Dear Sakura:

 Together Again

 by The Amazoness Duo

 amazonessduo@hotmail.com

 

 	“Damn it!” Sonomi screamed into the empty expanses of the vacation

 home up in the mountains. It was supposed to be a retreat from the

 pain of everyday life, a place of refuge that she could take her

 darling daughter to and escape for a few days. It was a comfortable

 little place up in the mountains that she had picked out with Tomoyo

 years earlier. But this visit was anything but relaxing. Her retreat

 had betrayed her, leaving her just as pained as if she were right in

 the middle of things. It offered little escape this time, the

 knowledge that Tomoyo was off in Hong Kong with the woman that had

 broken her heart firmly in Sonomi’s overworked mind. Yet even with

 that knowledge, she still expected to see her dark haired daughter

 out in the garden, videotaping the beautiful flowers and butterflies

 or on the balcony watching Sakura-shaped clouds in the sky. And each

 time, she was profoundly disappointed to find her little girl absent

 from her usual charming activities. 

 	Puffing on her cigarette, Sonomi leaned against the balcony

 railing, watching the garden where she and Tomoyo would have picnics

 on their visits. Normally, smoking wasn’t a habit she kept up with.

 Back when she had first picked it up in high school, it was rather

 short lived after Nadeshiko’s insistence that she stop. And she had.

 Despite it’s ability to help her relax when things were too

 stressful, she would do anything for her gentle goddess. Who needed

 such a thing when they had a sweet cousin like Nadeshiko by their

 side? It would be bad for her running, after all, just like Nadeshiko

 had said. Even if HE could beat her at track. But he was the only one

 who could beat her. He always was. But somehow, he managed to beat

 her at everything. At racing and at love. He had stolen her beloved

 Nadeshiko’s heart away from her, even though she had promised

 Nadeshiko that she would protect her from people like him. Part of

 Sonomi had died that day, at the wedding. More of her had died after

 Nadeshiko’s death some years later. Sometimes she thought that the

 only reason any of her was still alive at all was because of Tomoyo.

 Her darling daughter was another sweet angel in her life. And Tomoyo

 didn’t like it when she smoked either, telling her that it made her

 sad to see Sonomi doing such things to herself. So she had quit again

 for the sake of her little daughter, deciding that she was worth any

 sacrifice. 

 	But right now, neither Nadeshiko nor Tomoyo were there with her.

 And she was feeling self-destructive. She wanted to breathe smoke.

 She wanted to throw away all of her professional success in the past

 few years. She wanted to destroy every one of her racing trophies.

 What did any of it mean anymore? She had been twice blessed to have

 angels come into her life, but one had left it painfully and the

 other was being torn apart in front of her eyes. And as always,

 Sonomi, the brash and protective woman that she had always been, was

 completely helpless to stop it. That made this all the more painful.

 The memory of watching Nadeshiko during her dying days haunted her.

 She had promised to protect her little cousin and she had been

 powerless to hold back death’s embrace from whisking her away. And

 now it was all happening again. Her angelic daughter was dying in her

 own way. And once again she was forced to watch. She couldn’t force

 that pain away with a glance, hold her daughter close and protect her

 from the cold knives of pain the world was intent on throwing at her.

 Yet Tomoyo smiled through it all. An angel to the bitter end, she

 tried so hard to keep her mother happy while her own soul was being

 cut into. 

 	“Agh!!” Sonomi hit the railing she was leaning against fiercely

 with her right hand. The pain that shot through her clenched fist

 just sought to anger her even more. “Nadeshiko-chan, why does it have

 to be this way? Why does she have to get hurt as well? Am I cursed?

 Is she destined to relive my pain?” The business woman’s voice

 lowered as her blue eyes closed, imagining her darling cousin’s image

 in her mind's eye, speaking directly to her as she often did when she

 was hurting. “Please tell me, Nadeshiko-chan. I don’t understand.” 

 	The wind whispered in her ear, blowing about Sonomi’s short

 brunette hair as if in answer, but she was still left all alone. A

 slender hand went to her mouth, deep breaths escaping her lips as she

 tried to calm herself. The breaths were shaky at best, barely holding

 back the onslaught of rage and loss that threatened to overcome her.

 But Sonomi was a strong woman. She had survived this long.

 Unfortunately, the waves always seemed to get higher in her life,

 threatening to drown her in sorrow. She could almost hear Nadeshiko

 chiding her about the cigarette. A small, pained laugh left her as

 she put it out. “She’s so very much like you, Nadeshiko-chan. I could

 never stand to see you suffer at all. I promised I’d always protect

 you. Why do I have to watch her follow the same path I went through?

