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     1.4 +Tomoyo and the Visitor
     1.5 +A Tomoyo and Sakura Story
     1.6 +By G. P.
     1.7 +Please send comments to: treeandleaf2002@yahoo.com
     1.8 +
     1.9 +Note: all names and characters are property of CLAMP. This story is
    1.10 +in no way meant to infringe on their intellectual property rights.
    1.11 +
    1.12 +I.
    1.13 +Tomoyo first heard it while reading in the garden: a faint shuffling
    1.14 +noise by the big beech tree. She rose and walked over, looking for
    1.15 +the source of the sound. Then it moved, a small feathery body
    1.16 +flopping in the short grass. Leaning over, she saw a little orange-
    1.17 +brown bird with black wings, not quite a fledgling, cheeping in
    1.18 +fright. She looked up into the leafy branches of the tree, shading
    1.19 +her lavender eyes from the midday sun, but could see no nest.
    1.20 +Kneeling, Tomoyo undid the blue ribbon of her straw bonnet and used
    1.21 +it to deftly scoop up the tiny creature. It was noisy, active, and
    1.22 +did not seem to be hurt. Gazing at the lost little bird, she felt an
    1.23 +odd kinship. Smiling, she whispered,
    1.24 +
    1.25 +“You almost look ready to fly. I’ll ask Mother if you can stay until
    1.26 +you’re ready.”
    1.27 +
    1.28 +Cradling the bonnet, she walked to the house and opened the massive
    1.29 +front door. Her footsteps echoed as she walked the long hallway to
    1.30 +the stairs. Bounding into her room, she placed bird and bonnet on her
    1.31 +dresser and pulled up a chair. As she contemplated the tiny creature,
    1.32 +it regarded at her with large, watchful eyes. Then it began to chirp,
    1.33 +moving about in the bonnet, eyes fixed on Tomoyo, who said to herself,
    1.34 +
    1.35 +“You’re hungry, aren’t you? First let me see just what you are, and
    1.36 +then we’ll see what you want to eat”.
    1.37 +
    1.38 +With a smile she rushed downstairs to the library, and rushed back
    1.39 +clutching her Firudo Gaido Nihon no Yacho, A Field Guide to the Birds
    1.40 +of Japan. Looking at the bird, half expecting it to be gone, she
    1.41 +scanned the colored plates to try and identify it
    1.42 +
    1.43 +"It's a hawfinch, cocothraustes cocothraustes, of the Fringillidae
    1.44 +family". Tomoyo carefully sounded out the difficult Latin words.
    1.45 +"Your name is bigger than you are", Tomoyo giggled to herself. She
    1.46 +read on, "‘they are shy birds, spending most of their time hidden in
    1.47 +the treetops eating seeds and caterpillars'. I guess grubs would be
    1.48 +OK for you. I'll be right back!" She flew downstairs, to beg one of
    1.49 +the guards to take her to the pet shop. Already, she was in love with
    1.50 +it.
    1.51 +
    1.52 +II.
    1.53 +The next day Tomoyo, practically beaming, asked Sakura during lunch,
    1.54 +"Would you like to come to my house after school? There's something I
    1.55 +wanted to show you". 
    1.56 +
    1.57 +Sakura, intrigued, nodded her head and replied, "Sure. Let me call
    1.58 +my Father to see if it's OK. I don't have any chores today".
    1.59 +
    1.60 +After homeroom was dismissed, Sakura walked out with her friend and
    1.61 +saw a single, darkly garbed bodyguard standing by the black Cadillac.
    1.62 +The guard opened the back door, bowing low, her long, brown hair
    1.63 +hanging straight down. When Sakura clambered in, she was surprised by
    1.64 +the roominess of the car's interior. As the car sped away, she turned
    1.65 +to Tomoyo and said,
    1.66 +
    1.67 +"What did you want to show me?"
    1.68 +
    1.69 +Tomoyo smiled broadly, "You'll see"
    1.70 +
    1.71 +Tomoyo glanced at her friend, delighted by her intense curiosity.
