"Sakura-chan and Okaa-sama's Track and Field Adventure"

 (Written on the videotape in Tomoyo’s delightfully Kawaii script*)

 

 

 

 I. 

 Sakura was all eagerness when she arrived at the Daidouji residence.

 Shouldering a yellow and white athletic bag she buzzed the gate for

 admittance. Shortly after it opened, she saw Sonomi sama racing

 towards her with Tomoyo chan trailing behind.

 

 "Yo-ho, Sakura-chan!" Sonomi sang out. She was dressed in bright red

 shorts with a crimson jacket trimmed in black. Tomoyo had a similar

 outfit, but in navy blue. Both wore matching black running shoes.

 Sakura smiled to see them; the beautiful mother and daughter running

 together. Sonomi was quickly upon her, seemingly invigorated by the

 long run from the mansion. Tomoyo, breathless but all smiles, finally

 caught up. 

 

 Sakura bowed as she said, "Sonomi sama, Tomoyo chan, thank you for

 having me."

 

 Beaming at the little girl, Sonomi replied, "It's always a pleasure

 to have you with us. Would you like to change in the field house?"

 

  "Field house?" Sakura answered with a puzzled look.

 

 As the three began walking past a row of trees, Tomoyo, still

 catching her breath, giggled, "Mother had some changes made to the

 yard so she could coach you properly."

 

 Sonomi put her finger on her cheek thoughtfully and said, "It really

 isn't what I wanted at all, but Tomoyo chan wouldn't let me cut down

 the plum trees to make room for the oval."

 

 Topping a little rise, Sakura saw what had once been a grassy yard

 and stopped short. A new 100 meter track stretched into the distance,

 bulldozer tread marks testifying to its recent completion. Nearby was

 a small white field house for showering and changing, and even a set

 of stands for who-knew-what spectators. Sakura turned to Sonomi, who

 could barely contain her delight, and exclaimed,

 

 "Oh, you shouldn't have done this just for me. Your poor, pretty

 yard!"   

 

 Sonomi leaned over, placed her hand on the girl's cheek, and smiled

 sweetly.

 

 "Don't worry, dear. It's something I'd always wanted myself since I

 was young. Besides, if you do something, you do it right, and I can't

 be a good coach without proper facilities.” 

 

 Sakura bowed her thanks again, and Tomoyo ushered her into the field

 house. After changing into her Tomoeda P. E. outfit, she rushed out

 to warm up with Sonomi and Tomoyo. Somehow, she was not surprised to

 find a camera and tripod already filming the proceedings. Sonomi then

 had her run some short sprints off the starting block. watching

 carefully all the while. Then the woman called her over, took off her

 crimson jacket, and adjusted the wood and metal blocks with careful,

 practiced precision. 

 

 Standing behind the blocks she nodded to Tomoyo, who called out,

  

 “Go to your marks,”

 

 Sonomi placed her left leg in the far block, and her right on the

 block a few inches to the front. Her left knee touched the ground,

 and her hands, fingers forming little arches, rested on the track.

 Sakura could see by the sure and economical movements that this was a

 routine executed thousands of times. As the woman settled in, Tomoyo

 called out again,

 

 “Set,”

 

 Like a cat crouching to pounce, Sonomi took a deep breath and arched

 her body forward and up. Head down, she wore an expression of deepest

 concentration. Her lithe body was perfectly still, balanced, coiled,

 relaxed, and waiting. Sakura flinched when Tomoyo fired the starting

 gun, and nearly missed the amazing sight of the runner’s start. She

 looked in horror as Sonomi pitched forward, certain to fall on her

 face. But instead of falling she rocketed ahead, her first stride

 long and her body low to the ground. In the blink of an eye she had

 run 5 or 6 strides and was racing down the field before slowing her

 pace and walking back, hands on hips. Sakura stood and marveled,

 whispering,

 

 “Sugoi.”

 

 Then she ran to Sonomi, starry-eyed and gasping,

 

 “That was wonderful! I was so afraid you would fall!"  

 

 The woman laughed, and explained how the physics of gravity and

 front leg thrust combined to produce the fastest possible start. She

 adjusted the blocks for Sakura, fine tuning them as the girl

 practiced. Sakura was amazed how the tiniest changes of form and

 position could make such a difference in speed. Sonomi patiently

 observed, corrected, and praised Sakura's efforts. When they broke

 for a light lunch of cucumber sandwiches and tea, both were exhausted

 but excited, and eager to start again.   