 Why can’t I take away her pain?” Her eyes opened slowly, looking out

 across the garden. Her heart dropped when what she thought was either

 Nadeshiko or her daughter’s lovely gray hair happened to be nothing

 more than some dust being thrown around by the wind. “Sometimes I

 swear our daughters must have gotten switched at birth, Nadeshiko-

 chan. She’s so kind and gentle like you. And she has such a loving

 heart. She holds in so much pain and it’s killing me to watch her in

 it, pretending it’s not even there. Please... Please, Nadeshiko-chan.

 Don’t let this happen again. Don’t let what happened to us happen to

 our daughters. I love you so much. I can’t stand to see my little

 girl go through the same pain.” 

 	Sonomi slumped to her knees on the balcony, her body feeling weak

 beyond its years. Her memories of Nadeshiko were all too vivid, all

 too painful in her mind. Every glimpse, every touch, it all came back

 with surprising force. Her heart longed for her dearly departed

 cousin, missing her more and more with each passing day. Not a day

 went by when her thoughts weren’t consumed with the woman she loved.

 Her death had only served to separate them even farther. And if it

 hadn’t been for Tomoyo, Sonomi would have been quick to join her.

 “Nadeshiko-chan, I need you. Why did you leave me? You’re everything

 to me.” Even with her eyes open, she could still see the haunting

 afterimage of Nadeshiko, her smile tugging at the business woman’s

 heart. “You always said I was strong. But damnit, Nadeshiko-chan, I

 was strong for you. Because I wanted to protect you. Because I wanted

 to make you happy. If I couldn’t do that for you and if I can’t for

 Tomoyo-chan, then what good is any of it? Why does my pain have to

 live on through my daughter? This can’t happen.” She sighed weakly,

 running her hands through her hair. Her jumbled emotions were all

 calling for attention, leaving her feeling burnt out inside. She felt

 so weak and helpless, unable to change anything. The river of life

 had her caught tragically in it’s current and she could cause little

 more than ripples in the water. 

 “I’m sorry for being angry with your Sakura-chan, but I can’t help

 it. Tomoyo-chan’s so much like you and seeing the pain in her eyes

 that Sakura-chan causes in her is unbearable for me. I can’t help but

 see some of Fujitaka-sensei in her now that I see her hurting Tomoyo-

 chan so much. And I’m sorry about that. I know she’s your little

 girl, but seeing my daughter in pain...” She sighed, shaking her head

 as Tomoyo came to mind. What was happening to her over in Hong Kong

 right now? Why couldn’t she have come with her? It would have been

 better for the both of them. “But Tomoyo-chan wouldn’t want me mad at

 Sakura-chan either. She would say it wasn’t her fault and that she

 was happy for her. But I can see underneath those words at the pain

 underneath and it tears me up inside. She’s so sad and she won’t let

 it out. Because she doesn’t want me to worry about her. I guess I

 shouldn’t be mad at Sakura-chan. It’s the same thing that happened

 with you. You went off and got married, too. But that just makes this

 even worse because I know exactly what hell Tomoyo-chan is going

 through. And I can’t tell her it will get any better because I still

 miss you.”

 	Her blue eyes falling closed again, Sonomi could swear she felt

 Nadeshiko’s gentle fingers brush past her cheek reassuringly. “Please

 don’t let this happen, Nadeshiko-chan...”

 

 	An exhausted pale woman plopped down onto a guestroom’s futon bed

 in a flurry of dark hair. The day had been long for Daidouji Tomoyo

 and she hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before. But all of that

 hardly mattered to the young heiress. Smiling to herself, Tomoyo

 brought a hand up to her mouth and yawned. She had almost forgotten

 how much energy it took to keep up with Sakura. The brunette seemed

 to be nearly inexhaustible in whatever she did. And that mixture of

 determination, enthusiasm, and pure loveable spirit always managed to

 draw Tomoyo along afterward in awe. Never having been as energetic as

 Sakura, the other woman’s presence managed to revitalize her. 

 	Being with Sakura again was like a beautiful dream. But like all

 dreams, she knew that she would eventually have to awaken from it.

 That thought brought her back to reality, her hand instinctively

 reaching for her camcorder. If she had to leave her beloved Sakura,

 she needed to have every precious second on videotape. Checking to

 make sure that it had new film, she gently placed it on the large

 Victorian style desk. Those memories of Sakura might be the last she

 would have after this visit. She would slowly allow herself to fade

 from Sakura’s life completely after returning home. It would make

 things easier for Sakura who had already started a new life that she

 couldn’t be a part of. Eventually, Sakura would forget about her,

 happily living out her new life in wedded bliss. 