    1.72 +Tomoyo loved surprises, and the sweet anticipation they caused. She
    1.73 +snuggled into the plush seat, thought about Sakura, and the hawfinch,
    1.74 +and felt a wonderful glow.
    1.75 +
    1.76 +
    1.77 +III.
    1.78 +Sakura gazed at the little bird, hopping merrily in its large,
    1.79 +silver cage. Her eyes widened as she exclaimed,
    1.80 +
    1.81 +"Kawaii! Tomoyo-chan, it is sooooo cute!"
    1.82 +
    1.83 +Tomoyo tilted her head and smiled brightly as Sakura asked, "Did you
    1.84 +give it a name yet?"
    1.85 +
    1.86 +Tomoyo shook her head no, and in a conspiratorial whisper, as if the
    1.87 +young bird would be embarrassed to hear such a thing, answered, 
    1.88 +
    1.89 +"I don't know if it's a boy or a girl".
    1.90 +
    1.91 +Puzzled, Sakura blurted out, 
    1.92 +
    1.93 +"How can you tell?"
    1.94 +
    1.95 +Tomoyo blushed and looked at the floor, whispering,
    1.96 +
    1.97 +"I...I don't really know"
    1.98 +
    1.99 +Sakura, realizing what she was asking, blushed, hid the nervous
   1.100 +giggle behind her hand and whispered,
   1.101 +
   1.102 +"S..sorry"
   1.103 +
   1.104 +Tomoyo looked up, all smiles, took her hand, and asked.
   1.105 +
   1.106 +"Would you like some tea?"
   1.107 +
   1.108 +And the two girls raced down together to the massive kitchen.
   1.109 +
   1.110 +
   1.111 +IV.
   1.112 +
   1.113 +Over the next week, Tomoyo spent hours with the little bird. She
   1.114 +sketched it, painted it, carefully weighed and measured it's food,
   1.115 +cleaned the cage, and overall attended it with more care than the
   1.116 +most doting of mothers. Most of all, she loved to just sit and watch
   1.117 +as the hawfinch explored it's cage, played with the little golden
   1.118 +bell she bought, and gamely tested its wings in a flurry of flapping.
   1.119 +She knew it would be ready to fly soon, and though she would miss her
   1.120 +companion, she grew excited at the thought of the fledging soaring
   1.121 +into the vast, open sky. After a nearly-rushed dinner, she excused
   1.122 +herself to go to bed, ran upstairs, and burst through the bedroom
   1.123 +door. There, she found the bird dead.
   1.124 +
   1.125 +At first, she thought it asleep, though in an odd, twisted posture.
   1.126 +But looking closely, she realized it had suddenly, inexplicably died.
   1.127 +Staring, she put her hand to her heart and felt her legs weakening.
   1.128 +It couldn't be...it had been gaily hopping and chirping just before
   1.129 +dinner. With a shaking hand she opened the door to the cage and, with
   1.130 +a slender finger, lightly nudged the warm, stiff lump, which slid
   1.131 +slightly on the bottom of the cage. She turned away, stunned,
   1.132 +sickened, her eyesight graying on the periphery, as she felt queasy
   1.133 +and faint. Just then, the phone rang.
   1.134 +
   1.135 +She reeled backwards, mechanically reaching for the pink cell phone
   1.136 +and holding it to her ear.
   1.137 +
   1.138 +Sakura stood puzzled when the phone was picked up with no greeting.
   1.139 +
   1.140 +"Hello? Tomoyo-chan?"
   1.141 +
   1.142 +Silence.
   1.143 +
   1.144 +"Tomoyo-chan, are you there? Are you all right?"
   1.145 +
   1.146 +Trembling, Tomoyo exclaimed in a rush,
   1.147 +
   1.148 +"Sakura-chan it's dead I...I… oh Sakura-chan I'm sorry it's all
   1.149 +right don't worry it's all right it's..."
   1.150 +Tomoyo broke off in a fit of sobbing.
