1.1 --- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
     1.2 +++ b/old/stories/ccs-happy.txt	Fri Feb 19 20:53:12 2010 -0500
     1.3 @@ -0,0 +1,792 @@
     1.4 +Title: Happy Years
     1.5 +Author: Matthias Engel aka MysticMew
     1.6 +Feedback: Solarsenshi@gmx.de
     1.7 +Status: Alpha
     1.8 +Fandom: Card Captor Sakura (manga)
     1.9 +Rating: PG-13
    1.10 +Category: Romance, a tad bit darkish
    1.11 +Pairing: Sakura/Tomoyo
    1.12 +Timeline: Sequel to "The Different Path"
    1.13 +Summary: Tomoyo reflects on the changes in her lives and the 
    1.14 +experiences she had in her relationship with the "older" Sakura and 
    1.15 +how the consequences of Sakura's wish begin to catch up with them.
    1.16 +Distribution: MSD (www.catstrio.de), Shoujo Ai.com (www.shoujoai.com), 
    1.17 +ff.net (www.fanfiction.net), Mediaminer (www.mediaminer.org), Moonlit 
    1.18 +Nights (http://jrem.net/moonlit/tsFics.html) others may follow. If you 
    1.19 +like this fic for your story, please tell me, I'm not likely to put 
    1.20 +stones in your way, but I like to know where it goes.
    1.21 +Legal Disclaimer: This story features two females romantically 
    1.22 +involved. If that is illegal where you are or entirely not your thing, 
    1.23 +turn around and leave now.
    1.24 +Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura belongs to CLAMP and assorted 
    1.25 +companies, I claim no right on the characters and original storyline.
    1.26 +Story Disclaimer: Happy Years(c)2003 by Matthias Engel
    1.27 +
    1.28 +******************************
    1.29 +
    1.30 +Foreword
    1.31 +
    1.32 +This is going to be the sequel to The Different Path. I firmed my 
    1.33 +decision meanwhile that this will tie in with an idea I had for 
    1.34 +another Sailormoon story. For now there is no visible connection but 
    1.35 +they will flow together eventually when I get to the main story. But 
    1.36 +that probably is still in the future.
    1.37 +For now, this was prompted a little by one of the reviews I got, 
    1.38 +wondering how Tomoyo's reaction to all this would be. This is a bit 
    1.39 +free after the concept "Scenes of the rest of their life" or something 
    1.40 +like that. The story will be done in diary format with several short 
    1.41 +and some longer entries... we'll see, I never know this in advance. :)
    1.42 +
    1.43 +******************************
    1.44 +
    1.45 +Happy Years
    1.46 +Based on the works of CLAMP
    1.47 +Story Concept by Matthias Engel
    1.48 +
    1.49 +******************************
    1.50 +
    1.51 +<From the diary of Daidouji Tomoyo, aptly named "Sakura Musings">
    1.52 +
    1.53 +April 13, 1994
    1.54 +	Dear Diary.
    1.55 +
    1.56 +	It has been awhile that I wrote in here and I'm sorry for 
    1.57 +leaving you at such a crucial point where my dear Sakura seemed to be 
    1.58 +just inches away from confessing her love to Syaoran. The reason why I 
    1.59 +didn't get to write in here lately is that something really incredible 
    1.60 +happened. Something so incredible that it will also effect this diary.
    1.61 +	For as long as I kept this, I have dedicated these entries 
    1.62 +solely to my one true love. The walking miracle that is Sakura-chan, 
    1.63 +trying to capture my thoughts on the beautiful girl that had captured 
    1.64 +my heart from the first day we met. But now, I can't write about 
    1.65 +Sakura alone anymore because the most joyous, unexpected thing 
    1.66 +happened...
    1.67 +	But let me begin from the beginning, yes? It was on the day 
    1.68 +Li-kun was going to return home. I had already suspected of course 
    1.69 +that Sakura as was typical of her would only realize her feelings at 
    1.70 +the last moment. Not that I want to say that she is... indecisive. 
    1.71 +Sakura just has a hard time realizing her own feelings but you really 
    1.72 +cannot fault her for that. It is just as I told her a short while ago. 
    1.73 +Peoples hearts are hard to predict - even Eriol-kun said so. And 
    1.74 +usually it is hardest to understand your own heart.
    1.75 +	But back to what happened. Since Sakura was expected to come to 
    1.76 +her realization a little late, I went and called her early. That was 
    1.77 +when the first odd thing happened. I was actually going to tell her 
    1.78 +about where she could find Li-kun but instead I only reached her 
    1.79 +brother and Touya told me that she was already out...
    1.80 +	Going back to practice, I had pretty much shrugged it off and 
    1.81 +told myself that it didn't matter. If she managed on her own, all the 
    1.82 +better, even though I would have liked to help. All I ever wanted to 
    1.83 +be was a part of Sakura's life. Before Li-kun came along I used to 
    1.84 +entertain the hope that maybe in the future, when her crush on Yukito 
    1.85 +passed and we were both older, I might actually seize my chance and 
    1.86 +tell her. But it became apparent that Sakura and Syaoran were meant 
    1.87 +for each other and developed feelings that both were reluctant to 
    1.88 +realize and admit to. But that day, when I thought for sure that it 
    1.89 +would be Syaoran she would ultimately choose as her special person, I 
    1.90 +had to realize that with all that I deemed to know about Sakura, a 
    1.91 +person can neither predict someone's else hearts accordingly. I 
    1.92 +learned that sometimes if you think you know someone else's heart, you 
    1.93 +might end up surprised.
    1.94 +	Back to events. It was near the end of our next practice session 
    1.95 +that I noticed someone watching me. You know that prickling feeling at 
    1.96 +the base of your neck? It got stronger and stronger and it filled me 
    1.97 +with almost giddy anticipation although I couldn't fathom why. I had 
    1.98 +ignored it for awhile, concentrating on the practice. However, it 
    1.99 +became too much and I finally glanced towards the entrance and there 
   1.100 +was Sakura.
   1.101 +	I was so totally baffled I almost missed the next several notes. 
   1.102 +I would have bet all my insurance - and that is after all plenty - 
   1.103 +that she would have been with Li-kun at that moment. It was about the 
   1.104 +time when his bus left for the airport after all... I don't think 
   1.105 +Sakura ever managed to confuse like this before. I thought I knew my 
   1.106 +best friend and secret love so well but her appearance had totally 
   1.107 +thrown my belief for a loop.
