view old/stories/dearsakura-06.txt @ 4:69f0191c9016 moonlitnights tip

added error.log and access.log
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:42:35 -0400
parents fc00894c1d4a
children
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1 Dear Sakura:
2 Together Again
3 by The Amazoness Duo
4 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
6 “Damn it!” Sonomi screamed into the empty expanses of the vacation
7 home up in the mountains. It was supposed to be a retreat from the
8 pain of everyday life, a place of refuge that she could take her
9 darling daughter to and escape for a few days. It was a comfortable
10 little place up in the mountains that she had picked out with Tomoyo
11 years earlier. But this visit was anything but relaxing. Her retreat
12 had betrayed her, leaving her just as pained as if she were right in
13 the middle of things. It offered little escape this time, the
14 knowledge that Tomoyo was off in Hong Kong with the woman that had
15 broken her heart firmly in Sonomi’s overworked mind. Yet even with
16 that knowledge, she still expected to see her dark haired daughter
17 out in the garden, videotaping the beautiful flowers and butterflies
18 or on the balcony watching Sakura-shaped clouds in the sky. And each
19 time, she was profoundly disappointed to find her little girl absent
20 from her usual charming activities.
21 Puffing on her cigarette, Sonomi leaned against the balcony
22 railing, watching the garden where she and Tomoyo would have picnics
23 on their visits. Normally, smoking wasn’t a habit she kept up with.
24 Back when she had first picked it up in high school, it was rather
25 short lived after Nadeshiko’s insistence that she stop. And she had.
26 Despite it’s ability to help her relax when things were too
27 stressful, she would do anything for her gentle goddess. Who needed
28 such a thing when they had a sweet cousin like Nadeshiko by their
29 side? It would be bad for her running, after all, just like Nadeshiko
30 had said. Even if HE could beat her at track. But he was the only one
31 who could beat her. He always was. But somehow, he managed to beat
32 her at everything. At racing and at love. He had stolen her beloved
33 Nadeshiko’s heart away from her, even though she had promised
34 Nadeshiko that she would protect her from people like him. Part of
35 Sonomi had died that day, at the wedding. More of her had died after
36 Nadeshiko’s death some years later. Sometimes she thought that the
37 only reason any of her was still alive at all was because of Tomoyo.
38 Her darling daughter was another sweet angel in her life. And Tomoyo
39 didn’t like it when she smoked either, telling her that it made her
40 sad to see Sonomi doing such things to herself. So she had quit again
41 for the sake of her little daughter, deciding that she was worth any
42 sacrifice.
43 But right now, neither Nadeshiko nor Tomoyo were there with her.
44 And she was feeling self-destructive. She wanted to breathe smoke.
45 She wanted to throw away all of her professional success in the past
46 few years. She wanted to destroy every one of her racing trophies.
47 What did any of it mean anymore? She had been twice blessed to have
48 angels come into her life, but one had left it painfully and the
49 other was being torn apart in front of her eyes. And as always,
50 Sonomi, the brash and protective woman that she had always been, was
51 completely helpless to stop it. That made this all the more painful.
52 The memory of watching Nadeshiko during her dying days haunted her.
53 She had promised to protect her little cousin and she had been
54 powerless to hold back death’s embrace from whisking her away. And
55 now it was all happening again. Her angelic daughter was dying in her
56 own way. And once again she was forced to watch. She couldn’t force
57 that pain away with a glance, hold her daughter close and protect her
58 from the cold knives of pain the world was intent on throwing at her.
59 Yet Tomoyo smiled through it all. An angel to the bitter end, she
60 tried so hard to keep her mother happy while her own soul was being
61 cut into.
62 “Agh!!” Sonomi hit the railing she was leaning against fiercely
63 with her right hand. The pain that shot through her clenched fist
64 just sought to anger her even more. “Nadeshiko-chan, why does it have
65 to be this way? Why does she have to get hurt as well? Am I cursed?
66 Is she destined to relive my pain?” The business woman’s voice
67 lowered as her blue eyes closed, imagining her darling cousin’s image
68 in her mind's eye, speaking directly to her as she often did when she
69 was hurting. “Please tell me, Nadeshiko-chan. I don’t understand.”
70 The wind whispered in her ear, blowing about Sonomi’s short
71 brunette hair as if in answer, but she was still left all alone. A
72 slender hand went to her mouth, deep breaths escaping her lips as she
73 tried to calm herself. The breaths were shaky at best, barely holding
74 back the onslaught of rage and loss that threatened to overcome her.
75 But Sonomi was a strong woman. She had survived this long.
76 Unfortunately, the waves always seemed to get higher in her life,
77 threatening to drown her in sorrow. She could almost hear Nadeshiko
78 chiding her about the cigarette. A small, pained laugh left her as
79 she put it out. “She’s so very much like you, Nadeshiko-chan. I could
80 never stand to see you suffer at all. I promised I’d always protect
81 you. Why do I have to watch her follow the same path I went through?
82 Why can’t I take away her pain?” Her eyes opened slowly, looking out
83 across the garden. Her heart dropped when what she thought was either
84 Nadeshiko or her daughter’s lovely gray hair happened to be nothing
85 more than some dust being thrown around by the wind. “Sometimes I
86 swear our daughters must have gotten switched at birth, Nadeshiko-
87 chan. She’s so kind and gentle like you. And she has such a loving
88 heart. She holds in so much pain and it’s killing me to watch her in
89 it, pretending it’s not even there. Please... Please, Nadeshiko-chan.
90 Don’t let this happen again. Don’t let what happened to us happen to
91 our daughters. I love you so much. I can’t stand to see my little
92 girl go through the same pain.”
93 Sonomi slumped to her knees on the balcony, her body feeling weak
94 beyond its years. Her memories of Nadeshiko were all too vivid, all
95 too painful in her mind. Every glimpse, every touch, it all came back
96 with surprising force. Her heart longed for her dearly departed
97 cousin, missing her more and more with each passing day. Not a day
98 went by when her thoughts weren’t consumed with the woman she loved.
99 Her death had only served to separate them even farther. And if it
100 hadn’t been for Tomoyo, Sonomi would have been quick to join her.
101 “Nadeshiko-chan, I need you. Why did you leave me? You’re everything
102 to me.” Even with her eyes open, she could still see the haunting
103 afterimage of Nadeshiko, her smile tugging at the business woman’s
104 heart. “You always said I was strong. But damnit, Nadeshiko-chan, I
105 was strong for you. Because I wanted to protect you. Because I wanted
106 to make you happy. If I couldn’t do that for you and if I can’t for
107 Tomoyo-chan, then what good is any of it? Why does my pain have to
108 live on through my daughter? This can’t happen.” She sighed weakly,
109 running her hands through her hair. Her jumbled emotions were all
110 calling for attention, leaving her feeling burnt out inside. She felt
111 so weak and helpless, unable to change anything. The river of life
112 had her caught tragically in it’s current and she could cause little
113 more than ripples in the water.