 	“Sakura-chan...” Tomoyo whispered sadly as she sat back on the bed.

 Her stormy blue eyes clouded over, tears threatening to break through

 her carefully orchestrated masks, ready to spill past her ivory

 cheeks. How can you give up the one you love? How can you let

 yourself become nothing more than a memory? Because you love them.

 Because you must set them free to live their life without you. Tomoyo

 knew that she would forever be bound to her love for Sakura, but the

 emerald eyed woman would soon have no need for her. Staying in her

 life would just be painful for the both of them. She had told Sakura

 that the most important thing in her life was that her beloved was

 happy. Even if they couldn’t be together. “I know you don’t

 understand, Sakura-chan. And hopefully you’ll never have to. When I’m

 gone, I’ll be happy knowing that you’re smiling.” 

 	So if this was going to be her last time with Sakura, every single

 moment had to be treasured fully in Tomoyo’s heart. The dark haired

 designer smiled a bit, wiping the tears from her eyes. That part was

 easy, Sakura’s warm aura lifting her heart up. To be with Sakura

 again was truly a vacation from the loneliness and sleepless nights

 that she had been dealing with since the wedding. Her aching heart

 felt like it would burst to be near the Cardmistress again. Sakura

 was just as cute and sweet as always. She was becoming a gorgeous

 young woman. Sakura truly was the perfect bride. Li-kun was very

 lucky to be blessed with Sakura’s presence. Though curiously enough,

 Tomoyo hadn’t seen an awful lot of him. She would have thought that

 he would be there near Sakura during the entire visit, bathing in her

 glorious nature the same way Tomoyo herself did. Yet she’d barely

 seen the Chinese Sorcerer at all. That coupled with Sakura’s

 increased outpouring of affection had her confused. If Sakura’s

 letters were any indication, she really had missed the company of her

 best friend. And Tomoyo could agree with that notion wholeheartedly.

 She missed Sakura terribly every day that she was without her. So she

 would be happy to be by Sakura’s side for the duration of the visit.

 This one day alone had been worth all of the months of loneliness and

 pain to be able to enjoy the beauty of Hong Kong right alongside her

 gorgeous Sakura.

 	Wincing slightly at the weariness in her body, Tomoyo began looking

 through the cedar chest in her room for a nightgown. Memories of the

 day and her time with Sakura kept racing through her mind, bringing a

 smile to her lips. Sakura really hadn’t changed much during her time

 in Hong Kong. She was still the same wonderful woman that Tomoyo had

 fallen in love with years before. And her presence still made

 Tomoyo’s heart flare up with love for the brunette. Sakura’s sweet

 voice still rang in her ears like a beautiful song, making her feel

 peaceful and calm. 

 Singing softly to herself, Tomoyo finally picked out a cyan

 nightgown and set it down gently on the bed. She didn’t sing in front

 of people the way she had back when she was on the choir club, but

 she still sang often when she was alone. It was something she had

 always enjoyed doing. It was a way of letting herself drift, letting

 her thoughts flow free. Her mind could wander along to the rhythm of

 the music, but it always invariably settled on one thing in

 particular; Sakura.  And that’s where her mind had settled now as she

 let her hair down from the ponytail it had been in all day, long dark

 hair pooling about her shoulders. Her clothes were laid neatly on the

 bed before she pulled the nightgown over her head. Getting ready for

 bed in Hong Kong again brought back memories of her first trip there

 with Sakura. She had even spent the night at this very house while

 she had been there, though that time she had shared a bed with

 Sakura. This time Sakura would be sharing a bed with her husband. So

 some things had changed since her last visit. Her heart wavered for a

 moment, but she forced the saddening thought away. At least Sakura

 was here. That’s why she had returned to this house, after all.

 Because Sakura had gotten married. And other than a few moments that

 day when Sakura had been rather emotional, she seemed to be happy. So

 she should be glad for her. The only reason Sakura was overemotional

 was because of her visit anyway. Sakura wouldn’t need to hide her

 tears in dressing rooms after she was gone. 

 	Tomoyo closed her eyes, taking an unsteady breath. “Sakura-chan...”

 

 	Meanwhile, the subject of Tomoyo’s thoughts was getting ready for

 bed herself. Sakura had already changed into her pajamas and was

 sitting next to Syaoran on the bed. Her poor husband looked so tired.

