1.1 --- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
     1.2 +++ b/old/stories/ccs_inthemiddle.txt	Fri Feb 19 20:53:12 2010 -0500
     1.3 @@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
     1.4 +In The Middle
     1.5 +by Teresa Kaiju
     1.6 +teresa_kaiju@yahoo.com
     1.7 +
     1.8 +--------------
     1.9 +
    1.10 +"Sakura?"
    1.11 +
    1.12 +"Yes, Shoaoran?"
    1.13 +
    1.14 +"I've come to a decision.  I'm going back to Hong Kong."
    1.15 + 
    1.16 +"Oh.  Okay.  How long are you going to be gone?
    1.17 +
    1.18 +"I'm not coming back."
    1.19 +
    1.20 +"Don't joke about things like that!  It's not funny!"
    1.21 +
    1.22 +"It's not a joke.  I think you will be happier without me."
    1.23 +
    1.24 +"How can you say that?!  I love you!"
    1.25 +
    1.26 +"And I love you.  But it's obvious that I'm just keeping you away from Tomoyo.  I can see that you love her more than you love me." 
    1.27 +
    1.28 +"Tomoyo?  No!   Sure I love her.  But as a friend!  That's all!"
    1.29 +
    1.30 +"No, Sakura.  That's not all.  She is a lot more than just a friend to you.  When you haven't seen her for even a couple of days, your eyes lose their sparkle.  And your voice changes too.  It gets dull and lifeless.  You can't live without her."  Sakura wanted to say this wasn't true, but she knew that she did miss her friend a lot when they were separated.  
    1.31 +
    1.32 +"But Shoaoran!  I don't want to live without you..."
    1.33 +
    1.34 +"And I don't want to live without you.  But I really think that Tomoyo can make you happier than I can.  She loves you so much.  You are the center of her life.  Losing you would kill her.  I can't let that happen.  So I'm going.  Come and visit sometime.  I'm going to miss you a lot, but I will survive."
    1.35 +
    1.36 +********
    1.37 + 
    1.38 +"Sakura.  You said on the phone that Shoaoran left you?  When?  Why?"
    1.39 +
    1.40 +"I got a phone call from him this morning.  He said that I loved you more than I loved him and that you couldn't live without me and he didn't want to take me away from you."
    1.41 +
    1.42 +"That baka!  He loves you as much as anyone could possibly love anyone else.  I'll bet he's really miserable right now."  Sakura was surprised at how angry Tomoyo was.  It was really unusual for her.
    1.43 +
    1.44 +"Well, I miss him too.  So what should I do?"
    1.45 +
    1.46 +"Go to Hong Kong and bring him back.  There is still a week of summer break left.  And I'll go with you just in case you weaken."
    1.47 +
    1.48 +********
    1.49 +
    1.50 +Shoaoran agreed to see the two girls but he was adamant about Sakura staying with Tomoyo.  "But Shoaoran, Sakura is straight.  She needs a guy.  I can't possibly give her what you can!"
    1.51 +
    1.52 +"Have you two done it together?"  Tomoyo was shocked while Sakura had no idea what Shoaoran was talking about.  So she watched quietly while Tomoyo and Shoaoran talked.
    1.53 +
    1.54 +"NO!  We haven't done it.  Why would you ask such a thing?!"
    1.55 +
    1.56 +"Well, don't tell me how straight she is until you've done it. I heard that two girls can have more fun than a girl and a guy."
    1.57 +
    1.58 +"Shoaoran!  I am not about to do anything improper with Sakura.  And that is final!  And I ought to tell your mother about the things you are saying to us."
    1.59 +
    1.60 +"There is no need to tell me.  I heard.  The walls here are very thin and you are both talking very loud.  So how about if I settle this disagreement for you?  I have some magic that will show just how much Sakura loves each of you.  And how much you love her.  Would that be acceptable?"  After some hesitation, all three parties agreed.  
