Disclaimer: I don't own CCS. ^^ Or any copyrighted stuff.

 

 NEVER AGAIN

 By ~.^ ~~Forever3330~~ ^.~

 kawaiimotoko@hotmail.com

 

  "Megumi-chan, you have got to be spinning me a tale. And I won't fall for

 it!" The blonde huffed, flipping her braid over her right shoulder.

  "I'm not lying Suzuni-chan!" The brunette insisted, pushing her glasses up

 her nose absently with one finger. "There's a beautiful girl who comes here

 everyday, and just sits at the gate where the only flight from Hong Kong to

 Tomeda is. Every single day she sits and watches all the people get off the

 plane, and watches the new people get on. Then she comes over here and

 orders a scoop of strawberry ice-cream with one cherry." Megumi was a worker

 at the small ice cream shop across front of the gate.

  Megumi's girlfriend raised an eyebrow, calming down. "Look, I came here to

 watch you work, not here tales."

  "Just wait!" Megumi scolded. "The only flight that arrives here comes in at

 exactly noon. She'll be here in about ten minutes, with half an hour till

 noon. She'll leave when the only flight that departs leaves at exactly one."

  Suzuni sighed. "Daijoubu, daijoubu.we'll wait and see. How about you give

 me a chocolate Sunday while we wait?"

  "You and chocolate." Megumi rolled her eyes.

  "Be nice!" Suzuni bopped her girlfriend lightly on the head, then started

 eating her ice cream.

  After serving Suzuni Megumi leaned against the counter, sighing as if she

 were in dreamland. "She's not just a beautiful girl, either. She's gorgeous!

 And so graceful.she has a melodious voice, it's so pretty. She kind of

 reminds me of an angel."

  "Watch how you talk about her or I'll get mad!" Suzuni said with a warning

 glare.

  "What, jealous?" Megumi teased.

  "What do you think, you baka?" Suzuni replied.

  "There she is!" Megumi exclaimed softly, nodding down the hall leading up

 to the gate.

  Suzuni turned and gaped, for once ignoring her ice-cream and letting it

 slowly melt.

  The girl looked like she was around the age of twenty, with violet-black

 curls falling in waves to her waist. Her skin was so pale Suzuni thought

 that she could be a ghost. Pale lips were curved up slightly, in an almost

 hopeful manner. Stormy blue eyes looked out calmly, scanning the people

 around her to find a seat near the gate.

  "She IS beautiful." Suzuni managed.

  "Look more closely at the eyes." Megumi instructed.

  Suzuni obeyed, and was surprised to see the well of emotions that could be

 seen behind them, if you ignored the mask the girl's eyes seemed to have.

 There was the tiniest bit of hope, and there was despair. Calmness,

 patience, and most of all.sadness. Loneliness.

  Megumi examined Suzuni's face closely. "As I've always told you before.the

 eyes are the windows to the soul."

  Suzuni sighed and turned back to Megumi, leaving the graceful figure

 clothed in a sleeveless white sundress with a sunflower pinned to the left

 strap behind to sit down. "You're right.I wonder what could make someone

 that sad?"

  Megumi sighed, smiling a sad sort of smile. "I don't know.I always feel

 that I should be.I don't know, respectful or something. I can never make

 myself ask when I look into those eyes. It's almost as if she's been through

 a million battles. And the sad thing is, she probably has."

  "At her age? She's been at war?" Suzuni looked confused.

  Megumi sweatdropped. "Not THAT kind of fighting! I mean it looks as if she'

 s had a hard life."

  "Oh. I knew that!" Suzuni tried.

  "Yeah right." Megumi rolled her eyes. "If you're so curious you try and ask

 her. I need to go and sweep the floor."

  "Maybe I will!" Suzuni said, standing and walking off before Megumi could

 stop her.

  "She didn't even finish her ice-cream.?" Megumi shrugged and started to

 clean up.

 ~

  Tomoyo sat down gracefully in the middle of an empty row right by the gate.