 She had been talking about her day with Tomoyo ever since she had

 gotten back home and he had quietly listened the whole time. He was

 lying on the bed, his eyes half open. Sakura giggled softly and

 brushed some hair from her eyes. “Gomen, Syaoran-chan.” She leaned

 forward and gave her husband a brief kiss. “Work must have been tough

 today. Maybe we can talk about it later.”

 	Syaoran nodded, his eyes half closed as he suppressed a yawn.

 “Sure.” He stared up at the ceiling, trying to keep his eyes open.

 “It was a long day. We should get some sleep.” His eyes opened after

 slipping closed for a second when he felt Sakura’s head on his chest.

 	Sakura sighed softly. Even after all that she had done that day,

 she still wasn’t feeling tired. She was too excited to be tired.

 After being Tomoyo-less for months and months, her best friend was

 only a few rooms away. Her mind wouldn’t shut off long enough for her

 to sleep. Tomoyo stirred so many feelings inside of her. It was

 difficult to comprehend. “Hai, you’re right. I think I’m going to go

 check on Tomoyo-chan first before I go to sleep,” she said

 thoughtfully.

 	“Daidouji’s like Meiling,” Syaoran stated matter-of-factly, his

 concentration blurring as sleep began to prey on his mind.

 	“Hoe?”

 	Syaoran yawned again, resting his head back. “Yeah. They both like

 to say embarrassing things.” 

 	A giggle escaped Sakura’s lips at that. “I guess that’s true. I

 never really thought about it. But it’s nice when she says them.”

 Kissing Syaoran’s cheek, she sat back up. Tomoyo might already be

 asleep, but she thought it would be okay if she just peeked in to

 check up on her. Or to at least catch a glimpse of her best friend.

 She felt like a little girl trying to get a last glimpse at the

 Christmas Tree before being forced off to bed. “I’ll be back in a

 little bit. Go ahead and go to sleep. I’ll join you soon.” She smiled

 sweetly at her husband as she slid off the bed. He watched her for a

 moment, offering a half smile of his own before rolling over and

 closing his eyes. 

 	Padding silently out of the room, Sakura made her way down the hall

 towards Tomoyo’s guestroom. Tomoyo had nearly fallen asleep with her

 head on Sakura’s shoulder earlier, so Sakura doubted she would still

 be awake. But it would be nice to see her again before going to sleep

 herself.  The door opened slowly after she grasped the doorknob. 

 	“Hello, Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo said warmly from inside. 

 	Sakura sweatdropped as she entered, closing the door quietly behind

 her. “Gomen nasai, Tomoyo-chan. I thought you were asleep. I hope you

 don’t mind.” She returned the pale woman’s warm smile. “I just wanted

 to see you again.”

 	Tomoyo shook her head, her dark hair swaying with the motion. “No,

 I’m glad you came, Sakura-chan. I was hoping you would. I’m always

 happy to see you.” Patting the bed next to her, Tomoyo made room for

 her hostess. Thoughts of seeing Sakura again had filled her mind for

 the last few minutes, but she hadn’t actually thought that Sakura

 would stop by before the morning. Seeing Sakura now got rid of the

 sadness tinged thoughts associated with the visit. It really was

 great to see her. There was the same sparkle in Sakura’s emerald eyes

 that had always sent a thrill through her heart and the same smile

 that always warmed her. Tomoyo giggled softly and tilted her head to

 the side. “No matter how much you change, you’re still my cute Sakura-

 chan.”

 	Accepting the proffered seat, Sakura looked back at Tomoyo

 thoughtfully. She was glad that Tomoyo was awake. It was much better

 than just catching a glimpse of her sleeping friend. Tomoyo’s musical

 voice and the  sweet things she said still embarrassed her at times,

 but she was happy to hear them. For so long she had been missing

 those little remarks of Tomoyo’s, reading them over and over in her

 letters and waiting for every Sunday to hear her on the phone. It

 really did make her feel good inside. “I hope I can always be your

 cute Sakura-chan,” she replied, blushing slightly. Tomoyo always had

 a way of getting to her that way. 

 	“You will. Because I’ll always have my memories of you. And I have

 a lot of it down on videotape, captured moments of your youth ready

 to be watched again and again and again as I reminisce about my days

 with Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo explained, still smiling sweetly. Her

 clasped hands were in her lap. She had always known that one day

 Sakura would have to leave her and that she would be left with

 nothing but her memories. So she had videotaped everything she could,

 wanting to capture as much of Sakura as she could. There was so much

 more to the brunette, but all she had was a library of videotape now

 that Sakura was in Hong Kong. And she was glad for it. Now that she

 couldn’t spend time with Sakura anymore outside this little trip, the

 videos were all she had left. There would be no more new moments with

 her, no more happy times spent together. But all of the old ones were

 ready for her to replay when she was lonely or to watch through when

 she was sad. 