114 “I’m sorry for being angry with your Sakura-chan, but I can’t help
115 it. Tomoyo-chan’s so much like you and seeing the pain in her eyes
116 that Sakura-chan causes in her is unbearable for me. I can’t help but
117 see some of Fujitaka-sensei in her now that I see her hurting Tomoyo-
118 chan so much. And I’m sorry about that. I know she’s your little
119 girl, but seeing my daughter in pain...” She sighed, shaking her head
120 as Tomoyo came to mind. What was happening to her over in Hong Kong
121 right now? Why couldn’t she have come with her? It would have been
122 better for the both of them. “But Tomoyo-chan wouldn’t want me mad at
123 Sakura-chan either. She would say it wasn’t her fault and that she
124 was happy for her. But I can see underneath those words at the pain
125 underneath and it tears me up inside. She’s so sad and she won’t let
126 it out. Because she doesn’t want me to worry about her. I guess I
127 shouldn’t be mad at Sakura-chan. It’s the same thing that happened
128 with you. You went off and got married, too. But that just makes this
129 even worse because I know exactly what hell Tomoyo-chan is going
130 through. And I can’t tell her it will get any better because I still
131 miss you.”
132 Her blue eyes falling closed again, Sonomi could swear she felt
133 Nadeshiko’s gentle fingers brush past her cheek reassuringly. “Please
134 don’t let this happen, Nadeshiko-chan...”
136 An exhausted pale woman plopped down onto a guestroom’s futon bed
137 in a flurry of dark hair. The day had been long for Daidouji Tomoyo
138 and she hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before. But all of that
139 hardly mattered to the young heiress. Smiling to herself, Tomoyo
140 brought a hand up to her mouth and yawned. She had almost forgotten
141 how much energy it took to keep up with Sakura. The brunette seemed
142 to be nearly inexhaustible in whatever she did. And that mixture of
143 determination, enthusiasm, and pure loveable spirit always managed to
144 draw Tomoyo along afterward in awe. Never having been as energetic as
145 Sakura, the other woman’s presence managed to revitalize her.
146 Being with Sakura again was like a beautiful dream. But like all
147 dreams, she knew that she would eventually have to awaken from it.
148 That thought brought her back to reality, her hand instinctively
149 reaching for her camcorder. If she had to leave her beloved Sakura,
150 she needed to have every precious second on videotape. Checking to
151 make sure that it had new film, she gently placed it on the large
152 Victorian style desk. Those memories of Sakura might be the last she
153 would have after this visit. She would slowly allow herself to fade
154 from Sakura’s life completely after returning home. It would make
155 things easier for Sakura who had already started a new life that she
156 couldn’t be a part of. Eventually, Sakura would forget about her,
157 happily living out her new life in wedded bliss.
158 “Sakura-chan...” Tomoyo whispered sadly as she sat back on the bed.
159 Her stormy blue eyes clouded over, tears threatening to break through
160 her carefully orchestrated masks, ready to spill past her ivory
161 cheeks. How can you give up the one you love? How can you let
162 yourself become nothing more than a memory? Because you love them.
163 Because you must set them free to live their life without you. Tomoyo
164 knew that she would forever be bound to her love for Sakura, but the
165 emerald eyed woman would soon have no need for her. Staying in her
166 life would just be painful for the both of them. She had told Sakura
167 that the most important thing in her life was that her beloved was
168 happy. Even if they couldn’t be together. “I know you don’t
169 understand, Sakura-chan. And hopefully you’ll never have to. When I’m
170 gone, I’ll be happy knowing that you’re smiling.”
171 So if this was going to be her last time with Sakura, every single
172 moment had to be treasured fully in Tomoyo’s heart. The dark haired
173 designer smiled a bit, wiping the tears from her eyes. That part was
174 easy, Sakura’s warm aura lifting her heart up. To be with Sakura
175 again was truly a vacation from the loneliness and sleepless nights
176 that she had been dealing with since the wedding. Her aching heart
177 felt like it would burst to be near the Cardmistress again. Sakura
178 was just as cute and sweet as always. She was becoming a gorgeous
179 young woman. Sakura truly was the perfect bride. Li-kun was very
180 lucky to be blessed with Sakura’s presence. Though curiously enough,
181 Tomoyo hadn’t seen an awful lot of him. She would have thought that
182 he would be there near Sakura during the entire visit, bathing in her
183 glorious nature the same way Tomoyo herself did. Yet she’d barely
184 seen the Chinese Sorcerer at all. That coupled with Sakura’s
185 increased outpouring of affection had her confused. If Sakura’s
186 letters were any indication, she really had missed the company of her
187 best friend. And Tomoyo could agree with that notion wholeheartedly.
188 She missed Sakura terribly every day that she was without her. So she
189 would be happy to be by Sakura’s side for the duration of the visit.
190 This one day alone had been worth all of the months of loneliness and
191 pain to be able to enjoy the beauty of Hong Kong right alongside her
192 gorgeous Sakura.
193 Wincing slightly at the weariness in her body, Tomoyo began looking
194 through the cedar chest in her room for a nightgown. Memories of the
195 day and her time with Sakura kept racing through her mind, bringing a
196 smile to her lips. Sakura really hadn’t changed much during her time
197 in Hong Kong. She was still the same wonderful woman that Tomoyo had
198 fallen in love with years before. And her presence still made
199 Tomoyo’s heart flare up with love for the brunette. Sakura’s sweet
200 voice still rang in her ears like a beautiful song, making her feel
201 peaceful and calm.
202 Singing softly to herself, Tomoyo finally picked out a cyan
203 nightgown and set it down gently on the bed. She didn’t sing in front
204 of people the way she had back when she was on the choir club, but
205 she still sang often when she was alone. It was something she had
206 always enjoyed doing. It was a way of letting herself drift, letting
207 her thoughts flow free. Her mind could wander along to the rhythm of
208 the music, but it always invariably settled on one thing in
209 particular; Sakura. And that’s where her mind had settled now as she
210 let her hair down from the ponytail it had been in all day, long dark
211 hair pooling about her shoulders. Her clothes were laid neatly on the
212 bed before she pulled the nightgown over her head. Getting ready for
213 bed in Hong Kong again brought back memories of her first trip there
214 with Sakura. She had even spent the night at this very house while
215 she had been there, though that time she had shared a bed with
216 Sakura. This time Sakura would be sharing a bed with her husband. So
217 some things had changed since her last visit. Her heart wavered for a
218 moment, but she forced the saddening thought away. At least Sakura
219 was here. That’s why she had returned to this house, after all.