 She had once promised herself she would wait for Sakura to return to her

 every day until the end of her time. It had been perhaps two years since her

 light had left her, taking away most of Tomoyo's happiness. There was still

 the small joy she could get from watching her Sakura tapes and designing new

 outfits that the other girl would probably never try on.

  Okaa-san worried greatly about her nowadays, but Tomoyo kept going about

 her normal schedule. Or what had become normal after she had pulled herself

 together after Sakura's departure. Tomoyo still hadn't managed to watch the

 tape of Sakura's wedding.she somehow couldn't force herself to. She simply

 designed things for Okaa-san's company, and designed even more things for

 Sakura, which she kept locked away in her bedroom.

  Tomoyo looked up, shaken out of her Sakura-reverie as someone cleared his

 or her throat.

  A tall blonde girl, probably sixteen or so, though she was taller then

 Tomoyo since the heiress had always been rather petite, stood before her.

 She had her hair cut short, almost in a way that reminded Tomoyo of Sakura,

 and had hazel eyes that were full of curiosity. The girl was clothed in

 jeans and a shirt, and tilted her head gently to the side. "Ohayo! I'm

 Kajiya Suzuni!" Suzuni bowed politely. "Well.I will be. Oh, just call me

 Suzuni!"

  Tomoyo smiled slightly at the girl's enthusiasm. So much like Sakura's when

 she was young! "I'm Daidouji-san." Tomoyo offered, nodding her head gravely

 since she didn't feel like standing while waiting for the plane as she

 always did, and also not giving out her first name.

  "Pardon me for intruding upon you," Suzuni blushed, ducking her head and

 then lifting it. "But Megumi-chan, a girl who works at the ice-cream shop

 across from here, told me about you a while ago. She said you come here

 every single day to watch the people who get on and off of this exact

 flight." Suzuni looked more curious then embarrassed now. "And I wondered

 why? And also why you look so sad."

  "You think I'm sad?" Tomoyo was mildly surprised. Very rarely could people

 see through the masks that she wore to hide her feelings.

  "I didn't at first, but my girlfriend Megumi is always picking up on things

 like that. She's so perceptive!" Tomoyo had to let out a small giggle as she

 saw the hearts in Suzuni's eyes.

  "Well, if you sit down I can tell you." Tomoyo offered, the words barely

 out of her mouth before Suzuni eagerly sat down. Tomoyo smiled serenely,

 clasping her hands in her lap. "Once upon a time, around twelve years ago,

 there was a young girl who moved here, to Tomeda. She was so scared when she

 walked into her new classroom, and thought she wouldn't make any friends.

 She wasn't very good at making friends back then. But by a chance of fate

 she got seated next to a kawaii, genki, energetic young girl who was always

 smiling and happy." Tomoyo sighed her 'hanyaa' sigh. "When the genki young

 girl saw the new girl had no eraser, she cheerfully handed over a bunny

 eraser, telling the new girl her name as she did. That kawaii little girl

 had the most beautiful name: Sakura. So Sakura-chan became friends with the

 formerly lonely Tomoyo-chan. They grew up together, Tomoyo-chan always

 following Sakura around with a camcorder or camera, capturing every moment

 she could of Sakura's kawaii and magical life."

  "I wish I could do that with Suzuni." Both Tomoyo and Suzuni jumped,

 noticing for the first time Megumi, who immediately blushed and sat on the

 other side of Tomoyo. "Gomen. I'm Kajiya Megumi. Please go on! Onegai?"

  Tomoyo smiled, noting that this girl must be Suzuni's girlfriend.

 "Daijoubu. Every moment of Tomoyo-chan's life after she received that eraser

 was a big 'I love you Sakura-chan!'. But Sakura-chan was a little oblivious

 to matters of the heart and other things, and didn't notice, no matter how

 many times Tomoyo-chan said it." Tomoyo's smile turned a little sad.

 "Eventually Tomoyo-chan came to the conclusion that she wasn't Sakura-chan's

 True Love, though Sakura-chan was her True Love. And so she searched for

 someone she could entrust Sakura-chan to, without any regrets.