 

 For Tomoyo, it was her favorite spring. Almost every Saturday, and

 some weeknights when she had no chores or homework, Sakura came over

 to practice. Sometimes Tomoyo would run with her, just to give her a

 sense of running against a competitor. Trying her hardest, she

 invariably fell far behind the auburn haired-sprinter, though it

 bothered her not in the least. To see Sakura run was a joy beyond

 telling, for she ran with a wild exuberance that thrilled the heart.

 Her mother slowly shaped and channeled that raw energy, and Sakura

 gloried in the changes that came over her. Most of all, Tomoyo just

 loved to watch, to see her working with her mother, and to film her

 sprints.

 

 That spring, Tomoyo's relationship with Sakura began to change in

 ways she was only vaguely aware of. She rarely thought about her love

 for the girl, for she loved Sakura as naturally and unselfconsciously

 as breathing. Love was part of the morning as she brushed her long

 hair in the dappled sunlight of her room. It was with her at school

 while reciting a lesson, or singing in the choir, or just sitting

 across from Sakura, watching her read and study. Love filled her

 nights when she sewed, or studied, or sat gazing at a moon carved out

 of bright steel. Only rarely did it occur to her that this boundless

 love was unusual, and that she was quite unlike the others around

 her. For Tomoyo, the real wonder was not her own intense passion, but

 the curious fact that everybody did not love Sakura as she did. In

 part, this explained her utter lack of jealousy and possessiveness.

 She saw Syaoran’s awkward, blossoming love for her friend as

 completely natural and right, for how could a person not love Sakura

 with all their heart? For her, that was the inexplicable mystery. And

 yet, though her own love had never changed in all the time she had

 known her friend, Tomoyo herself was deeply affected by something

 completely unforeseen. The pale, dark-haired girl had been sweetly

 shaken by Sakura's own love for her.

 

 Tomoyo, usually so perceptive, had been pained and baffled by her

 friend's unusual moodiness after the true nature of Yue had come to

 light. Upon collection of the final Clow Card Sakura had seemed

 fragile and edgy, nothing like her usual happy self. Tomoyo thought

 her fatigued, or perhaps let down by the apparent end of the quest.

 Once they even fought, or, rather, Sakura had rounded on her angrily

 before fleeing in tears. Tomoyo was left stunned and shattered,

 painfully hurt in a way she never thought possible. That night was

 agony as she called and called on the little pink cell phone,

 desperate to apologize for whatever she had done, waiting for an

 answering voice that never came. She nearly left to go see Sakura, to

 beg forgiveness and try to understand why. So thankful now that she

 had stayed in her room, waiting, and singing sadly to herself. There

 the Mistress of the Cards found her after a long and trying journey.

 In what still seemed a miracle, Sakura then confessed her love for

 Tomoyo.

 

 Those sweet, stammering words of love still echoed in Tomoyo's

 heart. That her friend had finally discovered Tomoyo's secret love,

 hidden so well for so long, was surprise enough. But when they

 embraced, and kissed, Tomoyo first felt Sakura's own love for her.

 Unlooked for, desired beyond hope or prayer, that love had changed

 her forever. Like a pale moon, Tomoyo had circled Sakura's life with

 faithful constancy. But now, like twin stars in a cosmic dance, the

 lives of the two lovers revolved around each other. It was joyous, it

 was thrilling, and, for Tomoyo, it was a little scary. Admiring the

 beautiful girl from afar, Tomoyo was safe among the shadows. But when

 Sakura's loving gaze fell upon her, she feared falling far short of

 what the remarkable girl deserved. Looking inward, Tomoyo wondered if

 fear was a reason, secret even from herself, that she had encouraged

 Sakura's relationships with Yukito and Syaoran. She could see through

 others so easily, but her own heart was sometimes shrouded in mystery. 