   1.108 +	But that was not the only surprise I should get. Approaching her 
   1.109 +in the pause, I immediately realized that something was different 
   1.110 +about her. Outwardly she seemed to be the same person but inside there 
   1.111 +was something so completely different that it startled me for a 
   1.112 +moment. I briefly entertained the notion that it might be Mirror or 
   1.113 +Illusion but was pretty sure that I would notice that. It was still 
   1.114 +Sakura, just... different... somehow.
   1.115 +	Then Sakura told me she saw Syaoran off - as expected - and 
   1.116 +confessed that she does love him. I couldn't help but feel a little 
   1.117 +disappointed for a brief moment. When I saw her standing there, I 
   1.118 +hadn't been able to help the thought, the hope that maybe... But that 
   1.119 +was crazy, illogical, Sakura and Syaoran were meant for each other and 
   1.120 +Sakura would be happy with him... Or so I immediately told myself 
   1.121 +again.
   1.122 +	That was when Sakura really shocked me. While she loves Syaoran, 
   1.123 +there is a person that she loves equally but who needs her more. 
   1.124 +Syaoran isn't necessary to give her life meaning and neither is she 
   1.125 +for Syaoran's life. That is how she put it. Then she told me she 
   1.126 +couldn't live without me, though, and asked me if I could live without 
   1.127 +her.
   1.128 +	Of course the question was silly, needed no answer and I believe 
   1.129 +Sakura had not expected one. But when her words finally sank in... I 
   1.130 +can't describe how I feel because I'm not sure if there are words 
   1.131 +existing in any written or spoken language that properly can describe 
   1.132 +my feelings in that moment and the ones that followed. I barely 
   1.133 +managed to find my voice in order to respond, asking what exactly she 
   1.134 +meant by that. Of course, the question was rhetorical. That spark of 
   1.135 +hope at seeing Sakura standing there, watching me sing, had exploded 
   1.136 +from a tiny star into a full-fledged super nova. The meaning of her 
   1.137 +words had been all too clear, yet the emotions suddenly welling up 
   1.138 +from deep inside me were overwhelming and hindered my thought process 
   1.139 +a lot.
   1.140 +	Sakura told me she wants me - ME - to be her special person and 
   1.141 +gave me a teddy bear.
   1.142 +	God, I was sure my heart would stop beating right there, frozen 
   1.143 +in this moment of perfect bliss.
   1.144 +	But it didn't, thankfully, because I would surely have regretted 
   1.145 +if it did. Hearing these three words from Sakura, spoken honestly and 
   1.146 +with clear conviction behind them was a gift I would cherish forever. 
   1.147 +Oh, how I had longed for this moment. It hadn't mattered right then 
   1.148 +that Sakura might be a little different and it still doesn't matter. 
   1.149 +Nothing really mattered then and right now. Okaasan says I am 
   1.150 +"deliriously happy" nowadays. But who can forbid me that? Sakura loves 
   1.151 +me as much as I love her. Her beautiful, kind heart has chosen me to 
   1.152 +claim that special place only reserved for one person. How can I not 
   1.153 +be "deliriously happy" then?
   1.154 +	It had been only later in the day that I found out exactly what 
   1.155 +had made Sakura change her mind and what is so different about her. 
   1.156 +The experience was quite shocking itself. Apparently Sakura had been 
   1.157 +traveling back in time by capturing a hidden Clow Card. She hasn't 
   1.158 +told me any details about the future she left yet and I won't pry. It 
   1.159 +is painfully obvious that whatever dire reason she had for this 
   1.160 +action, whatever had happened in the future, saddened her. It is in 
   1.161 +her eyes. When she thinks I'm not watching her - what I do most of the 
   1.162 +time anyway. There is something...haunted there. It pains me to know 
   1.163 +that my dearest Sakura had to go through such hardships in her time 
   1.164 +and would give everything to know how to take that pain away. But I 
   1.165 +will let her decide when she wants to tell me everything. For now what 
   1.166 +she told me that day at choir practice turns out to be the truth. She 
   1.167 +is beginning to be happy, more her old self again. I can tell it will 
   1.168 +be a long path though and by now everyone close to Sakura has noticed 
   1.169 +some changes but only a few seem concerned. Sakura told me that she 
   1.170 +could be happy now that she is with me. And she is happy. Genuinely 
   1.171 +happy. And I am the one that makes her happy!
   1.172 +	So, what does that mean for this diary? Well, it is not going to 
   1.173 +be solely dedicated to my beloved anymore. Now that she has proposed 
   1.174 +to share her life with me, I will make this diary a dedication to OUR 
   1.175 +relationship. OUR. I still can hardly believe all this and if you ask 
   1.176 +me now about my exact thoughts, I think I am still not ready to form 
   1.177 +any remotely coherent ones.
   1.178 +	It is becoming late, I will write in here some more at a later 
   1.179 +point.
   1.180 +
   1.181 +******************************
   1.182 +
   1.183 +May 6, 1994
   1.184 +
   1.185 +	Yes, I've said I write earlier but a lot of things happened. 
   1.186 +Well, not that much but more like what happened has kept us very busy. 
   1.187 +While I never was opposed to the idea of coming out I am surprised at 
   1.188 +how fast it is happening. Interestingly neither Sakura's family nor my 
   1.189 +mother were really surprised at finding out Sakura had chosen me 
   1.190 +instead of Li-kun. I suspected at much but it still manages to make me 
   1.191 +happy. The least I wished was to cause Sakura any more trouble. It is 
   1.192 +apparently hard enough for her to deal with her time travel... aside 
   1.193 +from complaining about having to go back to school and learn all that 
   1.194 +boring stuff again! (she's so cute when she pouts!). No, the 
   1.195 +transition seems not to be an easy one, especially on an emotional 
   1.196 +level. Sakura is almost clingy ever since confessing to me. Not that I 
   1.197 +mind, definitely not. But it worries me. It's almost like she expects 
   1.198 +me to disappear any moment. By now, even without her telling me, I 
   1.199 +become firmed in my belief that whatever happened in her time must 
   1.200 +have included my and probably the others' deaths as well. My heart 
   1.201 +aches at how much pain I sometimes seem in her eyes and since we are 
   1.202 +sleeping over a lot I have woken more than once finding Sakura shaking 
   1.203 +with a nightmare. I wish I could take them all away but that's one 
   1.204 +thing I can't do. All there is left for me is to be there for the one 
   1.205 +girl I love and help her forget about the trauma that has driven her 
   1.206 +here and into my waiting arms.
