1.1 --- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
     1.2 +++ b/old/stories/tomoyo-prince.txt	Fri Feb 19 20:53:12 2010 -0500
     1.3 @@ -0,0 +1,442 @@
     1.4 +A Tomoyo and Sakura Story
     1.5 +By G. P.
     1.6 +Please send comments to: treeandleaf2002@yahoo.com
     1.7 +
     1.8 +Note: all names and characters are property of CLAMP. This story is
     1.9 +in no way meant to infringe on their intellectual property rights.
    1.10 +
    1.11 +This story is part of a series, but may be read alone. The previous
    1.12 +stories in order are:
    1.13 +Love is the Crooked Thing
    1.14 +First Date
    1.15 +Fruits Candy
    1.16 +Tomoyo and the Visitor
    1.17 +
    1.18 +
    1.19 +I.
    1.20 +The teachers all agreed. "Beauty in the Woods" had been such a
    1.21 +success for the fourth grade class that it deserved a reprise as the
    1.22 +fifth grade play. The students, enthusiastic but nervous, began
    1.23 +writing their names on the board. Just like last year, Mizuki-sensei
    1.24 +would determine the parts randomly. As Sakura wrote her name, Tomoyo
    1.25 +smiled, wondering what new costumes she would get to create for her
    1.26 +friend. Already her head was full of fantastic designs for a fairy
    1.27 +godmother, and dignified, regal attire fit for a queen. She could
    1.28 +hardly wait to start sewing! So enraptured was she with the prospect
    1.29 +of getting a new costume on Sakura that she missed the scowl on
    1.30 +Sayoran when she got up to write her own name on the board. 
    1.31 +
    1.32 +Newly returned from Hong Kong, he felt as out of place as ever. He
    1.33 +was puzzled why his awkward, tentative approaches to Sakura had gone
    1.34 +unnoticed. Brooding back home, he realized that Sakura had shown
    1.35 +interest in him, but he had been too busy to see. Now, she seemed
    1.36 +friendly, but that "something else" he had sensed was no longer
    1.37 +there. If only he were the Prince, and she the Princess of the play,
    1.38 +perhaps she could be made to see the connection they shared, as well
    1.39 +as their proper place in the order of things. Despite everything, he
    1.40 +had never really accepted the notion that a weak little girl could be
    1.41 +the true successor to Clow Reed. Awakened from his reveries by gasps
    1.42 +and cheers, he was delighted to see the first part of his plan fall
    1.43 +into place as Mizuki-sensei revealed the name of the Princess:
    1.44 +Kinomoto Sakura.
    1.45 +
    1.46 +Tomoyo flew from her chair, holding her hands together in ecstasy.
    1.47 +Sakura would make a perfect, absolutely perfect princess! Enraptured
    1.48 +in a flurry of flowers and bubbles, she failed to see own name
    1.49 +revealed:
    1.50 +
    1.51 +The Prince: Daidouji Tomoyo
    1.52 +
    1.53 +Dumbstruck, Sayoran glared at the blackboard. This was even more
    1.54 +ridiculous than last year. How could a quiet, nondescript girl like
    1.55 +her ever play the part of a noble prince? As shock turned to
    1.56 +aggravation, he finally noticed that his own name had been revealed
    1.57 +as well.
    1.58 +
    1.59 +Mizuki smilingly passed out scripts to the eager boys and girls. She
    1.60 +took great delight in being the new fifth-grade math teacher, though
    1.61 +her students were sadly unaware of the true power of numbers. As she
    1.62 +absently took her copy, Tomoyo’s attention was fixed on the Mistress
    1.63 +of the Cards. Mizuki laughed to herself and spoke up brightly,
    1.64 +
    1.65 +"Daidouji"
    1.66 +
    1.67 +The girl turned to face her, lavender eyes sparkling at the prospect
    1.68 +of her friend as a princess.
    1.69 +
    1.70 +"I think you'll make an interesting Prince."
    1.71 +
    1.72 +Tomoyo smiled and bowed slightly as she caught Mizuki-sensei's
    1.73 +enigmatic smile. She had not even thought about her own part in the
    1.74 +play. Well, with a little altering, she could wear the costume from
    1.75 +last year. But most of her time would be spent in designing a costume
    1.76 +fit for a true Princess.