 	Sakura reached out slowly, her fingers gently brushing through

 Tomoyo’s long lavender hair. She had let it grow from the last time

 Sakura had seen her, now reaching well past her waist. She always had

 the most gorgeous hair, trying it in all sorts of styles. It was

 always a wonder to Sakura how she managed to be so creative with it.

 The soft hair felt wonderful underneath her fingers. “Umm... Tomoyo-

 chan? Would you mind if I fixed your hair again? Like when we were

 younger?” Sakura sweatdropped a bit and looked down. She felt

 childish for asking such a thing. Tomoyo was a full grown woman now,

 no longer the delicate child she remembered. It seemed awkward to be

 asking it, but after the dream she had, she longed for the old days.

 Tomoyo’s captivating smile dissipated her worries.

 	Tomoyo’s heart had stopped when Sakura’s fingers began playing with

 her hair. Sakura’s magic touch entranced her more than any of her

 Cards could. It took her a moment to reply to Sakura’s request for

 fear of reacting at all and breaking the moment. “I’d like that very

 much, Sakura-chan. I always loved when you would be the one to fix my

 hair.” Her voice had almost gotten caught in her throat, her cheeks

 darkening slightly as Sakura’s fingers continued through her hair.

 Oh, it was perfect! Her hands were so gentle as they continued on

 their path. Tomoyo felt so peaceful, so complete inside. Yes, this

 was love. Having her hair fixed by Sakura. Even if it was just

 reliving old times for Sakura, she would play this over and over

 again in her mind for years to come. For a brief moment, she could

 even pretend this was the way things were. That after a long day at

 work, she had come home to her dearest Sakura and that she had

 offered to fix her hair for her, lovingly teasing with her fingers.

 Even if the illusion didn’t last long, the warm feelings in her heart

 grew considerably. If this was to be her last visit with Sakura, it

 certainly was turning out well at this rate.

 	Giggling happily, Sakura crawled up onto the bed behind Tomoyo, her

 fingers still running through the lavender trusses. “Arigato, Tomoyo-

 chan! It’s kind of like with Hanako-chan. Whenever I fix her hair, I

 think about you. It was always so beautiful, no matter what style you

 had it in.” For a brief moment, the woman in front of her was a

 blushing girl of ten again, sitting in barely hidden anticipation.

 Sakura shook the mental image off, but she smiled in spite of

 herself. Gathering up Tomoyo’s hair, she looked at it thoughtfully.

 Tomoyo scarcely moved an inch aside from a blissful sigh. Nodding to

 herself, Sakura began braiding Tomoyo’s hair, enjoying the feel of

 the silky strands between her fingers. For the moment, her only

 concern was how to fix Tomoyo’s hair. And she found that simple task

 relaxed her in ways that she hadn’t been able to in months. The sweet

 scent of Tomoyo’s lavender hair was lovely. She leaned closer,

 burying her face into the hair for a moment. It really was wonderful.

 Just like Tomoyo, it was sweet and calming. She couldn’t see the

 deepening blush on Tomoyo’s pale cheeks as she finally continued

 braiding. 

 	“I have some ribbons if you would like to use them, Sakura-chan,”

 Tomoyo offered helpfully, scooting back so that she could be closer

 to the Cardmistress. This had to be a glimpse of what Heaven was

 like. Her heart skipped a beat as Sakura’s fingers brushed some hair

 past her shoulder, the fingers lingering there for a brief second

 before moving on. If only this one moment could last for an eternity.

 Her heart sang out to Sakura, reaching out for her, bursting with her

 love for the brunette. But she sat still as Sakura’s fingers fixed

 her hair, content in this moment. ‘I love you, Sakura-chan. And

 moments like these just remind me of how eternally grateful I am to

 have met you,’ she thought to herself. 

 	“Oh, right! Those ones you bought during the shopping trip. They

 should be around here somewhere.” Sakura looked around thoughtfully

 before Tomoyo handed a bag to Sakura. Inside were several deep green

 silk ribbons. She ran her fingers over them as she pulled them out,

 looking back at Tomoyo’s hair for where to place them. They were

 beautiful and soft to the touch, but she found herself enjoying the

 feeling of Tomoyo’s hair much more. Her fingers went back to work,

 tying them in with careful movements. “You look so pretty, Tomoyo-

 chan.”

 	Tomoyo’s stormy blue eyes fluttered open slowly, smiling happily.