220 Because Sakura had gotten married. And other than a few moments that
221 day when Sakura had been rather emotional, she seemed to be happy. So
222 she should be glad for her. The only reason Sakura was overemotional
223 was because of her visit anyway. Sakura wouldn’t need to hide her
224 tears in dressing rooms after she was gone.
225 Tomoyo closed her eyes, taking an unsteady breath. “Sakura-chan...”
227 Meanwhile, the subject of Tomoyo’s thoughts was getting ready for
228 bed herself. Sakura had already changed into her pajamas and was
229 sitting next to Syaoran on the bed. Her poor husband looked so tired.
230 She had been talking about her day with Tomoyo ever since she had
231 gotten back home and he had quietly listened the whole time. He was
232 lying on the bed, his eyes half open. Sakura giggled softly and
233 brushed some hair from her eyes. “Gomen, Syaoran-chan.” She leaned
234 forward and gave her husband a brief kiss. “Work must have been tough
235 today. Maybe we can talk about it later.”
236 Syaoran nodded, his eyes half closed as he suppressed a yawn.
237 “Sure.” He stared up at the ceiling, trying to keep his eyes open.
238 “It was a long day. We should get some sleep.” His eyes opened after
239 slipping closed for a second when he felt Sakura’s head on his chest.
240 Sakura sighed softly. Even after all that she had done that day,
241 she still wasn’t feeling tired. She was too excited to be tired.
242 After being Tomoyo-less for months and months, her best friend was
243 only a few rooms away. Her mind wouldn’t shut off long enough for her
244 to sleep. Tomoyo stirred so many feelings inside of her. It was
245 difficult to comprehend. “Hai, you’re right. I think I’m going to go
246 check on Tomoyo-chan first before I go to sleep,” she said
247 thoughtfully.
248 “Daidouji’s like Meiling,” Syaoran stated matter-of-factly, his
249 concentration blurring as sleep began to prey on his mind.
250 “Hoe?”
251 Syaoran yawned again, resting his head back. “Yeah. They both like
252 to say embarrassing things.”
253 A giggle escaped Sakura’s lips at that. “I guess that’s true. I
254 never really thought about it. But it’s nice when she says them.”
255 Kissing Syaoran’s cheek, she sat back up. Tomoyo might already be
256 asleep, but she thought it would be okay if she just peeked in to
257 check up on her. Or to at least catch a glimpse of her best friend.
258 She felt like a little girl trying to get a last glimpse at the
259 Christmas Tree before being forced off to bed. “I’ll be back in a
260 little bit. Go ahead and go to sleep. I’ll join you soon.” She smiled
261 sweetly at her husband as she slid off the bed. He watched her for a
262 moment, offering a half smile of his own before rolling over and
263 closing his eyes.
264 Padding silently out of the room, Sakura made her way down the hall
265 towards Tomoyo’s guestroom. Tomoyo had nearly fallen asleep with her
266 head on Sakura’s shoulder earlier, so Sakura doubted she would still
267 be awake. But it would be nice to see her again before going to sleep
268 herself. The door opened slowly after she grasped the doorknob.
269 “Hello, Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo said warmly from inside.
270 Sakura sweatdropped as she entered, closing the door quietly behind
271 her. “Gomen nasai, Tomoyo-chan. I thought you were asleep. I hope you
272 don’t mind.” She returned the pale woman’s warm smile. “I just wanted
273 to see you again.”
274 Tomoyo shook her head, her dark hair swaying with the motion. “No,
275 I’m glad you came, Sakura-chan. I was hoping you would. I’m always
276 happy to see you.” Patting the bed next to her, Tomoyo made room for
277 her hostess. Thoughts of seeing Sakura again had filled her mind for
278 the last few minutes, but she hadn’t actually thought that Sakura
279 would stop by before the morning. Seeing Sakura now got rid of the
280 sadness tinged thoughts associated with the visit. It really was
281 great to see her. There was the same sparkle in Sakura’s emerald eyes
282 that had always sent a thrill through her heart and the same smile
283 that always warmed her. Tomoyo giggled softly and tilted her head to
284 the side. “No matter how much you change, you’re still my cute Sakura-
285 chan.”
286 Accepting the proffered seat, Sakura looked back at Tomoyo
287 thoughtfully. She was glad that Tomoyo was awake. It was much better
288 than just catching a glimpse of her sleeping friend. Tomoyo’s musical
289 voice and the sweet things she said still embarrassed her at times,
290 but she was happy to hear them. For so long she had been missing
291 those little remarks of Tomoyo’s, reading them over and over in her
292 letters and waiting for every Sunday to hear her on the phone. It
293 really did make her feel good inside. “I hope I can always be your
294 cute Sakura-chan,” she replied, blushing slightly. Tomoyo always had
295 a way of getting to her that way.
296 “You will. Because I’ll always have my memories of you. And I have
297 a lot of it down on videotape, captured moments of your youth ready
298 to be watched again and again and again as I reminisce about my days
299 with Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo explained, still smiling sweetly. Her
300 clasped hands were in her lap. She had always known that one day
301 Sakura would have to leave her and that she would be left with
302 nothing but her memories. So she had videotaped everything she could,
303 wanting to capture as much of Sakura as she could. There was so much
304 more to the brunette, but all she had was a library of videotape now
305 that Sakura was in Hong Kong. And she was glad for it. Now that she
306 couldn’t spend time with Sakura anymore outside this little trip, the
307 videos were all she had left. There would be no more new moments with
308 her, no more happy times spent together. But all of the old ones were
309 ready for her to replay when she was lonely or to watch through when
310 she was sad.
311 Sakura reached out slowly, her fingers gently brushing through
312 Tomoyo’s long lavender hair. She had let it grow from the last time
313 Sakura had seen her, now reaching well past her waist. She always had
314 the most gorgeous hair, trying it in all sorts of styles. It was
315 always a wonder to Sakura how she managed to be so creative with it.
316 The soft hair felt wonderful underneath her fingers. “Umm... Tomoyo-
317 chan? Would you mind if I fixed your hair again? Like when we were
318 younger?” Sakura sweatdropped a bit and looked down. She felt
319 childish for asking such a thing. Tomoyo was a full grown woman now,
320 no longer the delicate child she remembered. It seemed awkward to be
321 asking it, but after the dream she had, she longed for the old days.
322 Tomoyo’s captivating smile dissipated her worries.
323 Tomoyo’s heart had stopped when Sakura’s fingers began playing with
324 her hair. Sakura’s magic touch entranced her more than any of her
325 Cards could. It took her a moment to reply to Sakura’s request for
326 fear of reacting at all and breaking the moment. “I’d like that very
327 much, Sakura-chan. I always loved when you would be the one to fix my
328 hair.” Her voice had almost gotten caught in her throat, her cheeks
329 darkening slightly as Sakura’s fingers continued through her hair.