    1.77 +
    1.78 +Next day the class had their first walk-through rehearsal. Terada
    1.79 +sensei joined Mizuki to supervise and direct. Right away he saw the
    1.80 +problem. Mizuki's odd method of casting generated excitement among
    1.81 +the students and audience, but this was the sort of snag he had
    1.82 +always feared. The Daidouji girl was one of his best students:
    1.83 +bright, punctual, cheerful, and talented. But she made an awful
    1.84 +Prince. Kinomoto had been surprisingly good in the role last year,
    1.85 +with a physical verve and commanding presence that convinced all that
    1.86 +here was a Prince indeed. But now he covered his face in his hands as
    1.87 +Daidouji dropped her sword instead of drawing it with a flourish.
    1.88 +Worse, her soft voice had none of the iron determination that such a
    1.89 +part demanded. He looked helplessly at Mizuki, who simply smiled as
    1.90 +if she had not a care in the world. Already, he was preparing his
    1.91 +apologies to the Principal. Turning to the math teacher he whispered,
    1.92 +
    1.93 +"Mizuki-san, eh, perhaps we might consider some slight alterations
    1.94 +to ensure, eh, a more harmonious cast?" He winced as Daidouji bowed
    1.95 +in apology after dropping her sword again. 
    1.96 +
    1.97 +Beaming, Mizuki whispered back, "Oh, that would be fine. I do worry,
    1.98 +though, about the effect such a change might have on the children. I
    1.99 +am sure that many of them would love to have a different part." With
   1.100 +a puzzled look on her face, she said distractedly, 'How might we
   1.101 +apportion the parts fairly so that every child gets the one they
   1.102 +want, and is also right for them?"
   1.103 +
   1.104 +Terada groaned to himself. She was right. One change would lead to
   1.105 +another, and it would be impossible to match up every student with
   1.106 +the part they wanted and would be best at. With a blush, he
   1.107 +remembered his secret hope that Rika-chan would play the Princess.
   1.108 +Well, they would just have to do their best. But already he was
   1.109 +dreading the night of the play.
   1.110 +
   1.111 +
   1.112 +II.
   1.113 +With the performance only a few days away, Sakura asked Tomoyo if
   1.114 +she would like to get together and rehearse. In Sakura's room the
   1.115 +following day the auburn-haired girl struggled to remember the lines
   1.116 +while her friend looked on encouragingly. For the first time, she
   1.117 +made it through without a stumble.
   1.118 +
   1.119 +"Do you want to do your lines, Tomoyo-chan?", she smiled.
   1.120 +
   1.121 +Tomoyo looked up and said, "Oh, thank you, Sakura-chan, but I
   1.122 +already know them by heart."
   1.123 +
   1.124 +Looking closely at her friend, Sakura noticed a brief look of
   1.125 +concern. Taking her by the hand, she spoke earnestly,
   1.126 +
   1.127 +"Tomoyo-chan, is everything all right?" 
   1.128 +
   1.129 +Startled, Tomoyo looked at her, smiling again, and said, "Oh, yes. I
   1.130 +was just thinking about how to finish the sleeves on your costume".
   1.131 +
   1.132 +With a worried look, Sakura blurted out, "Oh, I'm sorry if I
   1.133 +interrupted your sewing by asking you to come over. And even though
   1.134 +you already knew your lines you came to help me! I'm so sorry, Tomoyo-
   1.135 +chan".
   1.136 +
   1.137 +Tomoyo, distressed by Sakura's reaction, squeezed the girl’s hand,
   1.138 +"No, no, it's all right, really, That's not it, I'll have it all
   1.139 +finished in time...." Her voice trailed off in silence.
   1.140 +
   1.141 +Sakura looked closely at her friend, and again sensed something
   1.142 +troubling her. Smiling, she said, "If that's not it, Tomoyo, what is?
   1.143 +Something is bothering you, isn't it?"
   1.144 +
   1.145 +Tomoyo looked up into the shimmering emerald eyes and felt her heart
   1.146 +flutter. Since Sakura had first confessed her love almost a year ago,
   1.147 +the two had grown ever closer. An unexpected result of this was that
   1.148 +Tomoyo could hide less and less from her increasingly perceptive
   1.149 +friend. For years, Tomoyo locked her love away, safe and secret as
   1.150 +the little eraser in the box in her room. Unaware of Tomoyo's
   1.151 +passionate affection (as well as her silent pain), Sakura had
   1.152 +directed her singular concentration towards the capture of the Clow
   1.153 +Cards. Now that attention was focused laser-like on Tomoyo, and the
   1.154 +dark-haired girl found it increasingly difficult to conceal the
   1.155 +things she feared would hurt her friend. Haltingly, groping for the
   1.156 +right words, Tomoyo whispered,
   1.157 +
   1.158 +"Sakura-chan, I'm just...worried that I won't be a very good Prince
   1.159 +for you." 