 Unfortunately, Tomoyo-chan made a mistake. The boy she entrusted her True

 Love to, Syaoran-kun, took Sakura-chan away from Tomoyo-chan. Now

 Tomoyo-chan couldn't even be Sakura-chan's best friend. Syaoran-kun made it

 very clear when Tomoyo-chan tried to contact Sakura-chan that he could take

 care of Sakura-chan without Tomoyo-chan. He made sure they never talked

 again."

  Megumi looked over at Suzuni, knowing how she would feel if she was cut off

 from Suzuni. Poor Tomoyo!

  "So Tomoyo-chan talked to the stars, even though all the light was gone

 from her life. Her only joys came from watching videos of Sakura-chan, and

 looking at pictures of Sakura-chan, and wishing Sakura-chan was happy.

 Iie.she wished Sakura-chan would return to her. So over all the distance

 between them she looked up at the stars and wished Sakura-chan could hear

 her saying 'I will wait for you for all eternity, until you return to me. To

 this day Sakura-chan has not returned to the one person who would give her

 life to just here Sakura one more time, to see her, to spend one last day

 with her beloved."

  Suzuni frowned. "That's a sad story, but what does it have to do with you?"

  Tomoyo and Megumi sweatdropped. Megumi replied, "Your ice-cream is melting.

 You had better go and eat it."

  Suzuni was away in a flash, and Megumi stood up, then bowed respectfully to

 Tomoyo. "You've gone through a lot of pain. I don't know how I could stand

 it if that had happened to Suzuni and I. She finally realized how I felt

 only because her brother told her. She thought for a long time, for once.

 Then she told me exactly how she felt about the situation, and asked me out

 on a date. You're strong Tomoyo-chan."

  Tomoyo smiled. "She reminds me of Sakura-chan in a few ways. Suzuni-san

 said something about you being the one who found out I was sad. How.?"

  Megumi blushed. "Oh, I work at the shop across from here. And.hasn't anyone

 ever told you the eyes are the windows to the soul? I hope she returns to

 you someday. I'll give you your ice cream free today."

  Tomoyo started to protest, but Megumi stopped her. "In exchange for the

 wonderful story. Suzuni-chan and I will be getting married next month. We're

 both eighteen." Tomoyo looked surprised. "I'm short for my age, and Suzuni

 just acts younger. We'd be pleased if you came. Here.bring Sakura-chan along

 when she returns to you. If she does in time, I mean." Megumi handed Tomoyo

 a napkin with the detail scribbled on a napkin. "I hope to see you both

 there."

 ~

  Tomoyo sighed, tucking the napkin into her pocket. She would definitely be

 at the wedding, though it was doubtful Sakura would return. She would be

 able to give her camcorder a workout after all these years. And Okaa-san

 would surely want to come along. Then they could both be happy that two

 girls reminding them of other people found True Love together.

  Tomoyo glanced down as her watch beeped sweetly. Sweetly because Okaa-san

 hated normal watch beeping, and had insisted on a pretty sound. "The plane

 should arrive right."

  "Attention, attention, the plane from Hong Kong to Tomeda has arrived! I

 repeat, the plane from Hong Kong to Tomeda has arrived!" The usual bored

 voice of the flight attendant announced.

  Tomoyo smiled, glancing back one last time at the two girls, who were now

 involved in a conversation, from what it looked like they were discussing

 ice cream flavors. "."

  Tomoyo giggled then shook her head and looked back as the door opened and

 passengers started filing in. Just as she always did, Tomoyo searched for

 Sakura in the line of people who got off, and as always, she saw no Sakura

 chan.

  Her watch rang again, and Tomoyo got up, heading for the ice cream shop.

 Just as she reached the middle of the hallway between the gate and the

 ice-cream shop as something hit her head hard, and she stumbled sideways,

 whatever it was hanging on to her head. "Kyaa!"

  Tomoyo fell to the ground, unable to regain hr balance. She finally managed

 to get whatever-it-was off, noting before she got it off that it was making

 noises, like it was talking.

  Finally able to see the thing her eyes widened. "No.way."

  "Hiya Tomoyo-chan! Got any chocolate on ya?" The small yellow creature

 asked.