330 Oh, it was perfect! Her hands were so gentle as they continued on
331 their path. Tomoyo felt so peaceful, so complete inside. Yes, this
332 was love. Having her hair fixed by Sakura. Even if it was just
333 reliving old times for Sakura, she would play this over and over
334 again in her mind for years to come. For a brief moment, she could
335 even pretend this was the way things were. That after a long day at
336 work, she had come home to her dearest Sakura and that she had
337 offered to fix her hair for her, lovingly teasing with her fingers.
338 Even if the illusion didn’t last long, the warm feelings in her heart
339 grew considerably. If this was to be her last visit with Sakura, it
340 certainly was turning out well at this rate.
341 Giggling happily, Sakura crawled up onto the bed behind Tomoyo, her
342 fingers still running through the lavender trusses. “Arigato, Tomoyo-
343 chan! It’s kind of like with Hanako-chan. Whenever I fix her hair, I
344 think about you. It was always so beautiful, no matter what style you
345 had it in.” For a brief moment, the woman in front of her was a
346 blushing girl of ten again, sitting in barely hidden anticipation.
347 Sakura shook the mental image off, but she smiled in spite of
348 herself. Gathering up Tomoyo’s hair, she looked at it thoughtfully.
349 Tomoyo scarcely moved an inch aside from a blissful sigh. Nodding to
350 herself, Sakura began braiding Tomoyo’s hair, enjoying the feel of
351 the silky strands between her fingers. For the moment, her only
352 concern was how to fix Tomoyo’s hair. And she found that simple task
353 relaxed her in ways that she hadn’t been able to in months. The sweet
354 scent of Tomoyo’s lavender hair was lovely. She leaned closer,
355 burying her face into the hair for a moment. It really was wonderful.
356 Just like Tomoyo, it was sweet and calming. She couldn’t see the
357 deepening blush on Tomoyo’s pale cheeks as she finally continued
358 braiding.
359 “I have some ribbons if you would like to use them, Sakura-chan,”
360 Tomoyo offered helpfully, scooting back so that she could be closer
361 to the Cardmistress. This had to be a glimpse of what Heaven was
362 like. Her heart skipped a beat as Sakura’s fingers brushed some hair
363 past her shoulder, the fingers lingering there for a brief second
364 before moving on. If only this one moment could last for an eternity.
365 Her heart sang out to Sakura, reaching out for her, bursting with her
366 love for the brunette. But she sat still as Sakura’s fingers fixed
367 her hair, content in this moment. ‘I love you, Sakura-chan. And
368 moments like these just remind me of how eternally grateful I am to
369 have met you,’ she thought to herself.
370 “Oh, right! Those ones you bought during the shopping trip. They
371 should be around here somewhere.” Sakura looked around thoughtfully
372 before Tomoyo handed a bag to Sakura. Inside were several deep green
373 silk ribbons. She ran her fingers over them as she pulled them out,
374 looking back at Tomoyo’s hair for where to place them. They were
375 beautiful and soft to the touch, but she found herself enjoying the
376 feeling of Tomoyo’s hair much more. Her fingers went back to work,
377 tying them in with careful movements. “You look so pretty, Tomoyo-
378 chan.”
379 Tomoyo’s stormy blue eyes fluttered open slowly, smiling happily.
380 The past few months seemed insignificant and far away. They didn’t
381 matter. All that mattered was this moment alone with Sakura. It was
382 perfect. “Thank you so much, Sakura-chan. You don’t know how happy
383 that makes me. Being here with you like this, hearing your voice and
384 knowing you’re right here with me, I don’t think I could be happier.
385 I’m so lucky to be here with you. I’ll always remember this trip,”
386 she said cheerfully.
387 Sakura giggled. She could almost see the stars in Tomoyo’s eyes. It
388 was just the way she remembered her. This trip had been exactly what
389 she needed. She didn’t feel so lonely or out of place anymore now
390 that Tomoyo was back with her. Her heart swelled to hear the sweet
391 remarks Tomoyo always showered her with. Their time together had
392 always been important to her, but it wasn’t until recently that she
393 had realized just how important. Not having Tomoyo with her was like
394 losing a part of herself. She didn’t feel as confident or as sure
395 about herself without the dark haired woman’s love and support. Now
396 that the heiress was here, she felt even more sure of it. That’s what
397 had been missing in her life since she had moved to Hong Kong. But it
398 confused her because she didn’t quite understand what it was that she
399 had been missing. She missed Touya and her father, too, but it wasn’t
400 the same. She knew that was just homesickness, but this... This she
401 wasn’t so sure of. Tomoyo had been her best friend for so long and
402 she’d always made her feel like everything would turn out for the
403 best, that life really was an exciting and wonderful journey. And
404 with Tomoyo by her side, it always had been. Now she was continuing
405 that journey without Tomoyo, but with her husband by her side. That
406 thought hurt her. Because she missed the pale woman’s impact on her
407 life. The way she was always there for her no matter her problems or
408 what was going on in. The way she made her feel so warm and special.
409 The way she gave her all of her attention even if she didn’t need it.
410 But it didn’t make sense. She had her husband now and a new life.
411 Tomoyo was very important to her, but her priority now was her
412 husband and her new family. “I’m really happy to have you here, too,
413 Tomoyo-chan.”
414 Tomoyo sensed the uneasiness in Sakura’s voice, as if she was
415 confused about something. She had heard that tone in her so often
416 before, on the phone or when they were together. It was usually when
417 Sakura was trying to understand something, to make sense out of
418 things with her innocent determination. Tomoyo leaned back against
419 her, her bare feet touching Sakura’s knees. Sakura’s fingers paused
420 for a brief moment before returning to the task of braiding her hair.
421 “Sakura-chan, you’re happy here in your new life, aren’t you?” her
422 musical voice asked softly.
423 “Hmm?” Sakura asked distractedly. It took her a moment to shake off
424 her thoughts and return to the here and now. It had been so hypnotic,
425 the action of fixing Tomoyo’s hair, the wonderful scent, the warmth
426 in her heart at being here with her best friend. She had gotten
427 caught up in her thoughts. A smile crossed her lips. She didn’t even
428 have to think about that one. What a silly question! “Of course I am,
429 Tomoyo-chan. I’m very happy here. Syaoran-chan’s sisters are all very
430 nice and I finally get to be with my husband. It’s wonderful here.
431 The city’s beautiful. Though sometimes I get a little homesick. And I
432 really don’t think Ieran-sama likes me very much. And I really do
433 miss you a lot, Tomoyo-chan.” Her fingers grasped more of Tomoyo’s
434 hair as she leaned closer to the dark haired woman. Letters and phone
435 calls just weren’t a good enough substitute for actually being with
436 her best friend. She brushed past Tomoyo’s neck, playing with the
437 silky strands in her grasp.
