Dear Sakura: Broken Dreams

 by Amazoness Duo and G.P.

 amazonessduo@hotmail.com

 pearsong1954@yahoo.com

 

 

 

 	It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Tomoyo’s carefully constructed

 plans had all collapsed in such a short time. The wreckage of her

 hopes and dreams, of her well planned efforts for Sakura, had her

 lonely heart pinned helplessly to the floor. She was lost and afraid,

 alone in an endless maze of despair that she had no hope of escaping.

 Sakura’s beautiful new life was on the verge of ending tragically

 because of Tomoyo’s recent trip to Hong Kong. She had given into her

 feelings for Sakura and now the woman she loved was about to lose

 everything because of it. Her plan to leave Sakura’s life quietly, to

 fade away from Sakura over time had also been dashed by the

 Cardmistress’s sudden appearance in Tomoeda. Everything Tomoyo had

 done, she had done for Sakura. But it had all been for nothing, her

 effort and prayers amounting to little more than broken dreams.

 Despite how hard she had tried, how much she had given, it hadn’t

 been enough. She hadn’t been able to safeguard Sakura’s beautiful

 life that she herself had played a part in orchestrating. After all,

 had she not played such an integral part in getting Sakura with her

 prince, Syaoran, would they have come together on their own? But now

 it all teetered on the brink, threatening to crush both Tomoyo and

 Sakura underneath its weight. 

 	All the dark haired heiress had ever wanted with all of her heart

 had been Sakura’s happiness. Everything she had done had been for

 those ends. From pushing Syaoran to tell Sakura his feelings and

 later helping Sakura understand her feelings for the Chinese boy.

 Fading out of Sakura’s life had been just another part of her plan

 for Sakura’s happiness. To leave so that she couldn’t threaten the

 wonderful life Sakura was leading with her beloved. But Fate had

 cruelly stepped in right when things seemed to be perfect. Tomoyo had

 finally crafted the beautiful life she had always envisioned for

 Sakura. The woman she loved was happily married and protected and

 would one day have a gorgeous child. It had all been set up. All

 Tomoyo had to do was to slip away from Sakura’s life and hope that it

 would always be joyous for the Mistress of the Cards. Tomoyo had

 tried so hard, but it seemed that her hard work had never mattered at

 all. Her remaining presence in Sakura’s life had possibly damaged it

 beyond repair, had left Sakura’s shimmering future in doubt. The

 lavender haired girl hadn’t even been able to escape before the

 damage became too great, Sakura reaching Japan before she could

 disappear forever. 

 	“All I want is for the person I like to be happy. If they can be

 happy, then that would be my greatest wish,” Tomoyo whispered to

 herself, as if she were once again repeating to Sakura her reasoning

 for not going after the one she loved. But now the words sounded

 empty, hollow. If she didn’t have the knowledge that Sakura was

 happy, then what did she have? The heart of her beloved Mistress of

 the Cards couldn’t possibly survive the death of her happy life,

 could it? So Tomoyo was left with nothing at all, not even the hope

 for her friend’s future. Her lonely heart was stripped of even that,

 the one thing that had made her life worth living, that had given her

 empty life some substance. The heiress had gambled and lost. She had

 placed her bets and now was the time that debts must be paid. Her

 gamble for Sakura’s happiness had fallen through. So in a way, it was

 her own fault that the brunette was on the brink of losing her new

 and wonderful life in Hong Kong. She had been one of the driving

 forces behind Sakura’s marriage to Syaoran, to her moving to Hong

 Kong. And ironically, she had been the one to bring it so close to

 ruin. 

 	Bare feet shifted on cold metal as a pale ghost of a woman looked

 out into the cold night sky. Above lay the sparkling stars in the sky

 while below lay the shining lights of the many buildings that

 stretched out endlessly into the dark horizon. Wet tears dripped down

 her chin, falling past her feet, tiny diamonds dropping from up above

 like rain drops. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had never gone

 to Hong Kong if this whole thing could have been avoided. Maybe she

 could have slipped from Sakura’s life without hurting her darling

 brunette. Maybe the beautiful life that lay before Sakura could have

 been saved. Not that it mattered what might have been. That possible

 future now lay in ruins and the future awaiting Sakura and Tomoyo

 looked to be a dark and stormy one indeed. Involuntarily, the dark

 haired girl’s mind went back to her cherished kiss with Sakura. What

 had been a secret dream she had held dear from the time she had been

 a child now seemed like the beginning of the end. What had begun as a

 farewell trip with her friend had become something much more. Tomoyo

 had intended to try and distance herself from Sakura so it would be

 easier to part from her life, but the brunette hadn’t allowed it.

 They had instead been closer, more intimate than they ever had in the

 days when Sakura had been back in Tomoeda. This had, for once, taken

 Tomoyo by complete surprise. So off guard had she been that she had

 made the mistake of giving into the love that her heart was always

 drowning in, kissing Sakura that one night in the garden. It had been

 one of her fondest wishes come true, to hold Sakura close and to be

 able to kiss her friend with all the fire that burnt in her heart.

 And the night had felt so magical, so dreamlike. It had been her one

 chance to give her heart to Sakura. But now it seemed that it had

 condemned the two, slowly but surely destroying everything Tomoyo had

 worked so hard for. But even then, Tomoyo couldn’t fully blame the

 sweet kiss they had shared, the tender moment locked deep within her

 heart. 

 	Wind whipped long lavender hair around almost violently in the dark

 night. Tears sparkled dimly as they fell past the dark locks of hair.