 

 Sitting in the viewing stands, Tomoyo caught the delicate scent of

 plum blossoms as Sakura exploded again from the starting block. She

 felt a twinge of guilt for begging the trees be spared, but her

 mother said the girl was a natural sprinter, and the oval track would

 be more for her use than Sakura's anyway. She resolved to bake her

 mother a plum pie when the fruits were ripe. Sonomi was working with

 Sakura's form as she emerged from her start. Carefully her mother

 demonstrated the transition to a full run, while Sakura watched,

 nodding, and then tried it herself. Her mother said the girl was a

 quick learner, and Tomoyo ruefully knew how true that was. It was

 just like the cards. 

 

 At first, Sakura seemed baffled, even intimidated by the complexity

 of Clow's creation. But she proved relentless, and against all hope

 saw it through to the very end. In time she penetrated their secrets

 and made them her own, and the Cards seemed to love her all the more

 for it. Just like me, Tomoyo thought with a blush. 

 

 Once she had charmed Sakura with a mask of happiness, her friend

 blithely unaware of Tomoyo's hidden love and loneliness. But now

 Sakura loved her, and was no longer content with shimmering

 reflections on the water's surface. Sakura as the Mistress of the

 Cards devoured secrets, and burned with a fiery will to know. Now

 that will was turned towards her, and Sakura impatiently brushed

 aside the veils that hid Tomoyo's true feelings. When Tomoyo was

 happy Sakura was, too, and when she was not the girl consoled her and

 shared the grief and pain. At first this had horrified Tomoyo,

 devastated that her own unhappiness should so affect her friend. But

 Sakura seemed none the worse for it, her irrepressible spirit and

 energy washing away hurts and fears as her gentle fingers brushed

 away tears.

 

  Tomoyo felt closer to the girl than ever before. That closeness

 came not from her own love, which was as vast and unchanging as ever,

 but from Sakura's. Sakura's love was a beacon that lit the darkness

 of Tomoyo's world and a hammer that shattered the barriers around her

 heart. Tomoyo had painstakingly designed her own prison, a citadel of

 loneliness to seal her love away. But when the Mistress of the Cards

 realized her friend's isolation, she came like a hurricane and tore

 the walls apart. Then, shy and gentle once more, Sakura begged leave

 to stay, forever. And Tomoyo, blinking in the unexpected sunlight,

 said yes. 

 

 As time unwound in it's own way, she slowly realized that Sakura

 would have no walls between them. Tomoyo could love from afar, but

 not Sakura. The girl's eager enthusiasm demanded she know Tomoyo's

 innermost self, and be ever close to her heart.  And despite

 misgivings, for she still feared bringing pain or hurt in some

 unknown way to her friend, Tomoyo found herself yielding. Besides,

 all her art and artifice availed her nothing in the face of Sakura's

 direct and relentless innocence. Even for the sake of her beloved,

 Tomoyo found it increasingly impossible to meet those shimmering

 green eyes with anything less than the truth. With a sigh, Tomoyo

 looked up and saw Sakura at the far end of the track, waving in

 exaltation at a new personal best time. Tomoyo waved back, smiling,

 and glanced at the plum branches swaying in the spring breeze. She

 knew she would rather die, would rather have never existed at all,

 than bring any hurt to Sakura. But the little zephyr laughed at her

 worries, whispering "It's all right, everything will be all right."

 Blossoms rained down from above, covering her gray-black hair in a

 pink and purple crown. A sweet, intense longing gripped her as she

 leapt from the stands. With her heart afire, she dashed wildly down

 the track towards Sakura.

 

 II. 

 Just by watching her posture Sonomi could tell. She laughed to

 herself as Sakura fiddled with the starting blocks. If Tomoyo had not

 been her own child, she would have despaired of ever knowing her at

 all. But Sakura was an open book, her moods and thoughts there for

 all the world to see. Something was troubling her, something she

 wanted to talk about but could not. Sonomi stood to the side and

 spoke in a loud voice,

 

 "Go to your marks."

 

 Sakura settled into position, awaiting the next call. But Sonomi was

 silent, watching the girl's arched figure with intensity. A runner

 should be able to hold that stance for several minutes with no

 fatigue, but the girl was already trembling from the strain. Sonomi

 walked over and gently laid her hand on Sakura's shoulder. In a

 soothing, motherly voice she said,

 

 "Sakura chan, your shoulders are tight, and your body seems very

 tense. Are you feeling well? Is there something the matter?"