 The past few months seemed insignificant and far away. They didn’t

 matter. All that mattered was this moment alone with Sakura. It was

 perfect. “Thank you so much, Sakura-chan. You don’t know how happy

 that makes me. Being here with you like this, hearing your voice and

 knowing you’re right here with me, I don’t think I could be happier.

 I’m so lucky to be here with you. I’ll always remember this trip,”

 she said cheerfully. 

 	Sakura giggled. She could almost see the stars in Tomoyo’s eyes. It

 was just the way she remembered her. This trip had been exactly what

 she needed. She didn’t feel so lonely or out of place anymore now

 that Tomoyo was back with her. Her heart swelled to hear the sweet

 remarks Tomoyo always showered her with. Their time together had

 always been important to her, but it wasn’t until recently that she

 had realized just how important. Not having Tomoyo with her was like

 losing a part of herself. She didn’t feel as confident or as sure

 about herself without the dark haired woman’s love and support.  Now

 that the heiress was here, she felt even more sure of it. That’s what

 had been missing in her life since she had moved to Hong Kong. But it

 confused her because she didn’t quite understand what it was that she

 had been missing. She missed Touya and her father, too, but it wasn’t

 the same. She knew that was just homesickness, but this... This she

 wasn’t so sure of. Tomoyo had been her best friend for so long and

 she’d always made her feel like everything would turn out for the

 best, that life really was an exciting and wonderful journey. And

 with Tomoyo by her side, it always had been. Now she was continuing

 that journey without Tomoyo, but with her husband by her side. That

 thought hurt her. Because she missed the pale woman’s impact on her

 life. The way she was always there for her no matter her problems or

 what was going on in. The way she made her feel so warm and special.

 The way she gave her all of her attention even if she didn’t need it.

 But it didn’t make sense. She had her husband now and a new life.

 Tomoyo was very important to her, but her priority now was her

 husband and her new family. “I’m really happy to have you here, too,

 Tomoyo-chan.”

 	Tomoyo sensed the uneasiness in Sakura’s voice, as if she was

 confused about something. She had heard that tone in her so often

 before, on the phone or when they were together. It was usually when

 Sakura was trying to understand something, to make sense out of

 things with her innocent determination. Tomoyo leaned back against

 her, her bare feet touching Sakura’s knees. Sakura’s fingers paused

 for a brief moment before returning to the task of braiding her hair.

 “Sakura-chan, you’re happy here in your new life, aren’t you?” her

 musical voice asked softly.

 	“Hmm?” Sakura asked distractedly. It took her a moment to shake off

 her thoughts and return to the here and now. It had been so hypnotic,

 the action of fixing Tomoyo’s hair, the wonderful scent, the warmth

 in her heart at being here with her best friend. She had gotten

 caught up in her thoughts. A smile crossed her lips. She didn’t even

 have to think about that one. What a silly question! “Of course I am,

 Tomoyo-chan. I’m very happy here. Syaoran-chan’s sisters are all very

 nice and I finally get to be with my husband. It’s wonderful here.

 The city’s beautiful. Though sometimes I get a little homesick. And I

 really don’t think Ieran-sama likes me very much. And I really do

 miss you a lot, Tomoyo-chan.” Her fingers grasped more of Tomoyo’s

 hair as she leaned closer to the dark haired woman. Letters and phone

 calls just weren’t a good enough substitute for actually being with

 her best friend. She brushed past Tomoyo’s neck, playing with the

 silky strands in her grasp. 

 	“I’ll always be there for you, Sakura-chan. For as long as you need

 me. So please don’t feel lonely. It makes me feel sad that I would

 lessen your happiness here in your new life. You have so much here to

 be happy about. You have Li-kun now to make you happy. You don’t ever

 have to feel lonely because my heart is always with you. My thoughts

 are always filled with you.” Tomoyo was sure glad that Sakura

 couldn’t see her face because she barely had the will to put up her

 mask this time. Her stormy blue eyes were downcast, looking at the

 clasped hands in her lap. She was glad that Sakura missed her, but it

 just made it hurt all the more that she would have to fade out of her

 life. She no longer had a part in Sakura’s life and she was trying to

 come to grips with that. Sakura was happy in her new life. She didn’t

 need Tomoyo anymore.

 	Frowning, Sakura shook her head. She felt a little frightened at

 the way Tomoyo put that. It was as if Tomoyo thought that there would

 come a time when she wouldn’t need her anymore. “But I’ll always need

 you, Tomoyo-chan. You’re my best friend. You always help me so much.”