   1.151 +
   1.152 +"Tomoyo-chan, what's the matter, are you all right?" Sakura shouted
   1.153 +out as the phone went dead.
   1.154 +
   1.155 +Tomoyo sat on her bed; fists clenched into tight little balls,
   1.156 +weeping hysterically. It was so young, just ready to fly. Why? Why
   1.157 +did it die now? Why, with a whole life ahead of it, why did it have
   1.158 +to die? Before it could even fly it was dead. The overwhelming
   1.159 +unfairness of it all staggered her. She sat crying, unheard in the
   1.160 +vast, empty house. Unable to move or see through her tears, she only
   1.161 +barely heard the frantic pounding on her window. Turning, she saw
   1.162 +Sakura perched on the ledge outside her room, wings disappearing from
   1.163 +her staff as she prepared to break through the glass. The sight of
   1.164 +the auburn-haired girl threw Tomoyo into a blind panic. She rushed to
   1.165 +the window and opened it carefully, taking Sakura by the hand as she
   1.166 +stepped into the room. By habit she smiled brightly, but the words
   1.167 +wouldn't come, and the tears wouldn't stop.
   1.168 +
   1.169 +Sakura beheld her friend in fear and wonder. Never, ever had she
   1.170 +seen Tomoyo like this. Always cheerful, always composed and never,
   1.171 +ever sad, the dark-haired girl looked shattered as her smile
   1.172 +dissolved in a renewed flood of tears. She turned away from Sakura,
   1.173 +arms flailing as if to ward her off. Hysterically she begged,
   1.174 +
   1.175 +"Sakura-chan go away please go away I'm sorry please please please!"
   1.176 +
   1.177 +Tomoyo shut her eyes tightly as a tempest of emotions raged inside
   1.178 +her. The sudden death of the little bird still tore at her in a raw,
   1.179 +uncontrollable grief. But for Sakura to see her like this was even
   1.180 +worse. Never, ever had she allowed Sakura even a glimpse of her
   1.181 +private sorrow, or of the passionate love that lay unrequited for so
   1.182 +long. She had dedicated herself to her beautiful friend, and vowed
   1.183 +never to burden her beloved with her own sadness or longing. And if
   1.184 +most of the time her joy at just being with Sakura was genuine, it
   1.185 +was sometimes a mask to hide her own hurt, and protect the precious
   1.186 +happiness of her one, true love. But now, she had hurt Sakura through
   1.187 +her grief for the bird. Struggle as she might, the little creature's
   1.188 +death was a pain she could not still, a bitter cup that overflowed
   1.189 +and spilled over. Her mask shattered, she felt naked and ashamed and
   1.190 +alone. Better she were dead than this.
   1.191 +
   1.192 +Sakura stood with her arms at her side, utterly helpless as Tomoyo
   1.193 +huddled in the corner. The sight was wrenching, and Sakura was at a
   1.194 +loss. Glancing about the room, she saw the door of the silver
   1.195 +birdcage open, and the motionless, feathered form within. Looking at
   1.196 +her still sobbing friend she understood, and felt her own heart break
   1.197 +for Tomoyo's loss. And if she did not comprehend all of Tomoyo's
   1.198 +grief, or it's secret cause (which was Sakura herself), she knew
   1.199 +enough to run to her love and enfold her in her arms.
   1.200 +
   1.201 +"I'm so sorry, Tomoyo-chan. I'm so sorry it had to die."
   1.202 +
   1.203 +Tomoyo felt the warm presence wrapped around her, melting the icy
   1.204 +pain in a passionate, loving hug. On her cheek the warm wet of her
   1.205 +tears mingled with Sakura's own as her friend held her tightly.