    1.61 +
    1.62 +********
    1.63 +
    1.64 +"The first thing you must remember is that love and sexual attraction are two entirely separate things.  And they are both important.  Thus, I have a test for each.  First we will test Sakura and Shoaoran.  Take one of these little squares of paper and put it in your mouth.  Just keep them on top of your tongue.  Try not to get them too wet.  Now sit here facing each other and take each others hands and hold them.  Now look into each others eyes for a moment and think of how you feel about the other person."  A few seconds later she continued speaking.  "Very good now, Sakura, take your paper and place it where it says "Sakura's love for Shoaoran".  Good.  Now Shoaoran, you put yours where it says Shoaoran's love for Sakura.  Now here is another piece of paper for you Sakura and here is one for you Tomoyo.  Sit and do as Sakura and Shoaoran did." Again there was a pause before she continued.  "Now I would like to try one more test.  Sakura, you can get up.  Shoaoran, you take Sakura's place.  Now here are two more pieces of paper."
    1.65 +
    1.66 +"But why are you doing this?  We aren't a couple?" Shoaoran wanted to know.
    1.67 +
    1.68 +"My own curiosity?  Why would two people who both love Sakura, each be trying to make her pick the other person?  Hum?  Now go ahead and take each others hands and look deep into each others eyes.  Come on, Shoaoran, do it please?  That's better...  Now place yours, Shoaoran, here where it says Shoaoran's love for Tomoyo.  And yours, Tomoyo, goes here of course."
    1.69 +
    1.70 +After the love part of the test was done they all went through the same thing with yellow papers instead of white ones.  
    1.71 +
    1.72 +"There, now that we have all the results, let's look at love first. Unfolding each paper will reveal the result in the form of a red, blue or a mixture of the two colors.  The size, shape and color of the mark appearing on each paper shows the degree, the purity, and to some extent the sort of feelings.  A larger mark generally means a stronger feeling.  A pure red mark signifies pure unselfish love.  Blue indicates possessiveness.  We won't go into other colors, as I don't expect to see them."
    1.73 +
    1.74 +Shoaoran's love for Sakura showed a wide pure red bar straight across the paper.  "A good, very strong, very pure love."  Was Shoaoran's mothers verdict.  Sakura and Tomoyo both nodded as it was just as they expected.
    1.75 +
    1.76 +Sakura's love for Shoaoran looked just about the same.  Also no surprise to anyone.
    1.77 +
    1.78 +Sakura's love for Tomoyo however was a very large red spot that was fuzzy around the edges.  "Ah less clear and direct love, but still very pure and very strong."
    1.79 +
    1.80 +But when she unfolded Tomoyo's love for Sakura, the whole paper was blood red.  "Ah.  This I have never seen before.  I would say that Tomoyo's love for Sakura is very special indeed."
    1.81 +
    1.82 +"See?"  Shoaoran said firmly.  Sakura just stared with her eyes really big.
    1.83 +
    1.84 +The paper for Shoaoran's love for Tomoyo had another pure red bar about two thirds the size his for Sakura.  "Ah, as I suspected.  This would explain why Shoaoran doesn't want to hurt Tomoyo."  Shoaoran just looked at the floor while Tomoyo looked about as surprised as Sakura.  Now let's see how Tomoyo feels about Shoaoran.
    1.85 +
    1.86 +This paper had a red spot, only a little smaller than Sakura's for Tomoyo,  except it had sharp edges.  "And this would explain why Tomoyo was so adamant about Sakura staying with Shoaoran.  She not only didn't want to hurt Sakura but she didn't want to hurt Shoaoran either."  Now it was Tomoyo's turn to look at the floor.  And Shoaoran's turn to look surprised.
    1.87 +
    1.88 +"So it seems we have three people here who all love each other quite a lot.  Now let's check for sexual attraction.  The rules are just about the same." 
    1.89 +
    1.90 +Sakura's attraction for Shoaoran was a very large red spot.  "Ah, an impressive amount of attraction."  Tomoyo smiled while Shoaoran just looked at Sakura who was looking at the floor.