 Her arms wrapped around her second cousin’s waist, pulling her into a

 warm hug. She felt Tomoyo relax slowly into it. Sakura let her eyes

 fall closed, trying to understand the tumultuous feelings inside of

 her. Part of her wanted to break down and cry and to ask Tomoyo never

 to leave her side again while the other part knew that she had to let

 her go when the time came. Their lives were going down different

 paths now. She held Tomoyo tighter, unsure of what to say. 

 	Tomoyo let her eyes fall closed as she leaned back into Sakura’s

 embrace. She felt safe in Sakura’s arms, like nothing could come to

 pull her away. This was where she wanted to be, more than anywhere

 else in the world. But she knew that Sakura was wrong. One day, the

 brunette would no longer need her anymore. And she would silently

 fade from her life, until all that was left was a memory. The thought

 felt like a jagged icicle through her heart, but her love for Sakura

 slowly melted it. She had to. For Sakura’s sake. All she could do was

 love her from afar. “Arigato gozimasu, Sakura-chan,” she whispered

 softly, forgetting her worries as she lost herself in Sakura’s arms.

 Out of all of their contact, holding hands and even Sakura fixing her

 hair, what she loved the most was when Sakura would hug her. Her

 gentle yet strong arms always gripped her so warmly, even when Sakura

 would hug her seeking comfort. It was a wonderful sensation, being

 able to get so close to Sakura, to feel her heart beating against

 her. It was times like this that she almost feared her own heart

 would give her away as it pounded in her chest. 

 	Resting her head against Tomoyo’s back, Sakura’s cheek pressed

 against the silky hair that fell past Tomoyo’s shoulders. It tickled

 her cheek , causing her to shift more against the fragile woman in

 her arms. The rest of the world seemed far away whenever they hugged,

 gaining in distance for as long as they did. Her husband wasn’t much

 for emotional displays, but she knew that Tomoyo would always shower

 her with warmth, comfort, support, and love. Her soul always felt so

 soothed when they were together, like Tomoyo’s gentle fingers were

 stroking through her soul, making everything all right. She really

 couldn't ask for a better best friend. Pulling Tomoyo closer, her

 mind spun. There was so much she wanted to say to her, so much she

 wanted to do, but she couldn’t make sense of any of it. She couldn’t

 phrase any of what she wanted to say. It felt like it was all pure

 emotion, swirling in her heart. For a moment, she forgot where she

 was. The feelings inside her were so strong, urging to be let out.

 Tomoyo’s soft hair against her, the rhythmic movement of her

 breathing, the scent of her hair and the delightful little movements

 she made all made her feel so... hanyaan. Her eyes blinked rapidly a

 few times as she tried to sort out the thoughts that were attached to

 that. “I.. umm... Tomoyo-chan, would you like to go out to the

 garden? It’s really nice at night,” she asked quietly after a moment.

 She felt Tomoyo’s hair brush against her as the dark haired woman

 nodded.

 	“Hai, I’d like that, Sakura-chan. I’m sure it’s gorgeous,” Tomoyo

 said sweetly. She made no attempt to move, remaining in Sakura’s

 embrace for several long seconds until the brunette finally pulled

 away and slipped off the bed. Her stormy blue eyes followed Sakura’s

 movements, brimming with love for the Cardmistress. Sakura blushed a

 bit at the look in her eyes and looked away. Tomoyo smiled gingerly

 and took Sakura’s hand after joining her near the doorway. She held

 it between both of her own hands for a minute, savoring the feeling.

 Her fingers slowly intertwined with Sakura’s. Of course, she would go

 anywhere with Sakura. She was far more gorgeous than any garden could

 ever be. But if Sakura wanted to see the flowers, she would be happy

 to watch her Sakura. 

 

 	The two women tiptoed outside, not wanting to wake any of the

 occupants in the large mansion as they made their way outside. The

 beautiful moonshine cast them both in a dim glow as they stepped out

 into the garden. The garden itself was stunning, as befitting the

 House of Li. A large fountain sat in the center, water cascading down

 into it like a tropical waterfall. Wonderfully scented exotic flowers

 were placed all around the spacious garden, making it seem like a

 magical place in the moonlight. The sight reminded Tomoyo of helping

 to pick out the flowers for her mother’s garden back home and felt a

 sliver of homesickness wash over her at the thought. But her mother

 was probably fine. Sonomi always managed to handle things. “It’s very

 pretty Sakura-chan. Do you come out here often?”

 	Sakura nodded, smiling over at the pale woman. She seemed to

 shimmer in the moonlight, convincing Sakura even further that her

 best friend had to be some angelic visitor. “Sometimes. I like to

 come out here when I have the time. It kind of reminds me of when we

 all used to go for picnics in the park. It’s not a lot like the park

 but it’s just really nice out here.” Her emerald eyes flashed for a

 second as they reflected the moonlight before falling closed. It was

 still warm out, despite a slight breeze and she found the peaceful

 serenity of the garden to be overwhelming. 