  "Kero-chan.?" Tomoyo asked in disbelief. Was she dreaming?

  "The one and only!" Kero said.

  "Should you really be zooming around in an airport?" Tomoyo asked.

  "Uh.probably not." Kero sweatdropped. "Gomen. I forgot about that.I was so

 happy to see you! You can cook so well! Oh well. They'll just think I'm a

 weird toy." A few children were heard saying they wanted a toy like that.

  "Kero-chan." Tomoyo started.

  "Want some help up Tomoyo-chan?" The one voice she had been sure she would

 never hear again asked, taking one of Tomoyo's hands in hers and pulling the

 pale heiress to her feet.

  "Sakura-chan?! What are you doing in Tomeda? Where's Syaoran-kun?" Tomoyo

 was now sure that she was dreaming. She had to be.

  Sakura's eyes darkened, then brightened. "He's back in Hong Kong. A few

 months ago I started getting these weird dreams, and I started to think he'd

 made you stop talking to me and writing to me. It turned out he had had the

 phone company block your number and he had all of the letters you sent

 stuffed in the family safe. I only found out after finding one in the mail

 by accident and by forcing him to tell me everything. The only reason I didn

 't come home sooner was because we had to get the divorce settled. I don't

 want to marry someone who would block me off from my very best friend."

 Sakura hugged Tomoyo again, looking the only slightly shorter girl in the

 eyes. "I missed you, Tomoyo-chan. So did Kero-chan and the cards."

  "But.Sakura-chan's happiness." Tomoyo was now utterly confused, and yet

 understanding everything at the same time.

  "I wasn't happy living with someone who would do that Tomoyo-chan. Besides,

 I finally figured out my heart. And what everyone else, like Onii-chan,

 Yukito-san, and even Meiling-chan had been hinting at. Not to mention

 Chiharu-chan, Naoko-chan, and Rika-chan. Even Yamazaki-chan tried to tell me

 a few times." Sakura sweatdropped. "And my Sakura cards.And Kero-chan."

  "Kid, you'd better stop or we'll be here forever. Face it: you're oblivious

 to some things. REALLY oblivious." Kero said, rolling his eyes. "NOW I WANT

 CAKE!"

  Sakura glared at Kero. "Hey! Be nice or.um.NO DESERT FOR A MONTH!"

  Kero immediately went silent.

  "What are you trying to say Sakura-chan.?" Tomoyo prompted eagerly.

  Sakura blushed bright red. "Um.er.uh.that is.I.Tomoyo-chan,

 I.uh.I.A-Aishiteru Tomoyo-chan." Sakura finally got out.

  Tomoyo started to cry as she heard the words she had waited her entire life

 to hear.

  Sakura looked at Tomoyo in concern and slight confusion. "Tomoyo-chan! Don'

 t cry.are you alright?" She gently wiped Tomoyo's eyes.

  "I'm fine Sakura-chan. It's just that I always knew you would save me, my

 beautiful emerald light." Tomoyo smiled gently.

  Sakura smiled nervously. "Um, Tomoyo-chan?"

  "Yes Sakura-chan?"

  Sakura put her hand behind her head, smiling. "I was wondering if you would

 like.to.um."

  Tomoyo giggled, and decided to help Sakura out. "Would you like to go out

 some time Sakura? We could go get some ice cream before we get your luggage,

 and then maybe we can go out to dinner. It's a little backwards, but they

 have the best ice cream there."

  "Hai!" Sakura stopped, and looked at Tomoyo. "Tomoyo, how did you know I

 would come home today?"

  Tomoyo smiled. "I didn't Sakura. I always come here every day. Then I get

 ice cream."

  Sakura frowned. "But what would you have done if I never came?"

  Tomoyo thought, then smiled again. "I would have waited for you every day,

 until I was no longer in this world. For my Sakura-chan, I can bear

 anything."

  "Tomoyo."

  Tomoyo smiled brightly, all the sadness wiped away from her eyes. "I love

 you Sakura. I always have, and always will. Oh.I have a ton of costumes for

 you, but it looks like I might have to re-measure you and make a few changes

 to them."