438 “I’ll always be there for you, Sakura-chan. For as long as you need
439 me. So please don’t feel lonely. It makes me feel sad that I would
440 lessen your happiness here in your new life. You have so much here to
441 be happy about. You have Li-kun now to make you happy. You don’t ever
442 have to feel lonely because my heart is always with you. My thoughts
443 are always filled with you.” Tomoyo was sure glad that Sakura
444 couldn’t see her face because she barely had the will to put up her
445 mask this time. Her stormy blue eyes were downcast, looking at the
446 clasped hands in her lap. She was glad that Sakura missed her, but it
447 just made it hurt all the more that she would have to fade out of her
448 life. She no longer had a part in Sakura’s life and she was trying to
449 come to grips with that. Sakura was happy in her new life. She didn’t
450 need Tomoyo anymore.
451 Frowning, Sakura shook her head. She felt a little frightened at
452 the way Tomoyo put that. It was as if Tomoyo thought that there would
453 come a time when she wouldn’t need her anymore. “But I’ll always need
454 you, Tomoyo-chan. You’re my best friend. You always help me so much.”
455 Her arms wrapped around her second cousin’s waist, pulling her into a
456 warm hug. She felt Tomoyo relax slowly into it. Sakura let her eyes
457 fall closed, trying to understand the tumultuous feelings inside of
458 her. Part of her wanted to break down and cry and to ask Tomoyo never
459 to leave her side again while the other part knew that she had to let
460 her go when the time came. Their lives were going down different
461 paths now. She held Tomoyo tighter, unsure of what to say.
462 Tomoyo let her eyes fall closed as she leaned back into Sakura’s
463 embrace. She felt safe in Sakura’s arms, like nothing could come to
464 pull her away. This was where she wanted to be, more than anywhere
465 else in the world. But she knew that Sakura was wrong. One day, the
466 brunette would no longer need her anymore. And she would silently
467 fade from her life, until all that was left was a memory. The thought
468 felt like a jagged icicle through her heart, but her love for Sakura
469 slowly melted it. She had to. For Sakura’s sake. All she could do was
470 love her from afar. “Arigato gozimasu, Sakura-chan,” she whispered
471 softly, forgetting her worries as she lost herself in Sakura’s arms.
472 Out of all of their contact, holding hands and even Sakura fixing her
473 hair, what she loved the most was when Sakura would hug her. Her
474 gentle yet strong arms always gripped her so warmly, even when Sakura
475 would hug her seeking comfort. It was a wonderful sensation, being
476 able to get so close to Sakura, to feel her heart beating against
477 her. It was times like this that she almost feared her own heart
478 would give her away as it pounded in her chest.
479 Resting her head against Tomoyo’s back, Sakura’s cheek pressed
480 against the silky hair that fell past Tomoyo’s shoulders. It tickled
481 her cheek , causing her to shift more against the fragile woman in
482 her arms. The rest of the world seemed far away whenever they hugged,
483 gaining in distance for as long as they did. Her husband wasn’t much
484 for emotional displays, but she knew that Tomoyo would always shower
485 her with warmth, comfort, support, and love. Her soul always felt so
486 soothed when they were together, like Tomoyo’s gentle fingers were
487 stroking through her soul, making everything all right. She really
488 couldn't ask for a better best friend. Pulling Tomoyo closer, her
489 mind spun. There was so much she wanted to say to her, so much she
490 wanted to do, but she couldn’t make sense of any of it. She couldn’t
491 phrase any of what she wanted to say. It felt like it was all pure
492 emotion, swirling in her heart. For a moment, she forgot where she
493 was. The feelings inside her were so strong, urging to be let out.
494 Tomoyo’s soft hair against her, the rhythmic movement of her
495 breathing, the scent of her hair and the delightful little movements
496 she made all made her feel so... hanyaan. Her eyes blinked rapidly a
497 few times as she tried to sort out the thoughts that were attached to
498 that. “I.. umm... Tomoyo-chan, would you like to go out to the
499 garden? It’s really nice at night,” she asked quietly after a moment.
500 She felt Tomoyo’s hair brush against her as the dark haired woman
501 nodded.
502 “Hai, I’d like that, Sakura-chan. I’m sure it’s gorgeous,” Tomoyo
503 said sweetly. She made no attempt to move, remaining in Sakura’s
504 embrace for several long seconds until the brunette finally pulled
505 away and slipped off the bed. Her stormy blue eyes followed Sakura’s
506 movements, brimming with love for the Cardmistress. Sakura blushed a
507 bit at the look in her eyes and looked away. Tomoyo smiled gingerly
508 and took Sakura’s hand after joining her near the doorway. She held
509 it between both of her own hands for a minute, savoring the feeling.
510 Her fingers slowly intertwined with Sakura’s. Of course, she would go
511 anywhere with Sakura. She was far more gorgeous than any garden could
512 ever be. But if Sakura wanted to see the flowers, she would be happy
513 to watch her Sakura.
515 The two women tiptoed outside, not wanting to wake any of the
516 occupants in the large mansion as they made their way outside. The
517 beautiful moonshine cast them both in a dim glow as they stepped out
518 into the garden. The garden itself was stunning, as befitting the
519 House of Li. A large fountain sat in the center, water cascading down
520 into it like a tropical waterfall. Wonderfully scented exotic flowers
521 were placed all around the spacious garden, making it seem like a
522 magical place in the moonlight. The sight reminded Tomoyo of helping
523 to pick out the flowers for her mother’s garden back home and felt a
524 sliver of homesickness wash over her at the thought. But her mother
525 was probably fine. Sonomi always managed to handle things. “It’s very
526 pretty Sakura-chan. Do you come out here often?”
527 Sakura nodded, smiling over at the pale woman. She seemed to
528 shimmer in the moonlight, convincing Sakura even further that her
529 best friend had to be some angelic visitor. “Sometimes. I like to
530 come out here when I have the time. It kind of reminds me of when we
531 all used to go for picnics in the park. It’s not a lot like the park
532 but it’s just really nice out here.” Her emerald eyes flashed for a
533 second as they reflected the moonlight before falling closed. It was
534 still warm out, despite a slight breeze and she found the peaceful
535 serenity of the garden to be overwhelming.
536 Giggling softly, Tomoyo brought her free hand up to her cheek. “You
537 look so cute when you’re being nostalgic. I should loan you some of
538 my videos and watch you watching them.” Had they been apart at all?
539 It felt like they had been back home in Tomoeda just the day before,
540 like they had never been apart in the first place. It felt so nice to
541 be together again. Tomoyo had to remind herself to be careful. Sakura
542 was a married woman now. And this visit would probably be their last
543 time together. So she had to keep her displays in check. She couldn’t
544 just pour out her feelings for Sakura the way she used to.