 Tomoyo felt trapped, boxed in, trapped as surely as any of Sakura’s

 Cards had been. She was crushed by the enormous weight of the mistake

 she had made. Stealing Sakura’s kiss held with it a high sentence. It

 held with it the power to destroy both Sakura’s life and her own. And

 the pale heiress couldn’t live with the thought of her dream,

 Sakura’s happiness being obliterated because of her giving in to her

 heart. It hardly seemed fair that such a small thing had caused so

 much damage. Why should Sakura suffer because of Tomoyo’s longing? A

 long time ago, Tomoyo had thought that she could just be happy as

 long as Sakura was. Now she realized that wasn’t true. She wanted

 desperately for Sakura to be happy, but it left her so lonely and

 cold inside. That realization had come with a terrible price. Giving

 into that pain, giving into her loneliness had brought about an end

 to the happy life she had always wanted for Sakura. It reminded the

 lavender haired phantom of an ancient myth she had once heard long

 ago. It was of a man who fought his way to Hades to bring back the

 woman he loved. He had come with such bravery, such courage that he

 had been allowed to take her back on one condition, that she follow

 behind him and that he couldn’t look back to her until they reached

 the surface. And so the pair traveled all the way back to the surface

 together like that, the woman right behind him. So happy was he to

 see the light, to finally have the woman he loved back, the man

 turned to see her. But to his horror, she had not fully gotten to the

 surface. In moments, she was returned the Hades. The man, distraught

 by his lover being torn from him after nearly having her back, was

 left alone and tormented. He killed himself shortly thereafter.

 Sakura had been terrified by the dark tale, but Tomoyo had found it a

 sad example of the pain love could cause. Now she saw herself in the

 same situation. She had led Sakura to her happy life, had finally

 left her with the happiness she always wanted for Sakura. But having

 been so close to leaving Sakura with this happiness, Tomoyo had

 allowed herself to look back, to give in to her feelings. And in that

 brief moment, she had ruined it all. Sakura’s happiness was being

 stripped from her, right in front of Tomoyo’s eyes.

 	But did Sakura have to suffer for Tomoyo’s mistake? No, the heiress

 had decided. She had come to the conclusion that the only way to save

 Sakura’s happiness was to leave her life, to disappear from the

 brunette’s thoughts. But before she could fade from the only one she

 could ever love, Sakura had rushed to Japan to stop her. Now Tomoyo

 was trapped, unable to do anything to stave off the ruin that awaited

 them. Her careful plans lay useless at her feet, leaving her with

 nothing. Or did it? She had wanted to fade from Sakura’s life

 quietly, to slip away in the least painful way possible. Now that

 wasn’t an option with Sakura here in Japan for her. But that didn’t

 mean that she couldn’t still save the brunette’s happy life. Tomoyo

 knew that she herself was the catastrophe facing Sakura. If she

 remained, the Mistress of the Cards could lose everything. Her

 husband, the baby that Syaoran could grant her, the life and family

 in Hong Kong that she now had. Tomoyo had sacrificed so much for

 Sakura’s happiness, ignoring the pain and loneliness in her own heart

 as long as Sakura’s genki heart was fulfilled. The thought that she

 was what could ruin that horrified her. It was such a sickening

 twist. Staying could only hurt Sakura, bringing an end to her life in

 Hong Kong. So Tomoyo would have to leave it, to escape before she

 could cause anymore damage. Maybe Sakura could still keep her happy

 life, could still hold onto it if Tomoyo wasn’t there to confuse her.

 It pained Tomoyo that she couldn’t leave quietly, slipping away into

 the night like she had planned. Sakura would undoubtedly find out

 about her suicide, especially with her in Japan. But Tomoyo saw no

 other options open to her. In order for Sakura to live, she had to

 die. Her own life held nothing but pain in her future if her

 beautiful Cardmistress were to lose everything. And she wouldn’t let

 Sakura be punished for Tomoyo’s own innocent sin. This was her only

 way to escape Sakura’s life and save her friend’s happiness. Sakura

 allowed her no other options. The auburn haired girl wouldn’t let her

 go otherwise. If the heiress was dead then Sakura wouldn’t be so

 confused about the feelings in her heart, seeking solace in her

 husband. Eventually her memories of the lavender haired girl would

 fade away, leaving her with nothing more than a faint remembrance of

 her guardian angel from long ago. And she would grow happy and old

 with her husband and as many children as Fate would bless them with.

 Away from the pain, safe from the loneliness, Tomoyo prayed that she

 would be able to watch Sakura from up above, to see the happy life

 that her death would ensure. It was a high price, one that had to be

 paid in blood. But it was one that the lavender eyed woman would

 gladly pay if it meant she could stop the catastrophe awaiting her

 dearest Sakura. 

 	Clutching the teddy bear Sakura had made for her against her chest,

 Tomoyo gazed into the darkness, the dim lights blurring into streaks

 through her tear filled vision. Her numb, slender fingers grasped

 onto a slightly bloodied picture of Sakura. It had been the same

 picture that her picture frame had held before she had smashed the

 frame to jagged shards. Her beautiful Sakura smiled happily, frozen

 forever in that simple image. She had fled her house with only these

 two possessions in the early hours of the morning. Sakura’s sudden

 appearance had struck her like the blade of a knife, wedged deep into

 her heart. It had shattered everything. Curled up in the darkness,

 Tomoyo had cried for hours while holding onto the teddy bear she had

 named Sakura. The pale woman had thought desperately of a way to fix

 things, but nothing but despair had managed to penetrate her troubled

 mind. So she had ran. Just as she had planned on doing before with

 her planned out escape from Sakura’s life, she had run. She hadn’t

 known at first where she was running to, how she would escape the

 Mistress of the Cards, but she had finally found herself here. It

 seemed fitting, to end up where some of Sakura’s most important

 moments had been. If anyone had noticed the distraught barefoot girl,

 they hadn’t said anything. How she had made her way to Tokyo Tower,

 even Tomoyo wasn’t exactly sure. But she stood there nonetheless,

 soft bare feet dirty and bloody from all of her walking. Her

 nightgown fluttered in the increasing wind, her dark hair seeming

 alive as it moved about her. 