   1.207 +	Mind you, that sounds like she's a frightened wreck but that 
   1.208 +isn't the impression I want to give you. Those moments are rare and 
   1.209 +mostly private. Sakura is most comfortably opening up to me and that 
   1.210 +display of trust makes me love her even more... if that is even 
   1.211 +possible. Yet, the change is becoming obvious to anyone close to 
   1.212 +Sakura. As much as she tries to "act her age", this Sakura IS far more 
   1.213 +mature and the weight of her heavy past (or future, whatever way you 
   1.214 +want to look at it) doesn't allow her to completely fall back into her 
   1.215 +innocent self.
   1.216 +	Do I love her less because of that? If you know me, you 
   1.217 +shouldn't even be asking that question. Even if she's older mentally 
   1.218 +and far from the innocent cheerleader that managed to capture my heart 
   1.219 +within a second of meeting her, she is still Sakura. There is 
   1.220 +something unique about her. Actually, there are many things unique 
   1.221 +about her. Like her big heart that seems to be big enough to include 
   1.222 +anyone who wants to have a part of it... and even those who don't. Or 
   1.223 +her fierce determination when she gets an idea in her head. Right now 
   1.224 +I am experiencing a whole new dimension of that determination all 
   1.225 +focused on me. It often leaves me overwhelmed thinking alone that 
   1.226 +Sakura's genki spirit will now always be focused on me and my needs. 
   1.227 +She's constantly getting me things, asking me what I want to do when 
   1.228 +all I really need is her. But Sakura is persistent about making me as 
   1.229 +happy as possible. And I am as happy as possible. Really, I am.
   1.230 +	It appears I have come a little off topic. I was talking about 
   1.231 +her families reaction. Quite frankly if there had been any surprise, 
   1.232 +it would have been on my part if they actually had been surprised. 
   1.233 +Touya-san is always so observant and looks out for his sister. He 
   1.234 +never liked Syaoran much for some reason. I always thought it might be 
   1.235 +that on some level he wanted to keep Sakura close to him. Sometimes I 
   1.236 +wish I had such a protective brother. However, he seemed rather 
   1.237 +pleased after admitting to our relationship.
   1.238 +	Sakura's father, Fujitaka, didn't seem overly surprised either. 
   1.239 +He just smiled and said he is happy for us and that we will surely 
   1.240 +take good care of each other. I suppose since he experienced the 
   1.241 +affection between his wife and my mother, it must have been rather 
   1.242 +hard even for me to hide my feelings - not that I tried very hard. 
   1.243 +Both he and Sakura's brother seemed just a little surprised at the 
   1.244 +suddenness though. Especially since it had been apparent lately that 
   1.245 +Sakura would choose Li-kun... Neither of them asked about this though 
   1.246 +or about Sakura's weird mood (she is a lot quieter these days).
   1.247 +	Anyway, that leaves my mother. Well, Sakura is almost scared of 
   1.248 +her now, I think. About the way she's going on about how happy she is 
   1.249 +that we are in love and that we make such an adorable couple. Of 
   1.250 +course, her older mind must have figured out what happened between her 
   1.251 +and Nadeshiko by now but I must admit even I find my mother a little 
   1.252 +intimidating at times when she speaks about her late love (especially 
   1.253 +in association with Sakura's father)... and Okaasan is practically as 
   1.254 +fond of Sakura as she is/was of her own mother.
   1.255 +	Our families aren't the only ones that know though. Sakura's 
   1.256 +public confession at choir was clear enough. Even if not everyone 
   1.257 +heard what was said, within the days talk around school had managed to 
   1.258 +make it pretty much clear to anyone. Rika, Chiharu and Naoko seemed a 
   1.259 +little surprised but otherwise were more or less alright with it. I 
   1.260 +think they are more baffled that Sakura's scores have become as high 
   1.261 +as mine and Rika's...
   1.262 +	Apart from that everything is fine. We cannot complain, despite 
   1.263 +all those little things. I am sure, given time, Sakura will get over 
   1.264 +her experiences and settle into her new life. It still warms my heart 
   1.265 +to think that she felt obligated enough to choose me for that purpose 
   1.266 +and not Syaoran. I don't doubt her one minute when she says she really 
   1.267 +loves me. It's obvious in every action lately, there is no way someone 
   1.268 +can play that. Besides, Sakura has always been a very honest person, I 
   1.269 +am sure she wouldn't lie to me - or anyone - about such an important 
   1.270 +matter. No, Sakura and I are happy and I intend to keep it that way, 
   1.271 +forever if Sakura wants me to.
   1.272 +
   1.273 +******************************
   1.274 +
   1.275 +May 20, 1994
   1.276 +
   1.277 +	We had our first real date today and it was a glorious event! We 
   1.278 +hadn't had found time to actually do something like this until now. 
   1.279 +Okay, if you read this you might say that we are just eleven... Normal 
   1.280 +kids don't have dates at this age. True, I suppose. The thing is I am 
   1.281 +quite aware of some of the other kids at school saying how mature I 
   1.282 +often act and I won't argue with them there if they'd ever directly 
   1.283 +ask me. That has nothing to do with arrogance. It is more a 
   1.284 +good-natured confidence in my abilities. I have always had an 
   1.285 +excellent learning ability. Okaasan says that sometimes she thinks I 
   1.286 +have some sort of eidetic memory. I wouldn't go so far since then I 
   1.287 +doubt I would have to study at all for some subjects. No, I have 
   1.288 +always liked learning new things and ever since meeting Sakura I 
   1.289 +wanted to learn even more to help this magnificent creature through 
   1.290 +life. I realized quickly back then that for all her enigmatic 
   1.291 +abilities she was often a tad bit... naïve (I really don't like that 
   1.292 +word) and would need guidance in some areas and in others would need 
   1.293 +to be sheltered. Like a beautiful but fragile flower that will die 
   1.294 +quickly if not constantly kept in the right environment.
   1.295 +	To shorten all that. I guess I have always been a little 
   1.296 +precocious.