 

 Sakura looked up in surprise, mouth open, as if to say, "How did you

 know?" But instead of answering, she looked away in embarrassment.

 Sonomi gently nudged her into a standing position, and said,

 

 "Let's sit over by the trees for a bit, all right?"

 

 Sakura followed morosely and plopped down in the grass. Sonomi

 stretched out under the tree and let silence do its work. Sakura

 fidgeted, played idly with the grass, finally looked up with moist

 eyes and blurted out,

 

 "Sonomi sama, I feel so bad. I ran so badly and it was just awful!

 I'm so sorry..." Her voice tailed off as she fought back the tears

 with a halting sob. 

 

 "Well, there's no reason to feel sorry if you tried your best. You

 can't win every race, you know. Do you feel like telling me what

 happened?" Sonomi's tone was gentle and reassuring, urging the child

 to continue. Sakura looked at the ground as she spoke, an

 undercurrent of anger edging her voice,

  

 "It was the qualifying races for Field Day. I finished second, so I

 qualified for the final race next week, but I ran so poorly."

 

 Sonomi spoke in a cheerful but restrained tone,

 

 "Oh, my, second is no cause for shame, especially if you made the

 cut for the final race. Who finsihed first?"

 

 Through clenched teeth, her anger rising, Sakura mumbled, 

 

 "Li-kun."

 

 "Ah, Tomoyo told me he is a very good runner. She said he almost

 beat you in the race last year."

 

 Sakura turned abruptly to look at her, anger and pain and tears all

 jumbled together. In a stammering rush she exclaimed,

 

 "He was so mean. He said I couldn't run as fast as him, that girls

 were slower than boys, and that...that..."

 

 Sonomi watched Sakura carefully, and felt deep sympathy for the poor

 girl, so obviously wounded. With a kindly look she nodded, waiting

 for her to continue.

 

 "He...he said I shouldn't be around Tomoyo so much and that she was,

 she was clumsy and couldn't run or anything and that, that she was

 just an anchor around my head or my neck or something stupid like

 that and I was so angry and I wanted to win so bad and I couldn't and

 he beat me just like he said and I'm sorry I wanted to run my best

 for you and Tomoyo and I didn't and I'm sorry I'm so so sorry!"

 

 With that, she collapsed into Sonomi's arms, crying at the shame of

 it all. The woman held her tightly, cooing reassurance as she rocked

 gently back and forth. With a fearful look Tomoyo came running, but

 Sonomi shooed her away. Looking down at the auburn-haired girl she

 smiled, knowing that what stung her the most were the taunts aimed at

 Tomoyo. Sakura was a gentle, cheerful little spirit, but a protective

 tigress when roused. She's like me, Sonomi mused. Odd, because she

 had always seen Nadesico in the girl since their first meeting a year

 ago, never herself. But when it came to those dearest to them, both

 were as quick to anger as to love. And then memory took Sonomi,

 memory from long ago.

 

 She heard the sneering voice first, coming from behind a corner of

 the school. Then the mocking words, "clumsy", "baka", "watch where

 you're going". Curious, she walked around the wall and heard a

 muffled voice stammering out apologies. There stood Nadesico-chan,

 bowing low, her long hair nearly sweeping the ground. Above her

 towered a sempai, red-faced, hands on hips, his books in the dirt.

 Letting loose another stream of disparaging abuse, he contemptuously

 pushed her shoulder, knocking the slender girl off balance as she

 continued to apologize in her soft, sweet voice. With that, Sonomi

 snapped.

 

 She rushed towards him, screaming, "Stop it!". He turned to look,

 his face contorted in the strangest combination of surprise and

 anger. Without thinking, Sonomi clenched her fist and swung in a

 swift, arcing uppercut. She caught him square under the chin, his

 open mouth quickly shutting, teeth clattering. Leaning her onrushing

 body into the blow, she staggered him nearly off his feet and up

 against the red brick wall. He slammed into it, head banging back

 with a solid thunk, then slumped into a heap in the dirt. Shaking in

 rage and shock, Sonomi stood above him, waiting for the boy to rise.