 	“Sakura-chan wouldn’t even recognize me, would she?” Tomoyo

 whispered softly into the teddy bear’s ear. She held it gently,

 lovingly, her tears rolling onto the soft cloth of its head. This

 gift from Sakura was all she had left, the only thing she could hold

 onto. It was her only companion at the end of her long and painful

 road. There was some measure of relief in that, in knowing that it

 was almost over. The cold, tangible pain inside of her was

 unbearable. It cut through her viciously, tearing at her weak and

 fragile soul. Her heart was pierced deeply, her love for Sakura

 making the pain only more acute. She had to wonder if Sakura would

 recognize this wretched, lonely girl about to throw herself off of

 Tokyo Tower. Sakura had always seen what Tomoyo had portrayed for

 her. In all the years they had known each other, Tomoyo had tried to

 never show Sakura her fears, her pain, or her tears. And certainly

 not her loneliness. She had always been happy for Sakura, always

 offering her a smile. Sakura didn’t know what lay beneath that

 smiling exterior. The Cardmistress hadn’t been allowed to see beneath

 Tomoyo’s masks. Tomoyo had worn them for her, had always smiled for

 Sakura’s sake. She had never wanted to burden Sakura with her

 problems, with her own pain and tears. Only the briefest of glimpses

 had been given to Sakura of the inner turmoil that lay beneath her

 happy façade. But that had been part of the problem. Discovering

 Tomoyo’s loneliness that night in the garden when they had shared a

 kiss had sparked Sakura’s indomitable determination, forcing the

 energetic brunette to try and find out who Tomoyo loved and to fix

 the pain she had seen. Tomoyo had burdened Sakura after all in a way

 she had never wished to. And she hated herself for that, for allowing

 herself to let Sakura see her that way. It had been one of the

 deciding factors in what had begun to ruin Sakura’s life. So she had

 tried to hold onto her masks for as long as she could, to hide the

 shadows from Sakura. She had been doing that since she had been a

 child, always keeping up a mask of happiness for Sakura, never

 letting her see the cold, lonely child beneath their constraints. But

 now she was entirely without her masks, having left the broken shards

 behind. She felt naked, unable to hold back the grief that held her

 heart in a viselike grip.  They had finally broken, and with them, so

 had the girl underneath. Tomoyo had only been able to handle so much

 before her soul began to splinter just like the glass in the picture

 frame. She had tried to write Sakura a goodbye note on the back of

 the picture she held, to try not to worry her with her death, but it

 was impossible for her. Her masks were entirely gone. She couldn’t

 hide her pain any longer. Sobbing in frustration, Tomoyo had finally

 given up, leaving only a half written apology on the back of the

 picture of Sakura. 

 	Hugging the teddy bear in her arms as tightly as she could against

 her trembling skin, Tomoyo sobbed against the bear named Sakura’s

 head, her hair draped over the two of them as the wind grew eerily

 calm for a moment. “I’ll miss you, Sakura-chan. Please take care of

 her for me. I want... I need Sakura-chan to be happy. So I have to go

 away for that. I need to fade away from her life. I don’t want to

 hurt her like this. I wanted to move away before I did this so it

 wouldn’t hurt Sakura-chan or mother. But there’s nothing else I can

 do. I need to do this for Sakura-chan. It’s my last chance to save

 her happiness,” she whispered quietly, tears soaking into the bear’s

 head. Gingerly kissing the top of the teddy bear’s head, Tomoyo set

 it down gently near the edge. The small bear seemed to be looking out

 at the city spreading out below them, its tiny ribbon flowing in the

 returning breeze. 

 	“I love you, Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo said louder as she stood up. Her

 pale skin glimmered softly in the moonlight, her lavender hair

 falling about her like tendrils of the night itself. Clasping her

 hands together in front of her, the pale woman looked like a grieving

 angel. She had stood by in Sakura’s life for years, always content

 with loving her friend from afar. She had done so not because she had

 been embarrassed to say anything and not because she wasn’t brave

 enough to tell the brunette. No, it had been something much deeper

 than that. She had done it precisely because she loved Sakura. She

 had watched her grow closer to Syaoran, had watched the one she loved

 with all of her heart giving her heart to another. Tomoyo hadn’t

 burdened Sakura with her own feelings, had instead tried to nurture

 Sakura’s heart towards another. Because she believed that the

 Mistress of the Cards, her sweet auburn haired best friend, had

 chosen her princess long ago. Just like in the play they had done so

 long ago, Sakura was the noble and determined prince. Syaoran was her

 princess. And Tomoyo wouldn’t, couldn’t fight that. She had no wish

 to. As long as Sakura could be happy, that was all that mattered. So

 she had stayed in the background, watching as Sakura had fallen in

 love with a little push from herself, had watched as the two had

 begun a relationship. When you love someone so much it hurts, that

 they become your entire world, then it becomes their happiness, not

 your own, that matters. Maybe she could have had Sakura with the

 amount of control she could wield over the brunette. But it would

 never be worth having Sakura if she wasn’t happy. So if someone else

 could have Sakura’s love, could thrill her and fill her with joy at

 the world, then that would be Tomoyo’s goal in life. And so even if

 it hurt, Tomoyo had given her all to make sure that Sakura would be

 happy with Syaoran. And she would safeguard that now. Forever.  	