   1.297 +	As for Sakura. Well, she isn't the innocent girl anymore anyone 
   1.298 +knew. The other children have more or less gotten used to it but they 
   1.299 +seem a little... "weird out" to quote Sakura herself. That was to be 
   1.300 +expected too, though. No, given that in her mind Sakura was already 
   1.301 +seven years older than me, I believe you can grant her the right to go 
   1.302 +out on dates, right? I think she's having a harder time with some 
   1.303 +things about being little again than she lets on. I mean, I can hardly 
   1.304 +begin to comprehend what it has to feel like, suddenly being younger 
   1.305 +again, with a full recollection of being almost an adult. Must be 
   1.306 +really weird. I am helping her as much as I can and am amazed again 
   1.307 +and again every day at Sakura's ability to let her self be loved but 
   1.308 +also at giving back this love. I have never felt so... important 
   1.309 +before in my life. Why it is true that I am probably one of the 
   1.310 +smartest girls in my age class - Sakura not withstanding (but she has 
   1.311 +seven years in advance of me, technically) -, I can hardly say that I 
   1.312 +had much friends or other such social contact outside of occasional 
   1.313 +choir practice before coming to Tomoeda and meeting Sakura.
   1.314 +	Meeting Sakura has been a blessing and that is why I will be 
   1.315 +eternally grateful and why I would never dream of rejecting her just 
   1.316 +because she's... different now. My love is hers forever and always. 
   1.317 +After all Rika-san is seeing someone older too (I have a suspicion 
   1.318 +Sakura knows from the looks she gives her sometimes but she won't 
   1.319 +tell), so why should it be different for me? Sakura is still Sakura. 
   1.320 +Seven years of life experience and maturity have not really destroyed 
   1.321 +what I love about her. Certainly not. There is a lot of sadness and 
   1.322 +pain but it is dulling, I can tell, and that is bound to have some 
   1.323 +effects on her personality. Like she's quieter, calmer, more serious. 
   1.324 +However, I have witnessed enough moments already that show that Sakura 
   1.325 +is still able to let go and simply enjoy the moment.
   1.326 +	No, I won't... I can't love her any less. This is all a part of 
   1.327 +Sakura now. Besides, the new level of maturity doesn't only have 
   1.328 +negative effects. At times I actually find myself liking the older 
   1.329 +Sakura a little more since we are now able to communicate on a higher 
   1.330 +level. Not that she's suddenly become a genius but she certainly does 
   1.331 +know a lot more about life in general as the Sakura before the fateful 
   1.332 +day at choir practice. I will forever cherish her innocent self, yet I 
   1.333 +know it is not completely lost. In time I am sure she will be a lot 
   1.334 +like the old Sakura again. I'll take her any way she wants to be, that 
   1.335 +is for sure.
   1.336 +	But I've been getting away from the point. I actually wanted to 
   1.337 +talk about the date! You see how much she is affecting me already, 
   1.338 +normally I would not digress from the point that much. Not that I am 
   1.339 +complaining, mind you.
   1.340 +	Anyway, it was very beautiful. We had found ourselves a nice, 
   1.341 +sheltered spot at our all time favorite King Penguin park. It had been 
   1.342 +a warm, sunny day, perfect for a picnic for two (Sakura had to 
   1.343 +literally threaten Kero not sneak in and disturb us). I think I must 
   1.344 +have giggled like a little child with joy when Sakura proceeded to use 
   1.345 +Flower and create a bed of Sakura blossoms for us. It was so 
   1.346 +beautiful, so absolutely perfect!
   1.347 +	We sat there for hours, talking or simply enjoying each others 
   1.348 +company. Sakura seemed to have made it her special duty to make this 
   1.349 +the perfect day for me. I am a little disappointed for not getting 
   1.350 +much to do in return but seeing how happy Sakura was just relaxing, 
   1.351 +being with me, it makes my heart flutter even now. For the first time 
   1.352 +since her time travel I think I finally saw her completely at peace. 
   1.353 +This is a very precious memory to me.
   1.354 +	And then, as evening drew closer, Sakura somehow managed to find 
   1.355 +the perfect ending. I still can't believe she did that! It was all so 
   1.356 +amazing. I hadn't suspected anything when Sakura told me I had to hold 
   1.357 +tight onto her so that she could show me a special gift. Needing no 
   1.358 +reason to not comply with such a thrilling request, I was caught a 
   1.359 +little off guard than Sakura called for Fly. I had never thought she 
   1.360 +could carry me! (at least not that long) It was a little bit of a 
   1.361 +strain for her, I could tell, but she managed. And if the sheer 
   1.362 +excitement of being carried through the late evening sky hadn't been 
   1.363 +enough, just guess where she set us down!
   1.364 +	At the top of Tokyo Tower!
   1.365 +	We sat there for almost an hour, watching the sunset. It was a 
   1.366 +moment straight out of a picture... or maybe more like a famous 
   1.367 +painting. Oh yes, it was a little cold up there but I hardly minded. 
   1.368 +Not to mention that Sakura seemed to have the presence of mind to keep 
   1.369 +up a little fire magic all the time (she really has gotten A LOT 
   1.370 +better).
   1.371 +	Once again I am not sure I can describe what exactly went 
   1.372 +through me when, close to the end, Sakura whispered to me an 
   1.373 +"Aishiteru" in a voice thick with emotion and followed that up with a 
   1.374 +short but sensual kiss. There is too much that is still waging inside 
   1.375 +of me like a hurricane and it is all too jumbled to put into words, 
   1.376 +nor would words do any of it justice. However, I can tell you for sure 
   1.377 +that if Sakura hadn't held me tightly the whole time, I am sure I 
   1.378 +would have fallen off the support beam we had settled on.
   1.379 +	I am still so... thrilled! I have been trying to get to sleep 
   1.380 +for almost an hour now to no avail, so I decided to sit down and write 
   1.381 +all this down now rather than tomorrow. However, I am still much too 
   1.382 +excited. I wonder if I get any sleep tonight at all! Sakura is really 
   1.383 +an unique experience and it gets even more special than you are the 
   1.384 +single-most focus of her attention!
   1.385 +	Dear Diary, I really AM the happiest girl in the world!
   1.386 +
   1.387 +******************************
   1.388 +
   1.389 +April 5, 1997
   1.390 +
   1.391 +	It's been a long time since I wrote in here. Almost three years.
   1.392 +	Oops.
   1.393 +	I guess life has simply been too good for me to write down 
   1.394 +anything. I have my tapes after all and all those wonderful memories 
   1.395 +of three wonderful years with Sakura so far which are far more worth 
   1.396 +than any recorded pictures could ever be. I can hardly believe it's 
   1.397 +been that long. We are both in our second year of Junior High now. I 
   1.398 +could tell you so many things now but I think I'd be sitting here all 
   1.399 +night. Well, it's Friday but still...