   1.160 +
   1.161 +She looked away lest the tears take her. Ever since the first
   1.162 +rehearsal she had worried about being an adequate Prince for Sakura's
   1.163 +Princess. That concern was oddly like the anxiety that had stalked
   1.164 +her for the past year: how could she ever be worthy of Sakura's love?
   1.165 +Her adoration for the girl was boundless, but had boxed her in. She
   1.166 +was torn with worry that she could not be all her friend deserved. On
   1.167 +stage with the choir, and even as a soloist, Tomoyo performed with
   1.168 +confident ease. But now, the possibility of dropping her sword or her
   1.169 +lines terrified her, for that would bring unbearable dishonor to
   1.170 +Sakura. She had even gone to Mizuki-sensei, to suggest that another
   1.171 +student, perhaps Li-kun, might make a better Prince. But the
   1.172 +teacher's strange smile flustered her and left her speechless.
   1.173 +Suddenly she felt arms around her, and turned to see Sakura hugging
   1.174 +her tightly.
   1.175 +
   1.176 +"Tomoyo-chan, that's so silly! I wouldn't want anybody besides you
   1.177 +as my Prince. I know you'll be wonderful!" 
   1.178 +
   1.179 +As she smiled and hugged back, Tomoyo knew Sakura would love her no
   1.180 +matter what.  But at the thought of having to be "wonderful" in the
   1.181 +play her body tensed, and Sakura sensed it. Tomoyo was usually so
   1.182 +good at things like this, and Sakura had been too absorbed in the
   1.183 +role of the Princess to even notice her friend's anxiety. But what
   1.184 +could she possibly do? Tomoyo knew her lines; that wasn't the
   1.185 +problem. Thinking about it, Tomoyo fit all the ideals of a fairy tale
   1.186 +prince: she was gracious, self-sacrificing, confident, brave, kind,
   1.187 +and... beautiful. Sakura blushed. But physically, Tomoyo seemed
   1.188 +strangely ill at ease with the part. Sakura realized that with
   1.189 +cheerleading club, and gymnastics, and the exertions of capturing the
   1.190 +Clow Cards, the physical activity of the Prince’s role had been
   1.191 +second nature to her. But Tomoyo was different. How could she
   1.192 +possibly help her friend to look and move and sound like a prince?
   1.193 +
   1.194 + Long after Tomoyo had left to go sew, Sakura sat awake in her room,
   1.195 +determined to do something. She couldn't count all the times that
   1.196 +Tomoyo had helped her. When she was down, or afraid, or uncertain,
   1.197 +her friend was always ready to listen, to talk, or just to be there.
   1.198 +Now those roles were reversed, and she had to find a way to help.
   1.199 +Finally, long after midnight, she took out the Clow Cards and studied
   1.200 +them. Slowly going through the cards, each with her name engraved
   1.201 +upon it, she waited for inspiration. Finally, one leapt to her
   1.202 +attention as the obvious solution. She held it up, dancing out of
   1.203 +bed, heart bursting with the certainty that now everything would be
   1.204 +all right.
   1.205 +
   1.206 +III.
   1.207 +As the audience expectantly greeted the rising curtain, Tomoyo
   1.208 +helped Sakura into the elaborate Princess’ costume off-stage. A
   1.209 +circle of girls surrounded them, oo-ing and ah-ing at the magnificent
   1.210 +design. Sonomi had pitched in with sewing the night before, and even
   1.211 +then the two had been up till dawn. Stifling a yawn, Tomoyo felt it
   1.212 +all worthwhile as she made the final adjustments, sewing a loose bow
   1.213 +on the hem. She only hoped her own part in the play would not prove
   1.214 +too embarrassing for her friend. After worrying the matter to the
   1.215 +point of tears, she had finally resolved to just do her best.
   1.216 +Finished at last, she stepped back for a final appraisal, and stood
   1.217 +in awe.
   1.218 +
   1.219 +The design was inspired by the dress of the Italian Renaissance in
   1.220 +the early 15th Century. A moiré of dark green brocade served as the
   1.221 +gown. Decorated with golden moons and suns, the lush fabric was
   1.222 +outlined in a thick, gold trim. The gown was slashed in front,
   1.223 +revealing a crimson velvet petticoat embroidered with silver stars.