 	Alone. In one way or another, Tomoyo had always been alone. Sakura

 had never really seen her, never looked past her masks. They had

 always been close, but Sakura had never looked through to the girl

 beneath her cheerful exterior. And besides Sakura, Tomoyo really

 hadn’t had any other friends. Chiharu, Naoko, and Rika had all been

 Sakura’s friends. Friends by the common association with Sakura

 maybe, but nothing more. It had been so easy for Sakura to make

 friends with her warm and loving nature. But it had always been

 something difficult for the more introverted heiress. Sakura had been

 her first real and best friend. And she had cherished that deeply.

 But it left her so alone because of how in love she had fallen with

 Sakura. Because she could never show her everything that lay in her

 heart. And though her mother cared about her deeply, the

 businesswoman had always been so busy with work. Tomoyo had always

 loved the times they could spend together, but they had been few and

 far between at times. But now that loneliness would finally come to

 an end. She could slip away. She had always been in the background,

 so no one should notice after a while that she was even gone. It was

 finally over. 

 	Taking a step forward, Tomoyo looked up at the stars above. She

 wondered where Nadeshiko was up above. The beautiful woman was almost

 certainly an angel now. She would have to ask her to keep an eye on

 her mother. Maybe she could be Sakura’s angel. She had always wanted

 nothing more than to watch her beautiful best friend smile joyously.

 If she could keep an eye on Sakura after her death, she could watch

 all that she would be missing in life. To see Sakura live her happy

 life, to see her have children and grow old with the one she loved,

 that would be all she could hope for. If she could be Sakura’s angel,

 she could always be with her. And Sakura could finally be happy.

 There would be no more danger of her ruining her dearest

 Cardmistress’s gorgeous life. Death held no fear for the lavender

 haired woman. It held release in it’s grasp, and salvation for the

 happiness she wished to protect. She could finally escape her

 loneliness and torment, leaving them as well as her masks behind. 

 	Dark tresses waved in front of Tomoyo, nearly blinding the quiet

 phantom as the wind began to pick up violently again. Tomoyo took no

 notice of the gale, her hands held tightly to her chest. Her battered

 heart whispered it’s endless love to Sakura amidst the rustling of

 the wind. “Goodbye, Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo said softly, taking a last

 glance at the steadfast teddy bear. It was time to go. But her love

 would never leave her. Eternity awaited, calling to her. Turning back

 to the city lights that continued to shine like beacons in the

 darkness, Tomoyo stepped forward onto the edge of the structure. The

 wind threatened to throw off the small toy designer, angrily shaking

 her with all its might. But the girl waited patiently, tears still

 dripping below. Pulling up her bloodstained picture, Tomoyo’s fingers

 gently traced over the smiling Sakura. Behind her tears, Tomoyo

 returned the smile to her beloved. In an instant, the picture

 disappeared. The lavender haired woman’s heart skipped a beat as her

 tear streaked eyes darted for the small object. It floated a few feet

 away from her, fluttering in the heavy wind.  “Sakura-chan!” Tomoyo

 called out, reaching out for the picture, her frozen moment of

 Sakura. Tired, bare feet pushed against metal as she grasped for the

 metal. And with that, the world gave away beneath her. The pale woman

 plummeted from Tokyo Tower, falling for what felt like an eternity,

 but seeming like nothing more than precious seconds. Releasing a weak

 sob, Tomoyo clutched her hands to her chest. Dark hair streaked

 behind her as the angel took flight, diving to the world below. Her

 soul had been broken a short time ago. Now her body would join it,

 broken on the pavement below. It would finally be over. Her eyes

 closing, her mind shifted through countless images of her beloved.

 She was going to die, but her thoughts went immediately to the woman

 she loved. ‘Please don’t cry, Sakura-chan. It makes me sad to see you

 cry,’ she begged the brunette as the pavement rushed up at her like a

 bullet train. 

 	A cry reached Tomoyo’s ears, but it was indistinguishable over the

 howl of the wind. It roared like an angry beast, fighting merely to

 prove it’s existence. Her eyes closing tightly, Tomoyo saw Sakura’s

 cute face smiling softly at her. “Sakura, I love you,” Tomoyo

 whispered seconds before plowing into the concrete below. 

 	“TOMOYO-CHAN!!!” Sakura screamed as she alighted next to her

 friend’s lifeless body. Her wings disappeared in a storm of feathers

 as she collapsed next to the broken and bloody body of the gentle

 heiress. Horrified, Sakura reached out with shaky fingers, turning

 Tomoyo over. The sight immediately made her wish she hadn’t. Tomoyo

 had always been the most gorgeous woman Sakura had ever known, her

 graceful beauty always touching Sakura’s heart. But now she lay

 broken, shattered. Her best friend was gone, and what was left behind

 was a painful reminder. With shaking hands, Sakura brushed back

 fluttering lavender hair from Tomoyo’s face. Stormy blue eyes looked

 at her lifelessly, their sparkle completely vanished. Tears burst

 forth from Sakura as she shook her head violently. “No!! Please,

 no..” Tears spilt down her cheeks, dripping to the broken woman

 beneath her. She had been too late. She had been flying the entire

 day, searching in a frenzy to find Tomoyo, her mind single mindedly

 set on finding her best friend. It had taken her forever to finally

 find her, and it had only been at the last possible moment when she

 had seen Tomoyo’s body tumbling through the air. She had lost. She

 hadn’t been fast enough. Bitter sobs wracked her body as she held

 onto what was left of Tomoyo. Bloody lavender hair pressed against

 her face as she continued to cry. The pale woman’s words echoed

 through her mind like an accusation. ‘I wasn’t afraid because I knew

 Sakura-chan would save me.’ Yet for all of that faith, Sakura had

 failed once again to save her best friend. Had, in fact, failed for

 the last time. “Tomoyo-chan..” Sakura cried weakly into Tomoyo’s

 hair. “I love you.. Please don’t leave me alone..” Just like always,

 she had been too late, and Tomoyo had paid the price. Too late...