 But he was deathly still, and the fury that gripped her quickly

 drained away. She was startled by Nadesico, who rushed past her to

 see if the boy was all right. With a worried look, she touched his

 forehead with loving tenderness. Groaning, he opened his eyes, and

 Nadesico took Sonomi's hand and whispered, "Let's go."

 

  Later that morning they passed him in the hall, but he studiously

 ignored them. After lunch, the two friends sat on the grass in the

 shade of a big oak tree. Nadesico watched Sonomi intently as the red

 haired girl gingerly covered one hand with the other. She reached

 out, gently laying her own hand on Sonomi's, and asked,

 

 "Did you hurt your hand?"

 

 Turning, Sonomi saw the fearful concern in her shimmering, green

 eyes. Blushing, she looked away and stammered,

 

 "N-no, I'm fine, it's nothing". 

 

 Nadesicio squeezed the hand ever so slightly, and Sonomi winced at

 the pain. Nadesico drew her hand back in horror and gasped, 

 

 "You did hurt yourself. Oh, Sonomi chan, I'm so sorry. You hurt

 yourself because of me." 

 

 Sonomi shook her head vigorously, short red hair flying back and

 forth,

 

 "No, no, it's nothing, really, just a sprain, I think. It happens

 all the time in gymnastics". 

 

 At this, Nadesico looked more upset than ever. 

 

 "Gymnastics? But Sonomi chan, don't you have a meet this weekend

 with the gymnastics club?"

 

 Sonomi had forgotten, but not Nadesico, who attended every meet to

 cheer her on. With her dearest friend in the stands, Sonomi loved the

 competition. Before each event, she silently dedicated herself: May I

 be blessed with strength and beauty to perform for her delight.

 Fiercely competitive, Sonomi hated to lose even more than she loved

 to win. But such things seemed trivial when she was watched by

 Nadesico. Performing was sheer joy, and the dark haired girl's eager

 enthusiasm drove Sonomi to do her very best. With a smile she said,

 

 "It's no big thing if I miss one meet."

 

 Nadesico looked at the ground, then at the sky, watching a little

 white cloud scudding across the blue. She brushed the gray-black hair

 from her eyes and glanced at her friend. In a soft, sweet voice she

 whispered,

 

 "Thank you, Sonomi chan". She carefully reached out for the girl's

 good hand, and took it in her own. She caressed her hand gently,

 fingers lovingly tracing every curve and contour. Sonomi caught her

 breath and blushed, staring straight ahead, not daring to face those

 wide, emerald eyes for fear of what she might say, or do, here in the

 schoolyard. Nadesico whispered again,

 

 "But," Sonomi looked up quizically, waiting for her to continue. "

 you know, sempai was right. I really am very clumsy." She smiled

 brightly as she spoke. Sonomi suppressed a grin and wore a mock frown

 instead as she replied,

 

 "Yes, I know. But I'm the only one allowed to say that, ne?"

 Nadesico giggled, and Sonomi laughed out loud. Hand in hand, the two

 cousins rose and ran off to their next class.

 

 Sakura had stopped crying, but still lay nestled in Sonomi's arms.

 Wiping away her tears the woman said,

 

  "That race is all over now. Let's get ready for the next one."

 

 Sakura sat up, eyes red and puffy. Slowly the anger returned,

 pushing out the hurt and filling her voice as she spoke,

 

 "This time I'll beat him. I'll beat him so bad!"

 

 Replying in her soft Mother's voice Sonomi answered,

 

 "If that's the way you feel, Sakura chan, then you'll lose again,"

 

 Stung by these gently spoken but cutting words, the auburn-haired

 girl looked up in surprise. Sonomi smiled nonchalantly and continued,

 

 "When you sprint, emotions like anger just slow you down. Remember

 how I told you to be when you take your mark?"

 

 Sakura nodded as she spoke, "Relaxed but concentrating". 

 

 Sonomi nodded and continued, "That's right. It's very hard to do,

 because when we concentrate we usually strain to keep our focus. But

 when you strain like that your body isn't relaxed, you tense up like

 you did today. But when we relax, we tend to lose focus, our mind

 wanders, and we're distracted by whatever comes along."

 

 Confused, Sakura blurted out, "But then, what do I do? How can I do

 both at once?"