   1.400 +	Oh, who am I kidding? There is a reason after all I actually 
   1.401 +remembered having that diary, I thought writing in here again would 
   1.402 +actually help me calm my mind and get things into the right 
   1.403 +perspective. You see, Sakura and I have reached a phase of our 
   1.404 +relationship that probably has to come for any couple one time or 
   1.405 +another. We had our first big fight just five days ago. God, I feel so 
   1.406 +horrible. It was so dumb and unnecessary and... I just... don't know 
   1.407 +what's gotten into me.
   1.408 +	Maybe I should start from the beginning. I'm not sure where the 
   1.409 +tension really began to build up but I believe it might have been 
   1.410 +since we entered Junior High. There were just slight nuisances, 
   1.411 +beginnings of something that seemed to bother Sakura greatly. Tomoeda 
   1.412 +Junior High is a little different than the Elementary School... or it 
   1.413 +is VERY different may be a better way to describe it. The teachers are 
   1.414 +very strict as is the headmaster, the school prides itself with its 
   1.415 +good image and tradition. That posed to be a problem for us. Back in 
   1.416 +Elementary School everyone more or less took us for granted. We were 
   1.417 +THE couple, really. Everyone found it cute and romantic that we were 
   1.418 +together... well, mostly everyone. Now, now we have to be extremely 
   1.419 +careful around whom we can trust to show feelings for the other that 
   1.420 +are more than friendship. Within the first weeks at Tomoeda Junior 
   1.421 +High we learned the hard way that Japanese society might tolerate a 
   1.422 +cute crush between two young girls but if they turn out to be two 
   1.423 +maturing young teenagers who openly show their love for each other, 
   1.424 +then the alarm bells are ringing in some people's heads. It is a good 
   1.425 +thing our families stand behind us and support our relationship 
   1.426 +despite some of the harsh treatment we had to endure at the beginning. 
   1.427 +I swear Okaasan was ready to sue the school, Touya-oniisan right 
   1.428 +behind her.
   1.429 +	Things settled down eventually and the initial uproar has blown 
   1.430 +over. Most people know about us but choose to ignore it. There are 
   1.431 +some rare people who actually try to support us - if not officially 
   1.432 +than at least in small actions (for example: giving leeway in the way 
   1.433 +of discipline or maybe giving a higher grade when one of us was 
   1.434 +in-between). So, not all people there are traditional man in business 
   1.435 +suits who'd rather improve their self-image than care for their 
   1.436 +students, but a lot of them are. And not only once had we played with 
   1.437 +the tempting thought of transfer. There were enough - more modern and 
   1.438 +open-minded - schools in the area and both of us were smart enough; 
   1.439 +money wasn't an issue either.
   1.440 +	I think it's a bit of defiance probably. Not too mention all of 
   1.441 +our friends are there, even Rika who really could have gotten into a 
   1.442 +better school. But I can understand her well enough after finally 
   1.443 +figuring out that she is seeing Terada-sensei (who had - not so 
   1.444 +surprisingly - also transferred to Junior High, leaving me wondering 
   1.445 +if Rika followed him or he followed her!). That was a bit of a shock 
   1.446 +at first but at the moment I guess we are sitting in the same boat, 
   1.447 +sort of, and neither of us is keen on budging. Society can be cruel 
   1.448 +sometimes, especially the traditional-bound Japanese one. While 
   1.449 +Western influences had lessened that, there still were a lot of old 
   1.450 +families with a lot of influence.
   1.451 +	But enough about that. It has little do with the current dilemma 
   1.452 +since most of the drama had been in the beginning. I just mentioned it 
   1.453 +because some of it might have affected Sakura more than I initially 
   1.454 +thought. Why I still can't fathom but... Well, I hoped it would make 
   1.455 +more sense writing it down, however, it seems I am back to where I 
   1.456 +started from.
   1.457 +	The confrontation had been coming a long way, I guess, and yet I 
   1.458 +felt so terrible about it. I had noticed that Sakura is spending more 
   1.459 +and more time by herself, only with Kerberos (and I think Yue too but 
   1.460 +I can't be sure). I tried to talk to her about it but she's always 
   1.461 +saying the same thing. "I'm fine, Tomo-chan, don't worry about me." 
   1.462 +Somehow this feels a little like déjà vu. I used to say things like 
   1.463 +that often when we were just innocent children. It irked me a little 
   1.464 +but nevertheless I respected Sakura's privacy. She is after all a lot 
   1.465 +older than me (in her mind at least) and sometimes she just gets 
   1.466 +frustrated with being young again. You would think it'd be a blessing 
   1.467 +for anyone, yet living it is probably a lot different, I guess. She 
   1.468 +won't tell me much about it... or everything concerning the time 
   1.469 +travel that brought her ultimately into my arms. Which brings us back 
   1.470 +to the root of the problem.
   1.471 +	At first I could ignore all of this, believing it must be too 
   1.472 +painful to remember or to talk about and Sakura doesn't want to worry 
   1.473 +me. Then, about half a year ago, a little after my fourteenth 
   1.474 +birthday, she started to spend all those hours alone in her room at 
   1.475 +her house (where she barely ever is anymore, at least not alone). I am 
   1.476 +pretty sure it has something to do with the cards and in this regard 
   1.477 +probably with Time. I remember that Kero lectured Sakura again and 
   1.478 +again about consequences for capturing and using Time but my 
   1.479 +girlfriend never seemed to be overly concerned. And, as I said 
   1.480 +already, she won't tell me any details whenever I ask.
   1.481 +	Everything came to a climax at the beginning of the week. It was 
   1.482 +April 1, start of the new grade and Sakura's birthday. I had spent 
   1.483 +practically the whole weekend preparing a special treatment just for 
   1.484 +my special girlfriend. I had hoped that would help relax her a little 
   1.485 +and maybe she'd open up to me. Not that I would have pressed.
   1.486 +	I had everything set, Okaasan was on a business trip and I had 
   1.487 +sent most of the serving stuff home. I told Sakura to come over after 
   1.488 +her club practice (she's still doing cheerleading but most of it 
   1.489 +half-heartedly, she actually has joined the Choir club so that we 
   1.490 +could spent even more time together). And so I sat there, alone in the 
   1.491 +big house and waited for Sakura.
   1.492 +	Sakura didn't come.