 Sakura blinked back a fresh surge of tears as she weakly got to her

 feet. No, not too late. She couldn’t be. She wouldn’t let herself be.

 “I’ll save you, Tomoyo-chan. Just like you always said I would. I

 promise,” Sakura whispered as she numbly pulled out her staff. She

 had once chance. She was too exhausted to use much more of her power.

 So she would have only one chance at this. The staff twirled in her

 hands as she tossed a Sakura Card into the air. “Return!! Bring me to

 before Tomoyo-chan fell!” She cried out above the bestial howl of the

 wind. She wouldn’t let this be the end. 

 

 

 	Dark tresses waved in front of Tomoyo, nearly blinding the quiet

 phantom as the wind began to pick up violently again. Tomoyo took no

 notice of the gale, her hands held tightly to her chest. Her battered

 heart whispered it’s endless love to Sakura amidst the rustling of

 the wind. “Goodbye, Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo said softly, taking a last

 glance at the steadfast teddy bear. It was time to go. But her love

 would never leave her. Eternity awaited, calling to her. Turning back

 to the city lights that continued to shine like beacons in the

 darkness, Tomoyo stepped forward onto the edge of the structure. The

 wind threatened to throw off the small toy designer, angrily shaking

 her with all its might. But the girl waited patiently, tears still

 dripping below. Pulling up her bloodstained picture, Tomoyo’s fingers

 gently traced over the smiling Sakura. Behind her tears, Tomoyo

 returned the smile to her beloved. In an instant, the picture

 disappeared. The lavender haired woman’s heart skipped a beat as her

 tear streaked eyes darted for the small object. It floated a few feet

 away from her, fluttering in the heavy wind.  “Sakura-chan!” Tomoyo

 called out, reaching out for the picture, her frozen moment of

 Sakura. Tired, bare feet pushed against metal as she grasped for the

 metal. And with that, the world gave away beneath her. The pale woman

 plummeted from Tokyo Tower, falling for what felt like an eternity,

 but seeming like nothing more than precious seconds. Releasing a weak

 sob, Tomoyo clutched her hands to her chest. Dark hair streaked

 behind her as the angel took flight, diving to the world below. Her

 soul had been broken a short time ago. Now her body would join it,

 broken on the pavement below. It would finally be over. Her eyes

 closing, her mind shifted through countless images of her beloved.

 She was going to die, but her thoughts went immediately to the woman

 she loved. ‘Please don’t cry, Sakura-chan. It makes me sad to see you

 cry,’ she begged the brunette as the pavement rushed up at her like a

 bullet train. 

 A scream hit her ears, taking her by surprise. Dark lashes fluttered

 open, sending diamond tears into the wind. It took her a moment to

 see the source, a small angel rushing up towards her, shimmering

 wings beating rapidly behind her. The angel’s beauty left Tomoyo

 breathless as the distance between then dropped away. The lavender

 haired woman idly wondered if the angel was Nadeshiko, coming to meet

 her. It was hard to make out the winged woman in the darkness. Still

 stunned by the ethereal beauty that darted her way, Tomoyo let out a

 final prayer. ‘Please let me be Sakura’s angel,’ she pleaded. 

 	But Tomoyo’s wish lay incomplete, the air knocked out of her as she

 stopped short of the ground below. The angel held onto the lavender

 haired woman tightly, her grasp actually bruising the pale flesh

 beneath her nightgown. Wings beat heavily as they tried to stop the

 pair’s downward momentum. Struggling desperately, Sakura slowly began

 to slow their descent. Her eyes closed tightly as she tried to focus

 on nothing but the task at hand. With Tomoyo in her arms, she found

 that extremely difficult, especially with the nature of how she had

 found the woman. But somehow everything managed to fade away. There

 was nothing but the moment, the action at hand. Emerald eyes opening,

 Sakura looked forward, pouring out everything she had in one last

 ditch effort. Wind whipped at her, pounding into the two woman,

 weakening Sakura’s wings as they struggled to stay aloft. Her heart

 pounding thunderously against the pale woman in her arms, Sakura felt

 her wings falter briefly as she tried to push forward. Sweat burned

 at her eyes as fatigue slowly sapped at her body. Panic began to

 overwhelm her, but she forced it away with all of her might. She

 could see a bright light ahead of her, awaiting them. It was

 gorgeous, deep and illuminating. She struggled to reach the light,

 forcing herself forward despite the pain that gnawed at her weakening

 body. She thought she saw someone in the light, a woman with long,

 dark hair and angel wings. ‘Tomoyo?’ Sakura thought weakly to

 herself. But that couldn’t be. Tomoyo was still in her arms. Sakura’s

 eyes widened after a moment. ‘Mama?’ The woman watched her intently

 as Sakura desperately fought to reach the light and the ledge of the

 Tower. She could see the teddy bear she had given Tomoyo resting on

 the ledge, watching out along with her mother. Almost... Sakura

 strained the last of her strength into a final push to reach the

 ledge. The world pushed away beneath them as she flew upwards. One

 hand shot out, reaching for the metal. It slowly edged closer. Her

 fingers brushed the cold, but blessed metal of the Tower. With some

 sort of handhold, she could force her tired wings to get them the

 rest of the way up. Her fingers grappled for a better handhold. To

 Sakura’s horror, the tower seemed to pull away from her questing

 fingers. A sudden gust of wind had caught her wings and forced her

 away from the tower. With no strength left, the two woman plummeted

 once more. 