  "But I've got all the cards." Sakura pointed out.

  "Well, I have a theory." Kero said thoughtfully. "Your magic didn't work

 when you left Tomeda, and therefore no evil was attracted, nor was any

 magic. I think your magic is powered by your love of Tomoyo-chan, because

 ever since we got here I've felt stronger. Ever since you divorced the brat

 you've even been able to invoke the cards. So, now that your magic is

 working you will have plenty of adventures. Believe me! Now let's get that

 ice cream."

 ~

 A few weeks later.

  "Time to throw the bouquets!" Suzuni called out cheerfully.

  Sonomi ran over, determined to get one for herself. Suzuni threw hers, and

 Sonomi managed to get it by growling at the other women trying to get it.

  "Okaa-san." Tomoyo sweatdropped, then smiled.

  "C'mon! Throw yours Megumi!" Suzuni ordered.

  Megumi looked at her newlywed wife and smiled slightly. "Daijoubu." Megumi

 smiled brightly as she saw Tomoyo. "Tomoyo-chan! Catch!" Tomoyo threw up her

 hands to shield her face from the flying bouquet, catching it in the

 process.

  "Tomoyo-chan?" Suzuni asked her wife. "You mean she's the girl from the

 story?"

  Megumi sweatdropped. "Ah.let's go get in the car and go start on the way to

 the airport so we can leave for our honeymoon, okay?"

  Suzuni agreed cheerfully, and they were gone in an instant, as were most of

 the guests. Tomoyo continued to stare at the bouquet of cherry blossoms. Of

 course, Megumi was the type to do that on purpose. Over the past few weeks

 Sakura and Tomoyo had gotten to know the couple very well along with Sonomi.

  Sakura tapped Tomoyo on the shoulder, smiling. "You know, I think that's

 Megumi-chan giving us a hint, hmm?"

  Tomoyo raised an eyebrow. "You picked up on that?"

  Sakura blushed. "Megumi-chan explained to me all about the 'whoever catches

 the bouquet is the next to be married' thing." Sakura admitted. "She has

 also taken me to fifty jewelry stores in the past week."

  Tomoyo giggled. "She really wants us to be 'happily ever after'."

  "I already am." Sakura said, blushing. "Hoe."

  "What is it Sakura?" Tomoyo asked.

  "Um.Tomoyowouldyouconsidermarryingme?" Sakura asked in one breath.

  Tomoyo smiled. "Of course. I'd even say hai."

  Sakura smiled giddily. "Oh, Tomoyo, you won't be sorry! I'll.um.be the very

 best wife it's possible to be! I love you Tomoyo."

  "I love you too Sakura." Tomoyo took off a ring she had been wearing and

 slipped it on Sakura's ring finger. "This can be your engagement ring. It

 was the ring my mother gave me. Your mother gave it to my mother when they

 were little, as a fake wedding ring. You know how little kids have pretend

 weddings. Okaa-san has had it ever since." Tomoyo explained.

  "It's beautiful." Sakura managed. The ring was a silver band inlayed with

 pearls in a swirling pattern.

  "And an heirloom." Tomoyo said cheerfully.

  Sakura handed Tomoyo a ring and slipped it on Tomoyo's ring finger, which

 was a silver band with a small blue sapphire in the center, and Japanese

 writing around it, which read 'Aishiteru'. "Otou-san and Onii-chan helped me

 pick it out. Do you like it Tomoyo?" Sakura asked anxiously.

  "Of course!" Tomoyo replied. "Anything Sakura-chan gives me is precious

 beyond any treasure but Sakura-chan herself." Tomoyo handed Sakura the

 bouquet. "Here. Since you asked me before I did you, you deserve this." She

 smiled brightly. "Aishiteru, Sakura."

  "Aishiteru Tomoyo. Gomen it took me so long to figure that out." Sakura

 replied.

  "That's okay Sakura. I would have always loved you no matter what, and I

 do. I always will." Tomoyo leaned her head on Sakura's shoulder.

  "And I you." Sakura said softly, leaning down to kiss her one True Love.

 

 THE END