   1.493 +	At first I became worried that something might have happened so 
   1.494 +I called her on our private phones, only to discover that Sakura had 
   1.495 +turned off hers, something I discovered she was almost always doing 
   1.496 +when working with the cards. I considered going over and looking for 
   1.497 +myself but something in me was rebelling and refused to just chase 
   1.498 +after my errand girlfriend. A feeling rather new and unusual for me. I 
   1.499 +usually tended to defend Sakura's actions even if I should by all 
   1.500 +standards be angry with some. For me Sakura's happiness had always 
   1.501 +been valued higher than anyone else's - including my own. Ironically 
   1.502 +enough, thinking about it now, the anger might be a result of Sakura's 
   1.503 +own doing. The brunette was so adamant about our relationship that she 
   1.504 +had practically made me speak my mind more often, whenever something 
   1.505 +is bothering me or I just need to talk to her, she made it very clear, 
   1.506 +that she will always be there for me, insisting for me to confide in 
   1.507 +her always.
   1.508 +	I was still worried but I knew that if something happened to 
   1.509 +Sakura I would know it. I had known in my heart if she was in danger. 
   1.510 +Besides, she'd never turn off that phone other than for her magical 
   1.511 +studies that she was so secretive about. So I waited, and Sakura 
   1.512 +didn't come.
   1.513 +	Next morning I confronted her before school. Turns out she 
   1.514 +"forgot"! She forgot about her own private birthday party with her 
   1.515 +girlfriend?! I might have bought that from the innocent ten-year old 
   1.516 +before the whole time travel incident but not from her, not now. And 
   1.517 +then she had the audacity to brush me off with a feeble apology that 
   1.518 +she "is not feeling well".
   1.519 +	To quote Sakura: Hoe?
   1.520 +	Sakura doesn't just simply feel "not well". My girlfriend is the 
   1.521 +healthiest girl I know, really. She's so full of energy that she's 
   1.522 +almost bursting most of the time. While it has been much more reserved 
   1.523 +since her change it is still there. It's something so typical Sakura 
   1.524 +that you can't miss it after having seen it once.
   1.525 +	And what shocked me more and is still puzzling me is that look 
   1.526 +she gave me. Sakura almost seemed scared, not off me, but maybe 
   1.527 +something having to do with me. And that scared me in return. Having 
   1.528 +Sakura look so... lost... and as if the devil was chasing her (I 
   1.529 +really can't describe it any better) was disconcerting to say the 
   1.530 +least.
   1.531 +	All throughout the day and the next morning almost no word had 
   1.532 +been spoken between us. I think that was the longest ever since we've 
   1.533 +been together and not separated by vacation or other things. And I 
   1.534 +swear the whole school seemed to have picked up on it. Even some of 
   1.535 +the teachers who usually loved to focus their attention on us made a 
   1.536 +point not to.
   1.537 +	Tuesday afternoon I finally had enough. I was confused about all 
   1.538 +of this but I was also feeling uncharacteristically angry. I wanted to 
   1.539 +know what was going on. I didn't see what I could have done wrong and 
   1.540 +Sakura would neither speak up on her own or come over as she usually 
   1.541 +did. And that devastating silence was straining my nerves. So then, 
   1.542 +finally, I went over to the Kinomoto house and practically marched 
   1.543 +into her room (the look on Touya's face would have been priceless if I 
   1.544 +hadn't been in such a foul mood).
   1.545 +	I had secretly hoped to find Sakura sitting on her desk, working 
   1.546 +with her cards or something like that. That way I would have at least 
   1.547 +had somewhere to start but that didn't stop or slow me down any. I 
   1.548 +think, analyzing it now, most of my feelings weren't so much anger as 
   1.549 +they were frustration, frustration fueled by worry and the uncertainty 
   1.550 +of what was going on with my girlfriend. She is the most important 
   1.551 +thing in my life and I think I deserve to know what is going on in her 
   1.552 +life. She told me pretty much the same after all. Doesn't she trust me 
   1.553 +with this? I was... still am a little hurt about that. Maybe it's 
   1.554 +unfair to feel like that but I really can't help it at the moment.
   1.555 +	When I told her all that, told her that I wanted to know what 
   1.556 +was going on, why she was shutting me out from her magical studies and 
   1.557 +why she never told me about the future. I wanted to know, even if it 
   1.558 +might not be pleasant. I am sure she was trying to protect me in some 
   1.559 +way and I am grateful for that, but I am also still her girlfriend and 
   1.560 +couldn't just stand by letting Sakura worry herself all on her own.
   1.561 +	I am still mulling over her response. Sakura actually apologized 
   1.562 +for being so absent lately and that she was doing very important 
   1.563 +things that had to be taken care off. And that there were some things 
   1.564 +she couldn't tell me yet... I swear I could hear the "I tell you if 
   1.565 +you are older" behind the words (again déjà vu) and that really leaves 
   1.566 +me puzzled. Sakura rarely makes comments likes that or treats anyone 
   1.567 +as if she is really those seven years older. And it's not just an act 
   1.568 +but rather genuine from what I can tell.
   1.569 +	Before I could come up with any sort of response she had gently 
   1.570 +but persistently made me leave, saying she had some things to do, 
   1.571 +alone, and that right now she couldn't be distracted. And THAT really 
   1.572 +hurt. It felt like Sakura was purposefully trying to put distance 
   1.573 +between us. As if she was afraid that something might happen if we 
   1.574 +were too close right now.
   1.575 +	I have the very distinct feeling that I am missing something 
   1.576 +obvious here but I just can't put my finger on it.
   1.577 +	This had been about three days ago and apart from sporadic talk 
   1.578 +in school, there had been a deep wedge between us and I simply felt 
   1.579 +terrible about it. Logically seen there was no reason for me to feel 
   1.580 +at fault but this state was becoming unbearable. Being so close to my 
   1.581 +one and true love and yet so far away... I feel like I am going to 
   1.582 +explode any moment now!
   1.583 +	No, I didn't really feel at fault. However, I felt extremely 
   1.584 +worried and a little ashamed at my reaction. After all everyone had 
   1.585 +their secrets, so why should Sakura be an exception. How could I know 
   1.586 +that with my intense reaction I might have even made it worse than it 
   1.587 +actually was? Also she had sacrificed so much by traveling back in 
   1.588 +time, she gave up Syaoran to be with me. I should by all means be 
   1.589 +thankful.
   1.590 +	Yet, the fact remained that I was worried. For Sakura and for 
   1.591 +us. I feel very lucky to have such a fierce protector, nevertheless 
   1.592 +this had reached a point where I felt utterly excluded from things. 
   1.593 +Doesn't she understand that seeing her worried and in pain, pains me 
   1.594 +equally? How can she expect by shutting me out not to make me worry? I 
   1.595 +have to know what is going on and I will...