 	Air buffeted a fatigued and despondent Sakura as she clutched

 desperately onto Tomoyo. It wasn’t fair. She almost had it. She had

 almost saved Tomoyo. Just like Tomoyo had said long ago, that Sakura

 would always come and save her. She had almost been able to. But just

 like always, Sakura had failed her. And so she paid for that failure

 with her life as well as Tomoyo’s. Her arms clenched onto the cold,

 pale woman, tears sparkling in her eyes. She had thought that she

 could save her this time. But at least, she thought, she could be

 with Tomoyo this time. She wouldn’t die by herself. They would go

 together, in each other’s arms. But even with that, Sakura couldn’t

 help but feel defeat grip her soul. She had promised she would save

 her, had wanted to come and save her best friend once and for all.

 She couldn’t fail. It wasn’t right. She had finally come to save

 Tomoyo from her pain and loneliness, had finally understood that

 their hearts were entwined with red ribbons. But she hadn’t been able

 to offer up her heart to the gorgeous dark haired woman, hadn’t been

 able to make up for the years of neglecting just how important Tomoyo

 was to her. Tears fell scattered to the stormy wind as they both

 dropped. “Tomoyo-chan..” Sakura called out as she clung to the dark

 haired woman. No, things couldn’t end this way. Not when she finally

 understood her heart. Not when she finally understood who she loved.

 She couldn’t let her terrible mistake from years before end like

 this. She had caused Tomoyo such pain through her confusion about her

 own feelings and her marriage to Syaoran. But she had vowed to make

 that up to her, to love Tomoyo with all of her heart, to heal her

 lonely heart. She had to offer her heart to the dark haired woman, to

 finally truly save her. 

 	Tomoyo’s heart had nearly stopped in her chest. Sakura was here?

 Sakura had found her? No, that wasn’t how it was supposed to be.. She

 was supposed to die, to free Sakura from the burdens that lay over

 her. Tears sparkled in her eyes as she stayed in the brunette’s arms.

 Sakura wouldn’t let her leave. She wouldn’t let her escape. No matter

 how hard she tried, everything kept moving towards the inevitable

 destruction of Sakura’s happy life. Tomoyo hadn’t even been allowed

 to kill herself, to end the pain and to save Sakura. What was she to

 do now? How could she hope to fix things now? Despair flooded through

 her in a wave, her sobs shaking her against the auburn haired woman.

 If Sakura saved her, then she would be trapped here to see the loss

 of Sakura’s happiness and to deal with her own pain. But if Sakura

 didn’t save her, they would both die. That wasn’t what she wanted at

 all. She was supposed to be the one who died, not Sakura. The

 Mistress of the Cards had so much awaiting her. She couldn’t die now. 

 	Feeling the dark haired woman shuddering in her arms, Sakura felt

 her own heart twinge in pain. This woman, the best friend she had

 ever had, her support when things were too much for her, her bravery

 when she had couldn’t force up any, her mother when she had none, her

 confidante when she had secrets that no one else could here. Tomoyo

 had always been everything for her. The pale woman had given her

 everything she could ever ask for, never thinking at all that Sakura

 should ever repay her for the love and support that she had always

 poured out to Sakura so constantly. Sakura had to make up for that.

 She had to finally make amends for what she had done. And more

 importantly, she had to let her heart go free. “Windy!! Please stop

 our fall!!” She called out, her staff hitting into the Sakura Card.

 Her power was still weak after using the Return Card and having used

 Fly all day long so she didn’t know if it would be strong enough to

 carry them to the ground. 

 	Flying through the air, the magical woman that was Windy shifted

 past Sakura and Tomoyo, slowing the fall against the strong gale that

 fought back against her. The two tumbled through the air, reaching

 ever nearer to the ground. Windy struggled against the wind as the

 two fell together, exerting what power she could. Their descent

 slowed, but they continued to fall. 

 	Sakura felt the ground rushing up to meet her and shifted under

 Tomoyo. The two hit the ground hard, the wind sliding them along

 across it for a second. Pain burst through Sakura’s shoulder and

 lower back in a dazzling display of fire and ice. Flame burned at her

 weary muscles as she lay under her best friend, panting heavily. It

 took her a moment to realize that she had succeeded. She had saved

 Tomoyo after all. Well, not necessarily. But they were both alive, so

 it was a start. Taking a deep breath, she released it into Tomoyo’s

 hair. Burying herself against the lavender haired woman, Sakura felt

 hot tears fall down her cheeks, sliding down Tomoyo’s neck. “Oh,

 Tomoyo-chan!! I thought I was going to lose you...” she cried out.

 After her failure before, it seemed a miracle that she was here with

 her friend. It was almost as if Tomoyo had been brought back to life.

 The fact that she was sitting there, holding onto Tomoyo beneath the

 Tokyo Tower just as she had been before when Tomoyo had died hit her

 with a startling suddenness, bringing fresh tears spilling down her

 face as she cried against the pale woman. 

 	Tomoyo shifted in Sakura’s embrace, holding onto the sobbing woman.