   1.224 +The sleeves were puffed and slashed, tied together with blood-red
   1.225 +ribbons, a delicate pink chemise peeking out from underneath. The
   1.226 +ends of the sleeves flared out and hung down, lined in spring green
   1.227 +silk. Pearls encircled Sakura’s delicate neck, and trimmed the
   1.228 +squared neckline of the gown. Typical of the time, she wore a wig of
   1.229 +blonde hair made of two long braids, entwined with long, pink
   1.230 +ribbons. Finally, a single teardrop emerald graced her forehead like
   1.231 +a third eye, hanging in place on a golden chain that encircled her
   1.232 +head like a tiara. She remembered her mother's words when she
   1.233 +borrowed the gemstone, "Please be careful, it's very precious to me.
   1.234 +It was Nadesico's"
   1.235 +
   1.236 +Tomoyo could only stand and stare in the presence of a Princess from
   1.237 +long ago. But if the costume so lovingly crafted by Tomoyo's heart
   1.238 +and hands had brought the Princess magically to life, the real
   1.239 +miracle was Sakura herself. Most girls would look awkward and out of
   1.240 +place in the costume, overwhelmed by the rich, luxurious fabrics. But
   1.241 +she wore them with a natural grace, as if she'd been raised as
   1.242 +royalty from birth. The real glory was Sakura's, and the dress merely
   1.243 +an obedient compliment to her innate beauty. Utterly enraptured,
   1.244 +Tomoyo was only dimly aware of the girl's anxious voice,
   1.245 +
   1.246 +"Tomoyo-chan, does it look all right? Tomoyo-chan?"
   1.247 +
   1.248 +As though awakened from a dream, Tomoyo blinked and stood
   1.249 +speechless. A male voice from behind whispered,
   1.250 +
   1.251 +"It looks wonderful. Kinomoto, you're on next, come with me.
   1.252 +Daidouji, you'd better get your own costume on soon".  Terada-sensei
   1.253 +had stopped short when he first saw her in the costume. Like a fairy-
   1.254 +tale come to life, Kinomoto made a radiant princess. As she went on-
   1.255 +stage for the first time, he heard the audience gasp, then applaud.
   1.256 +He smiled and thought, maybe this will work out, after all.
   1.257 +
   1.258 +As Tomoyo finished buttoning her costume, she went over her lines
   1.259 +one last time. She was nervous and sad and resigned all at once. With
   1.260 +a sigh, she stood on the edge of the stage as Yamazaki, this year's
   1.261 +narrator, intoned, 
   1.262 +
   1.263 +"To the country came a Prince".
   1.264 +
   1.265 +Terada-sensei nodded, while Mizuki-sensei, standing at his side,
   1.266 +watched her with curious eyes. With a sinking heart, Tomoyo scuttled
   1.267 +on stage, faced the bright floodlights, and spoke in her usual sweet
   1.268 +voice,
   1.269 +
   1.270 +"They say this is a mysterious castle".
   1.271 +
   1.272 +She saw the three fairy godmothers, and heard Rika-chan's
   1.273 +encouraging voice, "We've been waiting for you".
   1.274 +
   1.275 +Lying on her bier in the dark, behind the scenery of castle and rose
   1.276 +briars, Sakura fumbled about, looking for the Key. She had hidden it
   1.277 +and the card all too well in the costume's many layers. Finally she
   1.278 +found it, and quickly whispered the words, bathing the backstage in a
   1.279 +flash of golden light. A startled stagehand, wondering if a bulb had
   1.280 +suddenly blown, thought he heard a whispering voice,
   1.281 +
   1.282 +"...and be a proper servant for Tomoyo's princely heart."
   1.283 +
   1.284 +Relieved of an anxiety for her friend that had kept her up all
   1.285 +night, Sakura smiled to herself, and drifted off to a deep,
   1.286 +mysterious sleep.
   1.287 +
   1.288 +As Tomoyo drew the little prop sword, shortened by Terada-sensei to
   1.289 +keep her from dropping it, everything changed. When the sword emerged
   1.290 +it was longer, sharper, and more menacing than a mere prop.
   1.291 +Simultaneously, she changed, feeling a flood of confidence and power
   1.292 +surging through her arm, flooding her body. In a calm, measured, but
   1.293 +commanding voice, she demanded,
   1.294 +
   1.295 +"Who's there?"