   1.596 +	Yes, my decision is made. Tomorrow I will go over and find out 
   1.597 +what all this is about. I might not like it but that should be for me 
   1.598 +to decide. I wanted my girlfriend back, all the pros and cons about 
   1.599 +her, nothing less. I will apologize for being so angry but I will also 
   1.600 +make sure that she knows that I am worried about her and that all I 
   1.601 +want to do is help her. We have always been together through so many 
   1.602 +things. The school problems at the beginning of last year hadn't 
   1.603 +managed to drive a wedge between us, so I won't let this thing 
   1.604 +(whatever it is) either. Sakura has to realize that and I will make 
   1.605 +her realize it!
   1.606 +	Reading back over that last paragraph, I think I sound rather 
   1.607 +scary... Hah, I feel a lot better now. Tomorrow I will make sure to 
   1.608 +fix whatever is burdening our relationship or at least to share that 
   1.609 +burden with Sakura. Thanks, Diary, sometimes it's nice to have 
   1.610 +somewhere to write all this down and analyze your thoughts. That 
   1.611 +really helped me today.
   1.612 +
   1.613 +******************************
   1.614 +
   1.615 +April 7, 1997
   1.616 +
   1.617 +	Some time ago, someone - I am not sure who - said to me that too 
   1.618 +much wisdom, too much knowledge poisons the mind. It sounded like the 
   1.619 +words of a wise man then and even more so now. I wonder if I would 
   1.620 +have been better off listening to them...
   1.621 +	Okay, that sounds very gloomy. There is enough motivation for 
   1.622 +that though. Thinking my dearest Sakura had to go through all... 
   1.623 +this... terrible... things. I had wanted to know. Now I knew and I 
   1.624 +feel a certain numbness and a deep sadness coming from that knowledge.
   1.625 +	But I am not making much sense to you, do I? So I better start 
   1.626 +from the beginning.
   1.627 +	My decision made I had wanted to go over early to Sakura and 
   1.628 +make her tell me about all that bothered her lately. That is where I 
   1.629 +got my first surprise, finding the demure and rather meek-looking 
   1.630 +brunette at my doorstep, appearing for all it was worth like a 
   1.631 +chastened child. I immediately felt sick in my heart, knowing that I 
   1.632 +was probably one of the main reasons for her state. After writing my 
   1.633 +thoughts down, I had lain awake for some time, regret beginning to 
   1.634 +plague me. Regret for some of the harsh words traded and the 
   1.635 +accusation I had so blindly uttered. I knew that something was 
   1.636 +troubling Sakura and that she just wanted to shield me from it. 
   1.637 +Certainly I hadn't done her a favor with my explosion of temper, as 
   1.638 +rare as it was.
   1.639 +	Therefore I was quick to assure her that I wasn't at all angry 
   1.640 +with her anymore when she practically begged for forgiveness. I felt 
   1.641 +so terrible that moment, seeing her so lost and obviously torn inside. 
   1.642 +How could I have ever even thought that she doesn't trust me? The 
   1.643 +appearance she gave yesterday morning spoke more than the revelation 
   1.644 +of any secret how devoted she is to me, how much she depends on my 
   1.645 +presence and love.
   1.646 +	After we had calmed down a little, Sakura asked me if I still 
   1.647 +wanted to know. She revealed that it might not make a difference 
   1.648 +anymore soon and she probably couldn't shield me from what was to 
   1.649 +come. As gentle as possible I made her see that I wanted to know 
   1.650 +EVERYTHING that was going on in her life. We were a couple, and 
   1.651 +couples share such things, they share everything. We were so close 
   1.652 +already and despite feeling like dirt at the moment, I hated to not 
   1.653 +being able to care for my Sakura properly, not knowing what it was 
   1.654 +that bothered her.
   1.655 +	Sakura just smiled at me a little sadly but with more fondness 
   1.656 +and love I had seen her do in a long while. And then she told me. 
   1.657 +Kami, yes, she told me... everything! I sat there just listening, numb 
   1.658 +with shock over some of the things that were revealed to me that very 
   1.659 +moment.
   1.660 +	I am not sure I should write all this down, I am not sure I even 
   1.661 +can. However, I feel that if someone ever reads this, they deserve to 
   1.662 +know about what that innocent, gentle creature had to go through, what 
   1.663 +kind of future she left behind by risking so much to come here and set 
   1.664 +things right. Set things right mostly for me. I don't think I really 
   1.665 +deserve that, I feel insignificant compared to Sakura's big heart. She 
   1.666 +had made clear to me that what she did wasn't done primarily in order 
   1.667 +to save the world from the terrible future she had witnessed but in 
   1.668 +the first place it was because of me. Her wish while confronting Time 
   1.669 +wasn't about setting things right for the world, that had only been in 
   1.670 +the back of her mind. Her sole motivation was for me and the love she 
   1.671 +felt she owed me. It's all so amazing and hard to believe, how can I 
   1.672 +even hope to compare to that with my meager devotion?
   1.673 +	Still, I wanted to tell you of what happened in that future 
   1.674 +Sakura left and might as well do so. Everything started out as 
   1.675 +normally as you may expect. Sakura and Syaoran were happy. All three 
   1.676 +of us had stuck together all the way up to and through High School. It 
   1.677 +was after graduation that IT happened. No one on Earth at that time 
   1.678 +truly knew what exactly caused it, where the malevolent creature came 
   1.679 +from. However, when She began to emerge and reign terror on the cities 
   1.680 +of the planet it was like the very definition of hell, many brave 
   1.681 +warriors and magicians fell to Her infinite seeming power. In the 
   1.682 +matter of a few month the world became a place darker than night, 
   1.683 +filled with death and despair.
   1.684 +	In Greek mythology there is a tale about a box that the first 
   1.685 +woman on Earth opened because she was curious. This box harbored all 
   1.686 +of the humanity's darker emotion. Fear, jealousy, hate, greed, bigotry 
   1.687 +(you can continue that list endlessly). The woman was named Pandora 
   1.688 +and the box had become known as Pandora's Box. I am not sure whether 
   1.689 +it is a coincidence, a connection or just the perverted humor of fate 
   1.690 +but the creature that had wrecked havoc in Sakura's future had been 
   1.691 +aptly named Pandora as well.