 Her own cold tears fell bitterly to the floor below. Escape had been

 snatched from right in front of her. There was no way she could kill

 herself now. It would hurt Sakura too much, especially after that.

 But she felt profound despair eating away at her. She had failed and

 now Sakura’s happy life would come collapsing around the both of

 them. And there was absolutely nothing she could do but drown in her

 own sorrow. “Sakura-chan..” Tomoyo whispered, her soft voice

 cracking. “Please don’t cry..”

 	Shaking her head as she sat back to look at Tomoyo, Sakura wiped at

 her tearful emerald eyes with the backs of her hands. “Oh, Tomoyo-

 chan.. I thought... I thought..” A shuddering breath escaped the

 brunette as she looked long and hard at the dark haired woman in

 front of her. Tomoyo looked beyond despair. Her stormy blue eyes were

 bloodshot, her tears still falling from her chin. Her deep eyes

 looked hollow, weak. As shattered as Tomoyo had been when Sakura had

 found her the first time. That realization sent a chill down Sakura’s

 spine. She had never seen Tomoyo like this before. She had caught a

 glimpse of it back before they had kissed, but this was utter

 hopelessness. “Tomoyo-chan..!!” Sakura cried out as she grappled onto

 the dark haired woman again, burying her head against the crook of

 Tomoyo’s neck. Just what had she done to Tomoyo? The woman looked

 lost, alone. Shattered. Was it her fault? Had she slowly done that to

 Tomoyo? The thought terrified her. How could she have caused such

 damage? No wonder Tomoyo had been about to die. For her, she reminded

 herself. Tomoyo had been trying to protect her to the bitter end.

 “Tomoyo-chan, I know. I know how you feel.” She felt Tomoyo tense in

 her arms at her words, but she just held onto her tighter. “I know

 what I’ve done. And I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry, Tomoyo-chan. I

 had no idea. But that doesn’t make up for what I did. I never knew

 how important you were to me. But I do now. I know why you were going

 to.. to k..” Sakura trailed off, unable to continue that thought.

 Images of a dead Tomoyo returned unbidden in her mind. She blinked

 back burning tears. “And if you still want to, I won’t stop you,”

 Sakura whispered. She felt Tomoyo’s head shift against her at that,

 Tomoyo’s own tears falling against her. “But if you do, please hold

 your hand out to me. Because I won’t be without you anymore. If

 you’re going to die, I want to die with you. Because I can’t live a

 life without you. I’m sorry it took me so long to understand that.”

 Moving back slightly, she looked into Tomoyo’s tear filled, stormy

 blue eyes. Her own emerald eyes looked back at her with a firey

 determination. She meant every word of what she said. Forcing Tomoyo

 to live for her sake wasn’t right. If the pain was too much for her,

 then.. “I’ll follow right behind you, whatever you decide,” Sakura

 continued. 

 	Choking back a sob, Tomoyo looked away. She couldn’t keep staring

 into those emerald orbs any longer. Her body shuddered as her fists

 clenched up. Sakura knew? Panic began to grow in her heart, but

 Sakura’s words played over again and again in her mind. Part of her

 still wanted to die, to escape the pain and her own lonely heart.

 Sakura would allow her to leave? But how could she if Sakura herself

 would be following? “Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo whispered softly, her voice

 barely audible above the wind. “I just want you to be happy.”

 	Sakura ventured a weak smile, reaching out shaky fingers to brush

 away some of Tomoyo’s tears. “You make me happy,” she whispered in

 reply. Jade eyes blinked back tears as she met Tomoyo’s eyes once

 more. “Tomoyo-chan, I’m sorry for all of the pain I’ve caused you.”

 Tomoyo began to argue the point, but Sakura shook her head, cutting

 the lavender haired woman off. “I’m sorry for not knowing my own

 heart. I let everyone else tell me who I loved without looking

 myself. And I didn’t realize the damage it caused. I thought everyone

 else knew my heart better than I could. But I know now that that

 isn’t true. No one could tell me who I loved. I had to find it out

 for myself. And I finally did. I finally figured it all out.” The

 brunette smiled a little more proudly. “Tomoyo-chan, I love you. I

 know that now. You’ve always been the one who made me happy. When

 you’re not there, I.. It isn’t like when I’m with you. I don’t feel

 strong enough. I don’t have all of Tomoyo-chan’s love and support to

 back me up. So how can I keep going?” The Cardmistress took a deep

 breath as she watched Tomoyo. “I can’t be happy without you. So I

 want to be with you, wherever you go. I love you, Tomoyo-chan.”

 	Shock crossed Tomoyo’s face as her lavender hair fluttered in the

 wind. Her mouth opened slowly, but nothing came out. Never had she

 believed she would hear those words. They were a fantasy, something

 that had been a vivid and beautiful dream but nothing more. To hear

 Sakura utter them, to see those emerald eyes looking at her with all

 honesty. It seemed that her whole life had been built around her love

 for Sakura. But she had always been in the background, loving her but

 never being loved. Helping her to find the love that she herself

 could not have. She had no doubt that she herself would do anything

 for Sakura, but the thought that Sakura would do the same, follow her

 even in death, simply astounded her. Releasing a pent up sob,

 Tomoyo’s pale body shook lightly. This was all too much. She didn’t

 know what she was supposed to do. She held her head weakly, her eyes

 shutting out the world around her. But it was Sakura’s words that

 finally shattered her confusion. ‘You make me happy’. ‘I want the one

 I like to be happy,’ Tomoyo had said long ago. “Sakura-chan!!” Tomoyo

 got out as she held onto Sakura tightly, dark hair draping over the

 both of them. “I’ve always loved you,” the lavender haired woman

 whispered into Sakura’s ear as she poured all of her remaining

 strength into simply holding onto the Cardmistress. 

