.729 +
   1.730 +forever.”Tomoyo 
   1.731 +knelt on the carpet as if to pray slowly the 
   1.732 +picture blurred and faded away
   1.733 +
   1.734 +into oblivion.
   1.735 +
   1.736 +
   1.737 +
   1.738 +
   1.739 +Sakura's heart bled more freely than any 
   1.740 +lacerations from the broken window could do. 
   1.741 +Crying,
   1.742 +
   1.743 +Sakura
   1.744 +
   1.745 +thought,'I've hurt Tomoyo-chan
   1.746 +so deeply.'Though her heart was bleeding from 
   1.747 +sadness and
   1.748 +
   1.749 +regret, Sakura felt the seed of love
   1.750 +that she had always had for Tomoyo sprout and 
   1.751 +grow
   1.752 +
   1.753 +watered and sunned by Tomoyo'srevelation.
   1.754 +“So Dark and Light were talking about Tomoyo-
   1.755 +
   1.756 +
   1.757 +chan!”thought Sakura. “She has been suffering 
   1.758 +all of this time because her love for me was
   1.759 +
   1.760 +
   1.761 +never returned by me for her. I -I am responsible
   1.762 +for breaking her heart again and again - until it
   1.763 +
   1.764 +
   1.765 +shattered and made her want to end her life..“
   1.766 +
   1.767 +
   1.768 +
   1.769 +
   1.770 +Sakura turned to face Tomoyo. Tomoyo had not
   1.771 +moved since Sakura had come to her bed. Her
   1.772 +
   1.773 +hand
   1.774 +limply rested in Sakura's grip. Her head was 
   1.775 +still lowered and tears dripped from her
   1.776 +
   1.777 +cheeks.
   1.778 +Sakure gently removed her hand from Tomoyo'sand
   1.779 +reached for Tomoyo's face.
   1.780 +
   1.781 +Tomoyo cringed at 
   1.782 +Sakura's tender touch - anticipating a face 
   1.783 +filled with revulsion and anger.
   1.784 +
   1.785 +Sakura cupped 
   1.786 +Tomoyo's cheeks and slowly lifted her head so 
   1.787 +she could look deep into
   1.788 +
   1.789 +Tomoyo's lavender eyes.
   1.790 +Tomoyo looked at Sakura's face and was stunned by
   1.791 +the love and
   1.792 +
   1.793 +tenderness that gleamed from the 
   1.794 +emerald green eyes.
   1.795 +
   1.796 +		
   1.797 +
   1.798 +“Sakura-chan...?“
   1.799 +whispered Tomoyo. With loving motion, Sakura 
   1.800 +pulled Tomoyo's face to her
   1.801 +
   1.802 +own and gave Tomoyo
   1.803 +a passionate kiss. Tomoyo's fragile body wilted 
   1.804 +under the kiss. Her arms
   1.805 +
   1.806 +reached around Sakura's
   1.807 +waist and hugged her tightlylike a drowning 
   1.808 +sailor would to a life-line.
   1.809 +
   1.810 +Sakura's hands 
   1.811 +stroked Tomoyo's cheeks and fingered her glossy 
   1.812 +lavender hair. Her slender body
   1.813 +
   1.814 +pressed against
   1.815 +Tomoyo's and eased her body to a prone position.
   1.816 +Tomoyo's eyes fluttered and
   1.817 +
   1.818 +she realized that 
   1.819 +sometime during this magical waking dream her 
   1.820 +dress had disappeared from her
   1.821 +
   1.822 +pale body. “Have
   1.823 +I died and reached my ideal vision of Heaven?” 
   1.824 +thought Tomoyo.“My Sakura-
   1.825 +
   1.826 +chan is in my armskissing me, loving me...Healing me!”
   1.827 +
   1.828 +
   1.829 +
   1.830 +Suddenly
   1.831 +Tomoyo's lavender eyes opened and drank up the 
   1.832 +sight of her Beloved Sakura pressing
   1.833 +
   1.834 +against 
   1.835 +her. The Card Mistress was smiling at Tomoyo. Her
   1.836 +naked body glistened from her
   1.837 +
   1.838 +exertions to 
   1.839 +reach out and mend Tomoyo's heart with the Glue 
   1.840 +of Love.“Tomoyo-chan...I'm
   1.841 +
   1.842 +sorry for all of 
   1.843 +your pain and suffering.”whispered Sakura. 
   1.844 +“It's all my fault!”cried Sakura as
   1.845 +
   1.846 +tears mixed
   1.847 +with the bloody cuts on her face.
   1.848 +
   1.849 +
   1.850 +
   1.851 +With 
   1.852 +surprising strength, the porcelain-skinned Tomoyo
   1.853 +forced Sakura to sit upright on the large
   1.854 +
   1.855 +bed. 
   1.856 +“My Beloved Sakura-chan!”cried Tomoyo “You came
   1.857 +to save me, but you've injured
   1.858 +
   1.859 +yourself! Please
   1.860 +let me treat your cuts!
   1.861 +
   1.862 +
   1.863 +
   1.864 +
   1.865 +“Oh Tomoyo-chan My Love,“roclaimed Sakura 
   1.866 +her emerald green eyes sparkling with
   1.867 +
   1.868 +Love and
   1.869 +Happiness. 
   1.870 +
   1.871 +
   1.872 +
   1.873 +Tomoyo quickly kissed her Sakura-
   1.874 +chan and ran to her bathroom.             
   1.875 +                      
   1.876 +
   1.877 +         
   1.878 +                                
   1.879 +                                
   1.880 +                                
   1.881 +
   1.882 +
   1.883 +As she waited for Tomoyo, Sakura gazed at the 
   1.884 +empty Star Card. It had stopped spinning and it's
   1.885 +
   1.886 +
   1.887 +light was pulsing like a human heartbeat. 