   1.692 +	The little Sakura described about her still sent shivers down my 
   1.693 +spine, thinking about the emotions alone I saw in her normally vivid 
   1.694 +and cheerful eyes and heard in her soft, whispered tones. Fear. There 
   1.695 +was fear. Not anger or loathing or rage at the unbelievable things 
   1.696 +that evil creature had done to her and Earth. Those emotions were 
   1.697 +there too, but they were insignificant compared to the fear and the 
   1.698 +terror emitting from Sakura speaking of her experience. Eriol said 
   1.699 +that Sakura was the strongest mage on Earth now and to just think 
   1.700 +about something or someone evoking such strong reactions from my 
   1.701 +beloved is... unsettling doesn't even begin to describe it.
   1.702 +	Pandora had turned Earth into a world of terror and fear and 
   1.703 +there was no one able to stop her path of destruction. Sakura 
   1.704 +described her as something very old, totally incapable of having 
   1.705 +positive emotion. Her whole being was a reflection, the epitome of any 
   1.706 +dark emotion you could come up with. Her whole purpose was to turn 
   1.707 +everything into oblivion in the most painful, torturous way possible. 
   1.708 +Her powers were so massive that compared to her Sakura's own seemed 
   1.709 +like comparing an ant with an elephant.
   1.710 +	And the worst part is, Sakura steadfastly believes that the same 
   1.711 +thing might happen again very soon if she doesn't do something about 
   1.712 +it in advance.
   1.713 +	That is what she has been doing the last months, using the cards 
   1.714 +to predict the future and possible chances to prevent the fate that 
   1.715 +had befallen her own time from happening here. I cried for Sakura's 
   1.716 +grief at her description at how Pandora had come for her as well and 
   1.717 +how she had to watch first Syaoran's death and then my own. She 
   1.718 +visibly relieved that moment and it was a torturing experience. I 
   1.719 +realized then that it must have been that moment that Sakura finally 
   1.720 +realized my feelings and that still makes me choke back an angry sob. 
   1.721 +That is not how I would have wanted Sakura to find out. I know she was 
   1.722 +caring so much for all those close to her and that she could never 
   1.723 +live with my death. That is why I had sworn to myself that even if 
   1.724 +Sakura ended up with Syaoran and we drifted apart, I wouldn't do 
   1.725 +anything rash and stupid. I know I would just make Sakura sad and hate 
   1.726 +herself and that is a thought I cannot stand.
   1.727 +	I had to hold and reassure her for almost half an hour before 
   1.728 +she managed to calm down. I smoothed the embarrassment Sakura felt at 
   1.729 +having broken down like that immediately, making sure that she knows I 
   1.730 +would and will never do anything like this on purpose. Not that I have 
   1.731 +a reason now but it was very important at that moment to soothe those 
   1.732 +fears.
   1.733 +	I wasn't quite sure what to do or say to soothe her fears about 
   1.734 +Pandora though. Sakura hadn't even done more when describing 
   1.735 +superficially what happened and I can tell where is a lot still left 
   1.736 +untold (which right now really isn't much of a bad thing). Just from 
   1.737 +watching how terrified the usually brave and determined girl was of 
   1.738 +that evil creature put me at a loss for words. What could little, 
   1.739 +unimportant me do after all? All I managed was that weak reminder of 
   1.740 +her magic phrase again. Everything would surely be alright. Yeah sure, 
   1.741 +I am quite sure I had said the same thing in her future and I know now 
   1.742 +that it hadn't helped a tiny bit.
   1.743 +	Thinking along these lines I was rather surprised to find Sakura 
   1.744 +looking at me with a serious expression, a flicker of that 
   1.745 +breathtaking determination in her eyes. Then she said the absolutely 
   1.746 +sweetest thing. That this phrase held little meaning without me there. 
   1.747 +I breathed life into the phrase, gave it a purpose, a direction. That 
   1.748 +as long as I was there that everything WILL always be alright. And 
   1.749 +that because of me and us being together, my love fueling her, pushing 
   1.750 +me onward, she might be able to change the future and make it better 
   1.751 +for us. That is why she had pushed herself so hardly lately, to 
   1.752 +prevent all this from happening. For me.
   1.753 +	ME.
   1.754 +	Wow.
   1.755 +	My expression must have been priceless that moment. But Sakura 
   1.756 +didn't express her obviously humor, just a fond, loving smile, 
   1.757 +followed by a kiss so sensual and utterly devouring I felt like I was 
   1.758 +being sucked right into her. My body is still shaking from the 
   1.759 +feelings coursing through me. I could feel all the pent up 
   1.760 +frustrations of the last months but also all the love she felt for me. 
   1.761 +I realized then that until that moment that as much as I thought I 
   1.762 +knew how lucky I was, how much Sakura loved me and was willing to give 
   1.763 +for me, I never had completely understood.
   1.764 +	I am not sure if we can weather that storm. I really am not as 
   1.765 +much as I wish to fuel myself but... I will have faith in Sakura and 
   1.766 +if she wishes me to be by her side, supporting her as much as I can, 
   1.767 +then I will. I will believe in my angel, my savior. If anyone can do 
   1.768 +it, she can.
   1.769 +
   1.770 +THE END (for now)
   1.771 +
   1.772 +Author's Notes
   1.773 +
   1.774 +Okay, this might seem a little cut off and doesn't explain everything, 
   1.775 +probably only serves to open up more questions. But that was wholly 
   1.776 +intended that way. I think I revealed already more than I wanted at 
   1.777 +that point anyway.
   1.778 +This is going to be part of a bigger project, a background story so to 
   1.779 +say but you can read it as a stand alone as well (I hope). There will 
   1.780 +be one more installment (probably featuring two parts) that will tie 
   1.781 +things up for the background story and Sakura and Tomoyo's 
   1.782 +involvement. Seeing that Maia seems to have a good inspiration streak 
   1.783 +right now, you may see it sooner than you think.
   1.784 +Don't worry Sailormoon fans as I said this will tie into a bigger 
   1.785 +project and you will soon get to see something of it (always assuming 
   1.786 +Maia complies).
   1.787 +
   1.788 +Some things to clear up.
   1.789 +First off, I changed a tiny amount of things in "The Different Path". 
   1.790 +No real revision but more little details that are necessary. I am a 
   1.791 +perfectionist than writing, especially concerning facts like a working 
   1.792 +timeline that makes sense. I realized that the birth year given for 
   1.793 +Tomoyo on her tombstone has actually to be one year earlier or she'll 
   1.794 +end up younger than Sakura. Why this might be possible, it doesn't 
   1.795 +work out for the timeline of the greater project. That's really a