 

 "Sakura, usually when you run, you do both at once, you're just not

 aware of it. But when you have strong thoughts and feelings that

 affect you, you lose focus, or your relaxation, or even both. During

 practice, when you hear the starting gun, what are you thinking about?"

 

 Puzzled, Sakura tried to remember. Finally she looked up in

 bafflement and said, "I don't know. I don't remember thinking about

 anything. I'm just waiting for the gun."  

 

  Sonomi smiled, "And in the qualifying race, what were you thinking?"

 

 "That I wanted to beat Li-kun so bad. That I was so mad for what he

 said about Tomoyo."

 

 "And how was your start?"

 

 Sakura stared at the ground and mumbled, "Awful. I missed the gun

 and came out of the blocks last."

 

 Sonomi lifted the girl's downcast chin with gentle fingers. Verging

 on tears again, she looked up into Sonomi's soft, blue eyes. Suddenly

 the woman swept her up, hugging her tightly as she spoke,

 

 "Sakura chan, I know perfectly well how you want to protect Tomoyo,

 and I love you for it. But," stooping by the standing girl, she

 studied her face carefully, "you can't let thoughts and feelings

 hamper you when you sprint, or you'll never run well. You have to let

 them go, like dropping a heavy stone. Do you know when I ran my best

 ever?"

 

 Sakura brightened, "Was that when you won the Nationals?"

 

 Sonomi nodded and smiled, "That's right. It was after your Mother

 was married." At that thought, the smile left her, and she struggled

 to keep her composure. "Sakura, when your Mother married, I

 was...very, very sad. I felt I'd lost the one most precious to me. I

 thought about her all the time."

 

 To herself she sighed, "I still do."

 

 "The only time I didn't think of her was when I ran. For just a few,

 precious seconds, I forgot everything. There was only the running.

 

 Sakura, when you run, you can't think about Tomoyo, or what Li-kun

 said, or anything else. You have to let everything go. When the gun

 sounds, your body starts instinctively, without a trace of thought or

 feeling. A sprint is over too quickly to let yourself be clouded by

 emotions. My coach told me that when you run, your mind should be an

 empty mirror in a dark room. Then the running happens all by itself,

 and there is nothing to slow you down."

 

 She stood and smiled at the beautiful daughter of Nadesico, who

 smiled back ever so sweetly. A gentle spring breeze swept past them,

 their short hair teased in the sudden wind. There were times when

 Sonomi sensed her cousin's presence in the things she had loved: rain

 drops running in little rivers down the window, birds circling high

 in a cloudless sky, and a breeze like this, playfully tossing her

 long, gray-black hair. 

 

 "Sakura, let's work on your transition to a full run. I think your

 final stride is a bit too long."

 

 The girl nodded eagerly, and the two walked away from the tree and

 back to the track. The breeze died down as fast as it had come,

 leaving Sonomi with a terrible longing. "Someday", she thought with

 an aching heart, "someday. Wait for me, Nadesico, please wait for me."

 

 III.

 When Sakura first caught a glimpse of Li kun she struggled with her

 feelings and  pondered what to do. Afraid of upsetting herself before

 the race, she decided to ignore him, and continued her warm ups in

 the grassy field by the track. But the boy stood close by her, and

 then coughed loudly, twice, all but demanding an audience. Sakura

 turned towards him, waiting for his latest remarks. Instead, he

 looked at the ground, obviously struggling with himself. Puzzled, she

 said,

 

 “LI kun?”

 

 The boy clenched his fists tightly and forced the words out,

 

 “I….I’m sorry. Sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it.”

 

 He stood silent, waiting for whatever abuse she might hurl. But her

 voice was gentle, overflowing with happiness,

 

 “Li kun, I know you didn’t mean what you said. It’s all right. But

 thank you so much for telling me.”

 

 He looked up at her with pained eyes and saw that comforting smile.

 A terrible burden suddenly and miraculously lifted from his

 shoulders, he teeterd on the verge of tears. He almost smiled, but

 flustered and obviously out of words, quickly ran off instead. Sakura

 watched him go, and felt her own blessing of relief. Now she would

 not have to run this race against anyone. But she would still run the

 race for someone. With that realization, she heard Tomoyo’s voice on

 the loudspeaker announcing the start of the 5th grade 100 meter dash.