   1.888 +Sakura bowed her head to the Star Cardandquietly
   1.889 +
   1.890 +
   1.891 +thanked it as well as Dark and Lightforshowing
   1.892 +her the path to her One True Love.
   1.893 +
   1.894 +
   1.895 +
   1.896 +
   1.897 +Tomoyo returned with a moistened towel, a 
   1.898 +first-aid kit, and two sets of softlinenpajamas.
   1.899 +“Ok
   1.900 +
   1.901 +Sakura-don't move,”said Tomoyo.FirstTomoyo
   1.902 +looked over Sakura's body with piercing
   1.903 +
   1.904 +lavender
   1.905 +eyes. She nodded and began to lick and kiss 
   1.906 +Sakura's cuts and scrapes. Sakura swooned
   1.907 +
   1.908 +in 
   1.909 +bliss. Tomoyo gently patted each wound with the 
   1.910 +warm wet towel. She tenderly applied
   1.911 +
   1.912 +antibiotic
   1.913 +ointment and bandages to each wound - pouring her
   1.914 +love for Sakura into every
   1.915 +
   1.916 +movement. Satisfied 
   1.917 +that her work was completed to perfection, Tomoyo
   1.918 +said, “I think I treated
   1.919 +
   1.920 +all of your cuts, My 
   1.921 +Beloved Sakura-chan. But do you hurt anywhere 
   1.922 +that I can't see? Do I need
   1.923 +
   1.924 +to call foradoctor?”
   1.925 +
   1.926 +
   1.927 +
   1.928 +
   1.929 +Sakura answered, “No but thank you My 
   1.930 +Tomoyo-chan. I don't need a doctor. But I do need
   1.931 +
   1.932 +
   1.933 +You My LoveMy Tomoyo!“
   1.934 +
   1.935 +
   1.936 +
   1.937 +Tomoyo beamed as 
   1.938 +brightly as the empty Star Card. She gently 
   1.939 +embraced Sakura and kissed her.
   1.940 +
   1.941 +“Oh My Beloved 
   1.942 +Sakura-chan!”cried Tomoyo. “How often have I 
   1.943 +dreamed of hearing those
   1.944 +
   1.945 +words from you and of 
   1.946 +being your Love!“
   1.947 +
   1.948 +
   1.949 +
   1.950 +Sakura hugged Tomoyo and 
   1.951 +kissed her.“If you can ever forgive me Tomoyo-
   1.952 +chan, I will promise
   1.953 +
   1.954 +you that your daysof
   1.955 +loneliness and suffering will never return 
   1.956 +because you are My Soul Mate-
   1.957 +
   1.958 +My Beloved-My 
   1.959 +Tomoyo-chan.”confessed Sakura. “I want to be 
   1.960 +yours - Forever.”
   1.961 +
   1.962 +
   1.963 +
   1.964 +Tomoyo cried with tears of
   1.965 +pure happiness. “My Dearest Sakura-chan, you have
   1.966 +made my dearest
   1.967 +
   1.968 +wish come true!”
   1.969 +
   1.970 +
   1.971 +
   1.972 +With love 
   1.973 +and happiness, Tomoyo and Sakura embraced once 
   1.974 +more and Magic flared in the
   1.975 +
   1.976 +bedroom. The broken
   1.977 +window was miraculously restored. The Star Card 
   1.978 +brightened and slowly
   1.979 +
   1.980 +faded. However, it's face
   1.981 +was no longer empty because it now bore a 
   1.982 +hologram of Sakura and
   1.983 +
   1.984 +Tomoyo kissing and 
   1.985 +embracing each other and over their heads 
   1.986 +floated a red Valentine-
   1.987 +
   1.988 +shaped Heart.
   1.989 +
   1.990 +
   1.991 +
   1.992 +
   1.993 +THE END
   1.994 +
   1.995 +
   1.996 +
   1.997 +
   1.998 +
   1.999 +
  1.1000 +Author's comments:
  1.1001 +
  1.1002 +
  1.1003 +
  1.1004 +I was hoping to write the 
  1.1005 +lyrics of Tomoyo'ssong for you. The words were 
  1.1006 +clear in my dream.
  1.1007 +
  1.1008 +However, Dawn's light faded 
  1.1009 +the verses into obscurity. Maybe it's better that
  1.1010 +way so you - the
  1.1011 +
  1.1012 +reader - can imagine your own 
  1.1013 +lyrics to Tomoyo's song of love confessed but 
  1.1014 +unrequited on
  1.1015 +
  1.1016 +Earth, of her plea for Sakura's 
  1.1017 +mortal happiness in spite of her suicide, of 
  1.1018 +Tomoyo's wish of
  1.1019 +
  1.1020 +being Sakura's Guardian Angel 
  1.1021 +throughout her mortal days and immortal life, and
  1.1022 +of her final
  1.1023 +
  1.1024 +words of goodbye to Sakura. I know
  1.1025 +I am not a CCS expert like many better writers 
  1.1026 +and fans of
  1.1027 +
  1.1028 +the anime and manga, but I hope you
  1.1029 +will forgive any inconsistencies in this fanfic 
  1.1030 +and enjoy it as
  1.1031 +
  1.1032 +it is written.           
  1.1033 +                                
  1.1034 +                                
  1.1035 +                
  1.1036 +
  1.1037 +               
  1.1038 +                                
  1.1039 +                                
  1.1040 +      
  1.1041 +
  1.1042 +Humbly yours, Joe Saunders at 
  1.1043 +rphjas@lycos.com
  1.1044 \ No newline at end of file