   1.206 +Sakura's love cut through the haze of guilt and shame like a fiery
   1.207 +sword. Tomoyo turned and shifted, laying her head on Sakura's
   1.208 +shoulder, hugging her tightly. How strange it was that she felt such
   1.209 +comfort here in the arms of her love, when seconds ago the mere
   1.210 +presence of the girl had thrown her into a horrified frenzy. Her iron
   1.211 +guard for once lowered, she gave herself up to the sadness, and
   1.212 +softly wept for the little bird. As the shadows of night covered them
   1.213 +they lay in a bittersweet embrace, hearts beating together till sleep
   1.214 +stole their pain away.
   1.215 +
   1.216 +Tomoyo awoke to the twittering of birds, and bright sunlight
   1.217 +streaming through the open window. She smiled to find Sakura in her
   1.218 +arms, still asleep. She remembered the hurt of the bird's death, and
   1.219 +felt the echo of grief deep inside. But Sakura's magic was not only
   1.220 +in the Cards, for she had blessed Tomoyo with the solace of her love.
   1.221 +As the dark lashes fluttered, Tomoyo kissed her tenderly on the
   1.222 +forehead. Waking, she smiled, and then looked at Tomoyo with sudden
   1.223 +concern. But Tomoyo smiled back and whispered,
   1.224 +
   1.225 +"I'm OK now. Thank you, Sakura-chan. Thank you so much."
   1.226 +
   1.227 +Sakura gazed into the deep blue eyes and then smiled again. Slowly
   1.228 +the two rose, slightly stiff from sleeping on the floor. Sakura
   1.229 +looked at the window, and the sun, and froze.
   1.230 +
   1.231 +"Hoeee, what if oniichan goes to wake me up for breakfast?"
   1.232 +
   1.233 +Tomoyo giggled, and whispered, "You’d better go."
   1.234 +
   1.235 +Sakura looked at her uncertainly.
   1.236 +
   1.237 +"Smiling, Tomoyo said, "I'm all right, really. It's still a little
   1.238 +sad, but I'm all right."
   1.239 +
   1.240 +Sakura looked wistfully at her friend and hugged her tightly. She
   1.241 +looked out the window and saw a bank of low clouds that would hide
   1.242 +her flight home. With another hug they parted, and Sakura flew
   1.243 +through the window as Tomoyo watched in awe. Then, turning with a
   1.244 +sigh, she looked at the cage, and wondered what to do.
   1.245 +
   1.246 +Her Mother, home for a rare weekend without work, sensibly placed
   1.247 +the hawfinch in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator. Tomoyo
   1.248 +made the preparations, starting with a small pouch. She was unsteady
   1.249 +in needlepoint, but her Mother helped with the more complex stitches.
   1.250 +She talked on the phone with Sakura several times that day,
   1.251 +reassuring her that things were fine. As they worked, Tomoyo asked
   1.252 +her mother in an anguished voice why something so sweet and innocent
   1.253 +had to die before it had even flown. For a long time, Sonomi sat
   1.254 +silent as she worked the needle and thread. Finally, she looked up
   1.255 +and said,
   1.256 +
   1.257 +" I asked that when Nadesico was dying. I asked her. Through all the
   1.258 +pain she smiled at me and said,
   1.259 +
   1.260 +'But Sonomi-chan, we're just visitors here. We can't stay forever' “
   1.261 +
   1.262 +The two sat in silence while Sonomi cut and tied the last thread and
   1.263 +held up the finished work.
   1.264 +
   1.265 +"There, all done." 
   1.266 +
   1.267 +At sunset, Tomoyo gently took the little bird from the bag and
   1.268 +wrapped it in a white silk scarf. Placing the cold, enshrouded body
   1.269 +in the pouch, she took a small shovel from the tool shed and dug a
   1.270 +little hole under the tree. Kneeling, she carefully laid the pouch in
   1.271 +the warm earth and looked one last time at the design, a needlepoint
   1.272 +hawfinch soaring through a cloudless sky. Then she patted the dirt
   1.273 +down and stood with lowered head and folded hands. With eyes closed,
   1.274 +she thanked the little visitor, and begged it to find peace here
   1.275 +under the beech tree. Turning, the little girl left the gathering
   1.276 +dark to go find her mother, and to cry.
   1.277 + 
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