545 Blushing despite Tomoyo’s attempt at controlling her usual
546 energetic love of Sakura, Sakura looked back at her old friend. “As
547 long as you keep sending the cooking videos. They’ve been a great
548 help. It feels like you’re right there with me when I’m watching
549 them. And it’s great to be able to see you after reading your
550 letters. I miss you so much sometimes that I can sit and watch them
551 over and over. You always look so pretty in them. Each time I see
552 them, it’s breathtaking.”
553 Tomoyo looked back at Sakura, her stormy blue eyes, looking deep
554 into her in the cool night air. Her soul sang out to her, but she
555 knew it went unanswered. She wanted so much to tell her how she felt,
556 to let her know how much that meant to her. That she dressed as
557 prettily as she could for Sakura in her videos. That she wanted to be
558 there with her while she was cooking. That she longed for her with
559 all her heart and soul. But all she could do was smile. “Thank you
560 very much, Sakura-chan. That makes me very happy.” The two walked in
561 silence for a moment as Tomoyo tried desperately to get a hold of the
562 runaway feelings burgeoning inside of her. Sakura was everything to
563 her, but she couldn’t let out her feelings. She had to keep them
564 locked up in her heart. Sakura had the key, but Tomoyo couldn’t tell
565 her. Sakura could never use the key. Her own heart already belonged
566 to another. So Tomoyo continued to smile, wanting so much to lose
567 herself once more in Sakura’s arms.
568 Sighing softly, Sakura fidgeted, trying to force her thoughts into
569 coherency. She wouldn’t have the lavender haired woman in Hong Kong
570 much longer and there was still so much left unsaid. But try as she
571 might, her feelings refused to clarify themselves to her. It was
572 frustrating, being here with her best friend and unable to voice the
573 emotions that were playing with her. Tomoyo slowly sat down on a
574 bench near the fountain, drawing Sakura down next to her. Sakura
575 looked into the stormy blue eyes greeting her and quickly looked
576 away. She couldn’t meet them. They held so much within their depths
577 that it almost scared her. It was like they could see deep inside of
578 her, at the feelings that even she couldn’t understand. And yet they
579 were extremely warm and gentle, filling her with strength. But they
580 held a touch of pain in them that she had never noticed in Tomoyo
581 before. It brought a dark cloud over her heart. What could hurt her
582 like that? Behind Tomoyo’s smile, there was something exquisitely
583 painful dwelling in her heart. Now that she looked closer, the
584 smiling stormy blue eyes had cracks in them, painful shards that only
585 hinted at the torment of the girl they belonged to. Which all served
586 to confuse Sakura even more. “Tomoyo-chan, are you still happy with
587 your decision? With not telling the person you like? I mean, when you
588 told me about it, I was so sure that you were right. That the person
589 you liked must be really happy so that should make you happy. But
590 now...” She took a breath, looking up to gaze directly into Tomoyo’s
591 eyes. “Tomoyo-chan, I’m not sure anymore. It can’t be right. You said
592 you would be happy about it, but you never said anything about it
593 hurting you. I should have known earlier. But you must be so lonely,
594 watching your special someone happy with someone else. It’s not fair.
595 You can’t be alone. You just can’t. You’re too important to me to be
596 alone forever. I can’t let you. You will have your wedding. I
597 promise. Because it’s too sad if Tomoyo-chan never gets to be a
598 blushing bride.” She shook her head, trying to focus through her
599 tears. She hadn’t even noticed them until then. Her heart broke at
600 the look in Tomoyo’s blue eyes. She looked scared and hurt, the mask
601 that had been covering them slipping off. For a brief second, Sakura
602 could see the true extent of the pain that Tomoyo was in. It ran deep
603 through her soul, like a deep ravine. She was colder and more alone
604 than Sakura could ever truly realize. But before she could comment,
605 it was covered up as if it had never been there at all. And Tomoyo
606 was smiling again.
607 “You’re so sweet, Sakura-chan. I’m lucky to have such a wonderful
608 best friend. I’m glad you’re worried, but you really shouldn’t be,”
609 Tomoyo said softly, her delicate fingers brushing away Sakura’s
610 tears. The brunette looked on in confusion. Had it just been the
611 lighting? Tomoyo seemed completely fine now. Her smile still strong
612 and bright, her eyes covering over the cracks she had seen in
613 Tomoyo’s soul. Had she been mistaken? “I’m sure. I would live my
614 whole life alone if it would make my special person happy. When you
615 love someone enough that their own happiness means so much more to
616 you than your own, then you know that it truly is love. I know I love
617 my special person with all my heart and soul. I would do anything for
618 them. I would be happy to be with them, but if I can’t make them
619 happy, doesn’t it make sense that they should be with whoever can
620 make them happy? It would be selfish to try to keep them all to
621 myself. I won’t weigh them down. For me, it’s a joy to see them
622 soaring in the air, happy and free. I could never deprive them of
623 their happiness. So in a way, I am making them happy. And that brings
624 a song to my heart. If I could keep them all to myself or give them
625 up to be with whoever would make them happy, I would let them go.
626 Because I love her so much that I would do anything, sacrifice
627 anything, to make sure that she lives a happy life. And if I can’t be
628 a part of it, then that’s okay. Because my heart will always belong
629 to my special person.” The sweet musical voice had begun to falter
630 near the end, her stormy blue eyes shimmering wetly in the moonlight,
631 yet her smile remained constant. They remained focussed on Sakura’s
632 emerald orbs, as if whispering ‘I love you’.
633 “But Tomoyo-chan, doesn’t it feel lonely that way? Don’t you feel
634 sad?” Sakura asked, grabbing Tomoyo’s hands with her own. She had to
635 know. She knew that she couldn’t do the same thing if she were in
636 Tomoyo’s position. It sounded too painful, too sad. How could she be
637 happy like that?
638 Tomoyo nodded slowly, the wind playing with her long hair. “Hai, it
639 can get lonely sometimes. And I do feel sad, too. But Sakura-chan,
640 you have to understand. Sometimes you love something so much that you
641 have to set it free. Like a child. You love your child so much but
642 one day they have to leave you. But you love them so much that you
643 have to let them. I love my special person with all my heart. But I
644 can’t hold on because I can’t interfere with their happiness. So I
645 have to let them go out and live their own beautiful life. Because I
646 love them.”
647 Shaking her head, Sakura held onto Tomoyo’s hands tightly. What
648 Tomoyo said was sounding suspiciously familiar with what she had
649 often said about Sakura herself. “I still don’t understand. It’s just
650 too sad. I don’t see why you can’t make your special person happy.
651 Anyone would be lucky to have you, Tomoyo-chan. It’s not right for
652 you to be alone like this. I don’t want you to be alone. You make me
653 so happy that I can’t imagine any man who's heart you couldn't win.