 

 She walked to the starting line, scanning the crowd for familiar

 faces. With delight she saw Oniichan, Yukito san and her father

 waving from the stands. She waved back wildly, and then saw Sonomi

 sama as well, and waved to her. Noticing the other runners, she

 quickly went to her starting block and adjusted it. She felt a great

 excitement, but also a wonderful sense of peace. Beaming, she turned

 to Syaoran who was preparing in the lane next to her and said,

 

 “Li kun, let’s do our best, OK?”

 

 He blushed, and nodded silently while he fiddled with his blocks.

 Terrada sensei, in his white and black stripped official’s uniform,

 stood to one side and nodded. The eight runners stepped into their

 lanes in front of the starting blocks. Sakura closed her eyes and

 said a silent prayer,

 

 “Tomoyo chan, if I forget you, just for this race, please don’t ever

 forget me.”

 

 With a deep breath, Sakura began to let everything go: the spring

 sky, the other runners, the expectant audience. All things faded from

 her mind: the fight with Li kun, the hours of training, her brother's

 taunts, Yukito's kindness, her father's gentleness. Last was Tomoyo,

 pale, serene, and ever smiling, her long, black hair blowing in some

 distant wind. 

 

 "Go to your marks!"

 

 At Terrada sensei's booming call, she went to her position. Her left

 leg rested on the ground, her right leg the power leg, brought

 forward. Both feet set lightly on the starting blocks, and  her

 fingers and thumbs formed little bridges on the white chalk starting

 line. With her head down, her field of vision was reduced to a few

 square inches of dirt. Her body felt utterly relaxed but alert,

 awaiting the next call.

 

 "Set"

 

 In an instant, everything changed. She took a deep, quick breath as

 her body arched up, hips raised slightly above the level of her

 shoulders. Her weight shifted forward, head and neck leaning over the

 white line. Her back foot lifted up slightly with only her toes on

 the block, but her right, forward foot was flush to the block for

 maximum thrust. She was still calm and relaxed, but the muscles in

 her body sang out in electric expectation. Her concentration was

 absolute, waiting, waiting, waiting...

 

 A deafening bang.

 

 At the retort of the gun her body pitched forward, fingers leaving

 the ground and forming fists, one arm sweeping and one thrown back.

 The muscles in her right leg exploded and thrust her body forward and

 up. Her strides were short but powerful as her body gradually

 straightened, while her eyes rasied and focused on the long, narrow

 lane. By the fourth stride she was at a full run, arms moving piston-

 like in quick, sharp bursts, stride lengthening as her leg speed

 approached its limits. Her form was liquid smooth and flawless,

 without extraneous motion to detract from the efficiency of her run.

 Her head was straight and still, her knees lifting high to the front,

 giving her the delightful look of a prancing horse. She saw only the

 finish line, almost halfway there now, narrowing in a long, dark

 tunnel. The darkness enveloped her as she reached her fastest speed,

 then splintered in a shattering fountain of light.

 

 She saw her own body running, as though viewed from outside herself.

 But not quite her body, for it was a luminous, pulsating figure that

 illumined the darkness. Great strands of blue light flowed through

 her arms and coiled through the air, pulling her ahead. Torrents of

 yellow energy flooded through her legs with every stride.  Her body

 hurtled forward, straining its earthly bounds as if taking flight. It

 was exhilarating, captivating, and liberating. Ahead she saw the

 finish line, bathed in a luminous white light. The radiance shimmered

 with a gentle warmth, and she longed for it. In a sudden burst of

 speed she accelerated, drawing closer and closer to the sparkling

 brilliance. Nearly engulfed by the blazing light she suddenly

 thought, what is it? And with that, great luminous shards fractured

 about her as the world of Tomoeda tumbled back into place. 

 

 Blinking incomprehensibly, Sakura saw she had crossed the finish

 line and was nearly at the end of the track. Dimly aware of the

 tumult behind her she looked and saw the crowd of parents and

 children jumping, clapping, and screaming. Dazed, she looked for a

 familiar face and saw Mizuki-sensei with a stopwatch, comparing it

 with a timer from another teacher. Terrada sensei jogged up from the

 starting line, examined the stopwatches, then glanced at Sakura

 incredulously. Again he looked, and shook his head in disbelief. The

 other runners were congratulating Sakura, regarding her with

 excitement and awe. Timidly, she made her way to Mizuki sensei, who

 smiled and placed her hand gently on Sakura’s head. She felt a sudden

 flash of the glow at the finish line, and a warm, bubbling happiness.