 	Resting her head against Tomoyo’s, Sakura let her eyes fall closed.

 She felt drained from everything, but the pale woman’s embrace

 comforted and soothed her weary spirit. She buried her face in

 Tomoyo’s lavender hair, delighting in the intoxicating scent. It was

 over. She had finally managed to save Tomoyo after all. After all

 those years of waiting, she had finally reached her princess. No, it

 wasn’t over. Not in the least. Things were just beginning. Sakura

 didn’t know where things would go or what would happen, but it hardly

 seemed to matter. If Tomoyo was with her, she could overcome

 anything. “Everything will always be right. I promise, Tomoyo-chan.”

 	Silence reigned for long moments, the only sound the howling of the

 wind. Tomoyo shifted against Sakura, her broken heart rejoicing.

 Maybe.. Maybe she wasn’t all alone. And maybe she could make Sakura

 happy after all. Besides, she knew Sakura better than anyone else.

 And devoting her life to Sakura sounded like the most delicious

 punishment for nearly leaving Sakura’s life. Her nose brushed

 Sakura’s ear as she moved against the other woman, content to immerse

 herself in their embrace. “Sakura-chan makes a very cute angel.” The

 two giggled together, laughing into the dark night. Everything had

 been so painful and so desperate for so long. It felt so nice to let

 it all leak away, to let go. Tomoyo’s heavy eyelids fell closed. She

 felt exhausted from the long night and the emotional torment that had

 held her tightly in its grasp. It felt peaceful in Sakura’s arms,

 warmer than she can imagine being in a long time. “I’ll make you

 happy, Sakura-chan,” the lavender haired woman vowed in her soft,

 gentle voice. 

 	“I know, Tomoyo-chan. I know,” Sakura replied, finally allowing

 herself to relax. All of the chaos of the past few days had nearly

 been too much for her to handle, especially without Tomoyo’s support

 to make it through it all. It felt so nice to know that it was

 finally gone. Her princess was rescued and all was right with the

 world. Not a bad days work. Her old life may be left behind, but

 Sakura felt a thrill at the new life that lay ahead of her. Whatever

 promise or perils it held, the brunette would be happy to face them. 

 	Watching Sakura silently, Tomoyo sighed in contentment. The girl

 she had loved for so long was now right in front of her. Her love

 wasn’t hidden any longer. She smiled lovingly at Sakura, cupping the

 slightly surprised brunette’s chin. Licking her dry lips, Tomoyo

 allowed herself to repeat what had shortly before felt like a

 grievous mistake. It was a slow, soft kiss that warmed Tomoyo’s heart

 and soul. It felt like all of the unfinished feelings and the

 uncertainty of their last kiss was finally washed away. It wasn’t a

 farewell kiss, or even a gesture between friends. This was a new

 beginning. Tomoyo’s hands rested gently on Sakura’s warm cheeks while

 Sakura’s arms wrapped around her waist. She could feel Sakura’s blush

 fade away as Sakura began kissing her back. Sitting back, Tomoyo’s

 hand went to her own cheek as disappointment colored her expression.

 “Oh no...”

 	Sakura looked at Tomoyo hazily, her lips still warm from Tomoyo’s

 brief presence. She wanted to lean forward and continue the

 delightful action, but the lavender haired girl’s expression shook

 her out of her stupor. “Huh? What’s wrong Tomoyo-chan?” Her heart

 began to beat in panic. She had thought everything was finally

 resolved.

 	Tomoyo’s fingers reached out and tugged lightly on the costume

 Sakura was wearing. “Sakura-chan finished my last costume? And wore

 it? And I didn’t get to get any of it on video?” she said in utter

 despair.

 	Sweatdropping, Sakura tilted her head to the side. She should have

 seen that coming. “Tomoyo-chan..” Sakura blushed slightly as she

 leaned towards Tomoyo, her lips halting inches away from the pale

 woman’s. “I’ll let you videotape me as much as you want in it.

 Later.” Leaning the rest of the way, Sakura kissed the gentle

 heiress, all the anguish from the time they had first been apart

 months ago melting away at the slow but luxurious kiss. 

 	Tomoyo returned the kiss with all of the pent up love that had been

 buried in her heart for over nine years. Sakura made a soft sound as

 the kiss became more passionate, only spurring Tomoyo forward. Seeing

 Sakura in her last costume, seeing it finished, it all made the

 moment even more perfect. She had felt so sad when she realized she

 wouldn’t be making anymore costumes for Sakura anymore. But Sakura

 had come to her rescue wearing it, having finished it some time

 before. Sakura had saved her body and her lonely, broken soul. Tomoyo

 lost herself to the kiss, to Sakura’s sweet embrace. The Tokyo Tower,

 the surging wind, the night sky, it all faded away as surely as

 Tomoyo had intended to. But she no longer had such drastic desires.

 All she wanted was to stay there with Sakura, to love her. Pulling

 away slowly from their kiss, Tomoyo smiled happily. But this time,

 she hid nothing from the brunette. Sakura held onto her on the cold

 ground, but neither seemed to notice. They had both reached this

 point from such different places. Tomoyo had always known the love in

 her heart, but had hid it to protect the one she loved. Sakura hadn’t

 known her own heart until it was almost too late, but she hadn’t been

 able to hide it in the least. Despite the different roads traveled,

 it didn’t matter. Because from now on, they would be travelling the

 same road together.