654 Seeing you alone hurts me, Tomoyo-chan.”
655 Biting back tears, Tomoyo tried in vain to hold herself together.
656 “No, please don’t say that, Sakura-chan. It shouldn’t make you sad.
657 I’m fine. I’ll always be fine as long as my special person is happy.
658 Please, Sakura-chan... I have to be alone. My special person already
659 has someone. They’re already happy. I can’t interfere with that. And
660 I wouldn’t. I need you to be happy, Sakura-chan. Please be happy or
661 it’s all been for nothing. I know I can’t have my special person.
662 I’ve known that for years. But I can’t stop loving them because my
663 heart belongs to them, even if they’ll never know. You have to be
664 happy for me, Sakura-chan. I don’t think I can hold on if you take
665 that away from me.” Her voice was strained, tears streaking her pale
666 cheeks. Her mother had warned her about this trip and now she wished
667 she had agreed to call it off. Sonomi had been through the same
668 thing, after all. But she had thought that she had to come. Her
669 carefully orchestrated masks had finally proven worthless,
670 splintering into pieces at Sakura’s words. It was a paradox that
671 Sakura couldn’t see. She loved Sakura, but Sakura couldn’t love her.
672 And Sakura wanted her to be with her true love so that she could be
673 happy. Which brought her back to the beginning, where Sakura couldn’t
674 love her. It would ruin everything. But she couldn’t explain it to
675 Sakura, couldn’t make her realize that she had to be happy for her
676 even if she was alone. She dimly felt Sakura pulling her into her
677 arms, holding onto her dearly. Tomoyo let herself collapse in
678 Sakura’s embrace. She had tried so hard to keep her pain hidden from
679 Sakura for all these years but the past few moments had ruined all of
680 it.
681 Sakura was amazed at the sudden change in Tomoyo’s behavior, from
682 smiling and calm to wracked with sobs. So she hadn’t been mistaken
683 after all. She stroked Tomoyo’s back gently, the same way Tomoyo used
684 to whenever she would cry in her arms. “Oh, Tomoyo-chan,” she
685 whispered softly. The dark haired woman was more hurt by her special
686 person than she had ever let on. Sakura’s heart felt ready to break
687 as she pulled her pale best friend closer. She didn’t know what to
688 say. But a new resolve grew within her. She would find a way to make
689 Tomoyo happy. Somehow. She couldn’t let Tomoyo stay in so much pain.
690 The two woman stayed that way for a long time. Neither were sure of
691 how much time had finally passed when Tomoyo stopped crying on
692 Sakura’s shoulder. “Gomen nasai, Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo said weakly.
693 “I’ve been so tired lately with working on Hanako-chan and all and I
694 haven’t really slept much since I got here.” She felt horrible. How
695 much damage had she caused? She had never meant for Sakura to see her
696 like that. Crying like that, thinking that way was only for when she
697 was all alone. She never wanted to hurt Sakura, especially with the
698 burden of her own terrible loneliness. And what if this spurred her
699 on to find out who her special person was? A shiver went through her
700 body at the thought. It suddenly felt very cold.
701 Smiling softly, Sakura shook her head. “No, it’s okay, Tomoyo-chan.
702 I’m glad. I really don’t think I’ve seen you cry often. I’m your best
703 friend. I want to help you. And if you feel bad about this, then I
704 want to know about it.”
705 Resting her head against Sakura’s shoulder, Tomoyo tried to calm
706 herself. In Sakura’s embrace, she found it remarkably easy to do.
707 “No, I don’t feel bad about it, Sakura-chan. Sometimes I just wish
708 that I could be with my special person. But I know it can’t be. I
709 hope you understand. It truly does mean everything to me that they’re
710 happy. I love them dearly and to see them delighted means that I’ve
711 helped to make sure that their life will be a joyous one. It hurts
712 sometimes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. And being with you
713 makes me happy, Sakura-chan. In your arms, I feel like it’s all
714 perfectly fine. Being with Sakura-chan makes it all worthwhile.” She
715 sighed softly, her nose brushing past Sakura’s neck. “I’m so happy to
716 be with you, I don’t need anything else. Hearing your warm, joyous
717 heartbeat makes my heart want to beat in rhythm with it.” Her eyes
718 closed as she held onto Sakura. “Treasured moments like these
719 reassure me that what I did was the right thing. Because I know that
720 I had to make sure my true love was the happiest.”
721 Sakura sat in silence, feeling the rise and fall of Tomoyo’s
722 breathing. Her own eyes were closed, listening to the toy designer’s
723 beautiful voice. “Tomoyo-chan,” the brunette finally spoke at last.
724 “I don’t ever want you to go. I want to be with you always. I want to
725 know that my best friend is always close by when I need her. I do
726 need you. You act like one day I’ll just stop needing you and that’s
727 not true at all. Tomoyo-chan, I can’t imagine life without you. From
728 the day we’ve met, you’ve always been so wonderful to me. And I want
729 you to have the same happiness I have. I want you to be married and
730 happy.”
731 Giggling softly, Tomoyo sat up against Sakura, looking into her
732 jade eyes. “But Sakura-chan, I am happy. You make me happy. All of
733 the time I’ve spent with you, all of the memories you have given me,
734 I treasure them close to my heart.” Taking Sakura’s hand, she placed
735 it gently over her heart, which was still beating rapidly. “You’re
736 why I know that I can do this. Because you make me so happy that I
737 know it’s worth making my special person as happy as they can be,
738 even if we can’t be together. Seeing you smile, hearing about you
739 being in love with your new husband, it all makes me think ‘Sakura-
740 chan is so happy. I know that no matter what happens, Sakura-chan
741 will live a wonderful life’. Everything has a price, Sakura-chan. But
742 I know that my special person’s happiness is worth any sacrifice. I
743 would do anything for them. Because I love them so much that I want
744 to give them all of the happiness of the world. And if I can’t give
745 it to them, at least I know someone else can.” Her stormy blue eyes
746 never left Sakura’s, her heart still pounding against Sakura’s palm.
747 Blushing deeply, Sakura nodded slowly. “But still... I.. I want to
748 make you happy, Tomoyo-chan. I want to..” She trailed off, unsure of
749 what she wanted to say. It almost sounded like Tomoyo was talking
750 about her. But that was silly. How could she be Tomoyo’s special
751 person? “If I was your special person,” she began softly, the blush
752 tinting her cheeks crimson, “I would want so much to make my Tomoyo-
753 chan the happiest person in the world.” Glistening like an angel in
754 the pale light, Sakura was rewarded with a genuine smile from Tomoyo.
755 She was gorgeous, her heart so earnest with the happiness of her true
756 love. It was awe-inspiring. Tomoyo had such a loving soul that it
757 surprised Sakura sometimes with the strength of the love Tomoyo could
758 pour out. That, too, was something she had missed.