 Tomoyo’s voice, with barely suppressed excitement,  came over the

 loudspeaker, 

 

 “First place, 5th grade 100 meter dash, Kinomoto Sakura, 12.6

 seconds, a new Tomoeda record. Second place Li Syaoran…”

 

 The wild cheering and clapping of the audience began again, drowning

 out the rest of the announcement. Terrada sensei looked at her in

 wonder and laughed, 

 

 “12.6, amazing. That would be a good time for a high school girl.

 Nice run, Kinomoto.”

 

 Embarrassed, Sakura bowed her thanks. She scanned the crowd, looking

 for family, and Sonomi, to invite her and Tomoyo for lunch.

 

 Lunch, prepared by her father, was wonderful. He brought a triple

 portion for Yukito, who still finished his before anyone else,

 including some of Tomoyo’s portion, which was graciously offered and

 gratefully accepted. Sonomi, sitting by Sakura (and as far away from

 her father as possible), looked askance and declared in an irritable

 voice, 

 

 “Just as I would have expected, sensei. It’s excellent.” 

 

 After her father left for work and her brother and Yukito for class,

 Sakura talked to Sonomi while Tomoyo went to wash up. When she

 thanked her for all the time and effort, Sonomi smiled and shook her

 head,

 

 “Sakura chan, it was delightful to be your coach. Your sprint today

 was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. You did so well,

 and I’m so proud.” 

 

 Sakura gazed up at her and felt the tears welling. She threw her

 arms around Sonomi and hugged her tightly, as if she were fearful the

 woman might suddenly vanish. Startled at first, Sonomi smiled and

 hugged her back, fighting off tears of her own. At last Sakura

 released her and bowed, asking in a trembling voice,

 

 “Sonomi sama, I… I don’t want to be a bother, and, if it wouldn’t be

 too much trouble I’d understand, but if…if…could you please keep

 being my coach?” 

 

 Sonomi laid her hand on the girls shoulder and spoke in a loving

 voice,

 

 “Sakura chan, I can’t think of anything that would make me happier.”

 

 Sakura’s smile was radiant.

 

 Walking home from school, Tomoyo spoke adoringly of Sakura’s

 marvelous sprint. Sakura walked in silence as her friend talked

 nonstop,

 

 “I only wish I had been able to design a special running outfit for

 you. It was such a beautiful run! You were like an angel flying to

 the stars, or a cheetah springing through the plains, or…”

 

 “Tomoyo chan.”

 

 “…or maybe a dolphin, but that would be swimming. Oh, you should

 join the swim club, too! There are such wonderful patterns for cute

 swimsuits, but I don’t know if…”

 

 “Tomoyo chan?”

 

 “…if you could wear them on the team. But I could, oh, I’m sorry,

 Sakura chan.” Tomoyo covered her mouth as she giggled. Glancing up to

 see Sakura’s troubled and uncertain look, Tomoyo suddenly stopped

 short. Before she could ask, Sakura blurted out in a teary voice,

 

 “Tomoyo chan, I forgot about you today. Sonomi sama said I should

 let everything go, and I did, and you were the last thing I thought

 about, but I feel so bad that I forgot you like that. I know you

 would never forget about me. I’m so sorry.” 

 

 Watching her sobbing friend and pained by her anguish, Tomoyo gently

 took the girl’s hands and spoke with angelic sweetness,

 

 “Sakura chan, you don’t have to think about me all the time. There

 are lots of wonderful things to think about. And I know that no

 matter what you’re thinking, you love me, and that’s all that

 matters.” 

 

 Breathing raggedly, Sakura gazed into Tomoyo’s luminous eyes. She

 felt a sudden torrent of longing, the same that had drawn her to the

 brilliant white light at the race’s finish. Sakura fell into Tomoyo’s

 arms, the two girls clasped together amid smiles and tears. 

 

 And there they stood while the world spun round, two perfect lovers

 in an ardent embrace. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 *Thanks to Heather of Amazoness Duo for the title

 

 

 

 

   

 .