   1.296 +
   1.297 +As the normally placid girl flourished the sword high above her
   1.298 +head, the children playing the fairies stepped back in fear. Though
   1.299 +stunned by the sudden transformation, Rika had the presence of mind
   1.300 +to continue with her lines. After warning the Prince of the sorceress
   1.301 +within, Tomoyo declaimed,
   1.302 +
   1.303 +" I have my sword, and my courage. I swear that I will break the
   1.304 +Princess' curse." 
   1.305 +
   1.306 +As the fairies bowed low and stepped aside, Tomoyo strode towards
   1.307 +the thick briars encircling the castle. But before the boys could
   1.308 +move back the props, the Prince slashed away, scattering them off-
   1.309 +stage. The sword cut through the two-by-fours in a shivering blow,
   1.310 +scattering fragments of props and wood across the stage. The audience
   1.311 +cheered the heroic assault, but Terada stared from off stage in
   1.312 +disbelief. He turned to Mizuki, only to be greeted by the ever-
   1.313 +present smile as she spoke,
   1.314 +
   1.315 +"I thought Daidouji might make an interesting Prince."
   1.316 +
   1.317 +He swallowed hard, and watched as the little girl advanced on the
   1.318 +evil Sorceress and her minions.
   1.319 +
   1.320 +As soon as he saw the sword, he knew. Peering through swirls of
   1.321 +black silk, Sayoran watched the girl in Prince's clothes advance
   1.322 +towards him. There was no doubt that she wielded the Clow Card,
   1.323 +Sword. Or rather, that the sword wielded her. Only a strong will
   1.324 +could master it, and the Daidouji girl lacked even Kinomot's meager
   1.325 +strength. How had she ever gotten a hold of such a thing? Well, no
   1.326 +matter, he would strip her of it and end this farce. He drew his own
   1.327 +sword, the indomitable legacy of the honored House of Li. He
   1.328 +whispered to his minions to get off the stage, and in a mad scramble
   1.329 +they happily obeyed. He took a fighting stance as a hush fell over
   1.330 +the audience.
   1.331 +
   1.332 +Terada, mumbling that none of this was in the script, made ready to
   1.333 +go on stage and stop the play. But Mizuki held his sleeve, and calmly
   1.334 +whispered,
   1.335 +
   1.336 +" It's all right. I made a few changes in the script so it wouldn't
   1.337 +be the same as last year".
   1.338 +
   1.339 +He stopped and watched aghast as Li lunged at the girl with a
   1.340 +glistening sword.
   1.341 +
   1.342 +Tomoyo deftly parried the heavy blow and slipped aside as Sayoran
   1.343 +charged. His surprise quickly changed to anger, and he slashed about
   1.344 +wildly. But each time she turned his blade, lightly dancing away. The
   1.345 +massive plume bobbed on her hat, but her body was calm and still
   1.346 +amidst the furious action. The audience gasped, then roared its
   1.347 +delight as the black sorceress hacked in vain at the plucky Prince,
   1.348 +who time and again dodged the deadly seeming blows. Panting, Sayoran
   1.349 +was engulfed in a rage of humiliation as the girl avoided his every
   1.350 +stroke with mocking ease. His mind clouded with anger, he failed to
   1.351 +remember that the Card's power was proportional to the will of its
   1.352 +user. Staring at the girl he felt true hate, and spat out the words,
   1.353 +
   1.354 +"You can never have her. She's mine!"
   1.355 +
   1.356 +Suddenly Tomoyo caught a glimpse of the figure on the bier, shrouded
   1.357 +in the dark and fast asleep. Her heart burst with longing for the
   1.358 +Beauty that lay within. Her voice rang out, clear and strong,
   1.359 +
   1.360 +"Witch! I'll finish you."
   1.361 +
   1.362 +She sprang like a panther, sword sweeping the air in a great
   1.363 +shinning arc. The blow knocked the sword from Sayoran's hands, and it
   1.364 +fell clattering to the floor. Another swing, and the sword stopped
   1.365 +short, inches from his neck. He stared into the icy blue eyes and
   1.366 +felt his courage drain away. In a commanding whisper she ordered,
   1.367 +
   1.368 +"Fall!"
   1.369 +
   1.370 +And he obeyed, dropping like a sack of potatoes, fast asleep.