    1.91 +
    1.92 +Shoaoran's attraction for Sakura was a spot about half the size of Sakura's.  "A smaller but still respectable attraction."  Now it was Shoaoran's turn to look at the floor.
    1.93 +
    1.94 +Sakura's attraction for Tomoyo showed a spot about the same size as Shoaoran's for Sakura.  "Ah, that's interesting." Tomoyo looked really shocked while Sakura got really red.
    1.95 +
    1.96 +Tomoyo's attraction for Sakura was a very large red spot, even larger than Sakura's for Shoaoran.  As Tomoyo blushed and Sakura looked shocked, Shoaoran's mother commented.  "You must have a lot of self control, Tomoyo."  But Tomoyo didn't comment.
    1.97 +
    1.98 +Then came Shoaoran's attraction for Tomoyo.  A red spot as large as Sakura's for Shoaoran.  Now Shoaoran was blushing a lot while both Sakura and Tomoyo looked shocked.  "Interesting, but don't be too concerned about this Sakura, remember Love is separate from sex.
    1.99 +
   1.100 +Finally came Tomoyo's attraction for Shoaoran.  A spot about half the size of Sakura's for Tomoyo.  "Small, but not insignificant."  Shoaoran's mother concluded.  "The solution to your problem Sakura is simply to keep both of your loves.  Ordinarily this wouldn't work, but in this case your two loves love each other.  So the relationship should work as a triad.  The three couples can take turns going out, or all three of you can go out together."  Sakura and Tomoyo looked stunned but Shoaoran protested.  
   1.101 +
   1.102 +"Wait a second here!  You say I alternate going out with both of them?"
   1.103 +
   1.104 +Exactly.  And every third time your two girls should go out with each other.
   1.105 +
   1.106 +"That's weird." Shoaoran complained.
   1.107 +
   1.108 +"Perhaps, but I think if you all work at it such an arrangement could make all three of you happy."
   1.109 +
   1.110 +"What about marriage?  Three people can't get married." Tomoyo brought up.
   1.111 +
   1.112 +"Not legally.  Only one ceremony would be legal.  But I still think you should still have three separate ceremonies, to marry the three couples.
   1.113 +
   1.114 +"So I could make matching wedding gowns for Sakura and myself and we could have a ceremony with the two of us."  This thought took Tomoyo out of the discussion with stars in her eyes.
   1.115 +
   1.116 +"If you are uncomfortable with this arrangement, Shoaoran, think of it this way.  You get to marry Sakura, and have Tomoyo as a concubine to have sex with."  This quieted Shoaoran right down.  "How about you, Sakura?  What do you think of my idea?"
   1.117 +
   1.118 +"I like it.  This way I get to keep both of them."  She smiled.
   1.119 +
   1.120 +"True.  But you saw the sexual attraction readings.  I'm sure you won't have any problems with Shoaoran, but are you comfortable letting your friend Tomoyo have sex with you?"  Sakura only hesitated for a moment before answering.
   1.121 +
   1.122 +"I guess so.  It seems kind of perverted but kind of exciting too." This got Tomoyo's attention.  
   1.123 +
   1.124 +"You would really do it with me, Sakura?" she asked hesitantly.
   1.125 +
   1.126 +"Yeah.  I know you really want it from me, and," she continued hesitantly, "it does sound kind of exciting..."
   1.127 +
   1.128 +"Good enough."  Shoaoran's mother continued.  "And are you comfortable with your husband having sex with your best friend?"  This caused a slightly longer hesitation.  
   1.129 +
   1.130 +"I guess so.  As long as he doesn't neglect me.  Tomoyo?  How do you feel about having sex with Shoaoran?"
   1.131 +
   1.132 +"I don't really have a problem with it as long as it doesn't bother you Sakura."  This got a smile out of Shoaoran.  Then Sakura got smiles out of everyone with her announcement.
   1.133 +
   1.134 +"I sleep in the middle!"
   1.135 +