759 “Then Sakura-chan understands,” Tomoyo said quietly, her eyes
760 finally closing. She felt relief wash through her at that. Sakura
761 finally understood. After all this time. She didn’t let go of
762 Sakura’s hand at first, still holding it to her heart, wanting to
763 convey that the beating was for her alone. When she finally let go,
764 Sakura’s hand stayed on it’s own. Her stormy blue eyes opened to
765 Sakura’s still looking into their depths.
766 “You’re heart’s beating so fast,” Sakura whispered after a moment.
767 Her feelings weren’t confusing her so much anymore. She did
768 understand, like Tomoyo had said. So that was true love, wanting more
769 than anything for your true love to be happy. Loving them so much
770 that your heart would always belong to them. When she thought about
771 it that way, it did make sense. Her emotions slowed in their swirl in
772 her heart.
773 Tomoyo smiled softly, holding Sakura’s gaze. “It’s because I’m very
774 happy right now. I love being here with you, Sakura-chan. You make my
775 heart pound in joy. Sakura-chan’s cute, genki spirit fills me with
776 energy. So much energy that it doesn’t know where to go and it gets
777 all trapped inside. It’s saying Sa Ku Ra. Sa Ku Ra.” She knew that
778 this type of thing was exactly what she had planned on holding back
779 from during her trip, but she couldn’t help herself. Sakura’s
780 presence warmed her heart, filling up the emptiness that had existed
781 within her while they were apart. Living without Sakura was
782 infinitely more painful than she had originally thought.
783 “Tomoyo-chan.” Sakura couldn’t look away, her eyes focussed on the
784 brilliant blue orbs in front of her. The pale woman’s essence seemed
785 to wrap itself around her heart, pulling her closer. “Tomoyo-chan,
786 you make me happy, too,” she finally got out, barely above a whisper.
787 “You make me feel so special. You make me feel... loved.” That
788 realization hit her with a sudden impact. Tomoyo did make her feel
789 all those things and more. She filled her up with all sorts of warm
790 feelings inside.
791 “That’s all I want, Sakura-chan. I want you to be happy,” Tomoyo
792 whispered softly, leaning nearer to Sakura. Her fingers lightly
793 brushed through Sakura’s considerably shorter hair.
794 Sakura rested her head against Tomoyo’s hand, her eyes half closed
795 as she tried to make sense out of the sudden realizations. Her mind
796 was having a difficult time following as Tomoyo drew ever nearer. It
797 took a moment for her to notice that she was leaning closer as well.
798 Once again, it seemed like pure emotions were driving her. For a
799 brief moment, it didn’t matter if any of it made sense. It just was.
800 “Tomoyo-chan,” she got out silently. The two were finally inches
801 apart. She could feel Tomoyo’s soft breath against her. She really
802 was stunningly gorgeous. She had known that for a long time, but she
803 had never quite seen her in this light.
804 Watching Sakura’s bright emerald eyes, Tomoyo could see the same
805 shining determination that had always captivated her about them.
806 Their glimmer seemed to draw her forward. Sakura had grown into such
807 a pretty young woman, always managing to draw Tomoyo’s attention. She
808 was still amazingly cute, but she had gained a very pretty look to
809 her as well. Tomoyo had begun mentioning that as well over recent
810 years, whereas when they had been younger she had always embarrassed
811 Sakura about how cute she was. But right now she was content to bathe
812 in that beauty, in the shining light from Sakura’s heart that she
813 could feel radiating from her. Tomoyo’s masks were broken for the
814 time being, left behind. She couldn’t hide the glimmer of her own
815 heart. It was impossible to keep it back, nearly blinding her with
816 the love she felt for the woman in front of her. Sakura’s own heart
817 was beating furiously against her as she drew the brunette closer in
818 her arms. “Sakura-chan.” Sakura was her entire world. Nothing existed
819 beyond the pretty Cardmistress. Her fingers played across Sakura’s
820 ear. She had always found her ears incredibly cute when they were
821 younger. She still did. Everything about her was perfect. Tomoyo
822 loved all of her, even her flaws, the few she had. They were all part
823 of what made her love Sakura so dearly. The few inches between them
824 beckoned, Sakura’s lips seeming ever closer. Before she quite knew
825 what had happened, her lips brushed lightly against Sakura’s. To her
826 surprise, Sakura didn’t move back in the slightest. In fact, Sakura
827 moved closer to her dark haired best friend, her lips pressing back
828 against Tomoyo’s. Sakura’s eyes fell closed, but Tomoyo’s remained
829 open, wanting to see Sakura the entire time. Dream or not, this
830 moment would forever remain in her heart.
831 Sakura blushed feverishly as she felt herself returning Tomoyo’s
832 kiss. Tomoyo's lips were petal soft and inviting, drowning out all
833 conscious thought from Sakura. Her hands rested at the small of
834 Tomoyo’s back as the eccentric heiress’s fingers kept playing with
835 her hair. This felt perfect. Her entire body and soul ached for
836 Tomoyo. She could feel her heart going out to the dark haired woman,
837 begging for her warmth and love. And Tomoyo happily gave that with
838 all that she was. Tomoyo’s tongue slowly pushed between her lips
839 after a time, and Sakura graciously accepted, thrilled at the feeling
840 of Tomoyo’s tongue in her mouth. She kissed back with all of her
841 heart, her fingers clasping together as she pulled Tomoyo tighter.
842 For the first time since she had come to Hong Kong, and possibly for
843 the first time in her life, she felt complete. It was like a circuit
844 was completed within her, love pouring through her entire body. It
845 was different from the kisses she got from Syaoran. This was gentler,
846 sweetly exploring all that there was to offer. Tomoyo kissed slowly
847 but passionately, giving of herself completely to Sakura. His were a
848 little more forceful, more to the point. Forgetting all about that as
849 the kiss grew more passionate, she held on tightly to her best
850 friend. The feelings rushing through her felt stronger than any magic
851 she had ever experienced. Tomoyo didn’t need magic to touch her soul.
852 Her kiss was magical enough.
853 When the kiss finally ended, the two woman held very close in the
854 cool night air. Peaceful silence surrounded them, the only sound that
855 of the flowing water. ‘The love in your heart has to flow, just like
856 water,’ Tomoyo thought to herself as she held onto Sakura, her head
857 resting on the brunette’s shoulder. Her hands went gently up and down
858 Sakura’s back as Sakura lightly toyed with her hair. The two stayed
859 that way for a long while, Sakura finally falling asleep in Tomoyo’s
860 arms.
862 Watching from the deck where she had concealed herself, Ieran
863 watched the entire scene unfold. Yes, she had been right after all.
864 This would require quite a bit of thought. Turning from her daughter-
865 in-law and her friend, Ieran faded into the night.