   1.371 +
   1.372 +The audience clapped and yelled, swept away by the fantastic
   1.373 +spectacle. But Tomoyo stood oblivious, quietly sheathing the sword as
   1.374 +the castle gates opened and revealed Princess Aurora on her darkened
   1.375 +bier. Tomoyo now spoke not in the regal tones of the Prince, but with
   1.376 +her own earnest voice, which touched the hearts of all who heard her. 
   1.377 +
   1.378 +"The fairies spoke truly, for here is beauty beyond the world's rim.
   1.379 +Not sun, nor stars, nor shimmering moon compare with thee, oh fairest
   1.380 +of the fair. All victories are fleeting, my conquests brought to
   1.381 +naught, for this heart is mine no more. Awaken, Princess, and claim
   1.382 +thy thrall".
   1.383 +
   1.384 +Riffling through the script, Terada exclaimed, "I don't remember
   1.385 +those lines." glancing up at Mizuki, he stammered, "Did you.....?"
   1.386 +
   1.387 +But she only smiled, watching the play. Trancelike, the fairies spoke,
   1.388 +
   1.389 +"The Princess can be awakened with a kiss of true love"
   1.390 +
   1.391 +Tomoyo swept off her hat, hair falling down in a black cascade. She
   1.392 +knelt over the still, silent Princess, leaning closer and closer.
   1.393 +Their lips brushed lightly, then locked together in a passionate,
   1.394 +consuming kiss. Sakura's lashes fluttered as she awoke, a pulsating
   1.395 +warmth throbbing through her very being. She flushed crimson with an
   1.396 +aching desire, and instinctively wrapped her arms around the figure
   1.397 +above her. The world spun dizzily as she slowly came to. Waves of
   1.398 +longing washed over her as she rose from the bier, embracing the
   1.399 +sweet, pale figure in her arms. She held her ardent lover tightly,
   1.400 +their kiss a red ribbon binding their hearts together, forever. 
   1.401 +
   1.402 +Terada's frantic signaling failed to catch the attention of the
   1.403 +stunned stagehands working the lights. But Mizuki hid her giggle
   1.404 +behind one hand as she tinkled and dimmed the lights with the other.
   1.405 +As the stage went to black the Prince and Princess disappeared, and
   1.406 +the audience rose to their feet in a thunderous ovation. When Terada
   1.407 +saw the Principal rushing towards him, he quailed, and prepared for
   1.408 +his humiliation. As the applause continued and the actors made their
   1.409 +bows, the Principal rumbled,
   1.410 +
   1.411 +"Excellent job, you two. Best play I ever saw at Tomoeda. Better
   1.412 +special effects than the movies, I'd say!"
   1.413 +
   1.414 +"Thank you, Sir!" Terada spluttered as he and Mizuki bowed low.
   1.415 +Looking out the corner of his eye, he saw her smiling that odd, Mona
   1.416 +Lisa smile. Next year, he thought to himself, we'll do a damn variety
   1.417 +show. I couldn't survive another one of these.
   1.418 +
   1.419 +The next day, Sakura and Tomoyo sat on the grass after lunch. Sakura
   1.420 +had slowly come to realize just what had happened the previous night,
   1.421 +and blushed with every memory of it. Tomoyo couldn't stop talking
   1.422 +about how wonderful she looked in the Princess costume. Finally,
   1.423 +Sakura asked in a halting voice,
   1.424 +
   1.425 +"Ummm, Tomoyo-chan, ummm, why did you, ummm, kiss me....like that?
   1.426 +
   1.427 +Tomoyo tilted her head and smiled holding her friend's hand
   1.428 +delicately in hers,
   1.429 +
   1.430 +"But Sakura-chan, how else would a Prince kiss his Princess? I
   1.431 +wanted to do the best job I could in the part."
   1.432 +
   1.433 +A soft, lilting voice came from behind, and they both turned to see
   1.434 +Mizuki-sensei  standing by them,
   1.435 +
   1.436 +"She's quite right, Kinomoto. Besides, if you were the Prince and
   1.437 +Daidouji the Princess, wouldn’t you have done exactly the same?"
   1.438 +
   1.439 +Tomoyo gazed at her friend. Sakura stared at the ground, blushing
   1.440 +fiercely. There was nothing to say. 
   1.441 +
   1.442 +As always, Mizuki-sensei was exactly right.  
   1.443 +
   1.444 +
   1.445 + 
   1.446 \ No newline at end of file