 	Giggling softly, Tomoyo brought her free hand up to her cheek. “You

 look so cute when you’re being nostalgic. I should loan you some of

 my videos and watch you watching them.” Had they been apart at all?

 It felt like they had been back home in Tomoeda just the day before,

 like they had never been apart in the first place. It felt so nice to

 be together again. Tomoyo had to remind herself to be careful. Sakura

 was a married woman now. And this visit would probably be their last

 time together. So she had to keep her displays in check. She couldn’t

 just pour out her feelings for Sakura the way she used to. 

 	Blushing despite Tomoyo’s attempt at controlling her usual

 energetic love of Sakura, Sakura looked back at her old friend. “As

 long as you keep sending the cooking videos. They’ve been a great

 help. It feels like you’re right there with me when I’m watching

 them. And it’s great to be able to see you after reading your

 letters. I miss you so much sometimes that I can sit and watch them

 over and over. You always look so pretty in them. Each time I see

 them, it’s breathtaking.”

 	Tomoyo looked back at Sakura, her stormy blue eyes, looking deep

 into her in the cool night air. Her soul sang out to her, but she

 knew it went unanswered. She wanted so much to tell her how she felt,

 to let her know how much that meant to her. That she dressed as

 prettily as she could for Sakura in her videos. That she wanted to be

 there with her while she was cooking. That she longed for her with

 all her heart and soul. But all she could do was smile. “Thank you

 very much, Sakura-chan. That makes me very happy.” The two walked in

 silence for a moment as Tomoyo tried desperately to get a hold of the

 runaway feelings burgeoning inside of her. Sakura was everything to

 her, but she couldn’t let out her feelings. She had to keep them

 locked up in her heart. Sakura had the key, but Tomoyo couldn’t tell

 her. Sakura could never use the key. Her own heart already belonged

 to another. So Tomoyo continued to smile, wanting so much to lose

 herself once more in Sakura’s arms. 

 	Sighing softly, Sakura fidgeted, trying to force her thoughts into

 coherency. She wouldn’t have the lavender haired woman in Hong Kong

 much longer and there was still so much left unsaid. But try as she

 might, her feelings refused to clarify themselves to her. It was

 frustrating, being here with her best friend and unable to voice the

 emotions that were playing with her. Tomoyo slowly sat down on a

 bench near the fountain, drawing Sakura down next to her. Sakura

 looked into the stormy blue eyes greeting her and quickly looked

 away. She couldn’t meet them. They held so much within their depths

 that it almost scared her. It was like they could see deep inside of

 her, at the feelings that even she couldn’t understand. And yet they

 were extremely warm and gentle, filling her with strength. But they

 held a touch of pain in them that she had never noticed in Tomoyo

 before. It brought a dark cloud over her heart. What could hurt her

 like that? Behind Tomoyo’s smile, there was something exquisitely

 painful dwelling in her heart. Now that she looked closer, the

 smiling stormy blue eyes had cracks in them, painful shards that only

 hinted at the torment of the girl they belonged to. Which all served

 to confuse Sakura even more. “Tomoyo-chan, are you still happy with

 your decision? With not telling the person you like? I mean, when you

 told me about it, I was so sure that you were right. That the person

 you liked must be really happy so that should make you happy. But

 now...” She took a breath, looking up to gaze directly into Tomoyo’s

 eyes. “Tomoyo-chan, I’m not sure anymore. It can’t be right. You said

 you would be happy about it, but you never said anything about it

 hurting you. I should have known earlier. But you must be so lonely,

 watching your special someone happy with someone else. It’s not fair.

 You can’t be alone. You just can’t. You’re too important to me to be

 alone forever. I can’t let you. You will have your wedding. I

 promise. Because it’s too sad if Tomoyo-chan never gets to be a

 blushing bride.” She shook her head, trying to focus through her

 tears. She hadn’t even noticed them until then. Her heart broke at

 the look in Tomoyo’s blue eyes. She looked scared and hurt, the mask

 that had been covering them slipping off. For a brief second, Sakura

 could see the true extent of the pain that Tomoyo was in. It ran deep

 through her soul, like a deep ravine. She was colder and more alone

 than Sakura could ever truly realize. But before she could comment,

 it was covered up as if it had never been there at all. And Tomoyo

 was smiling again.

 	“You’re so sweet, Sakura-chan. I’m lucky to have such a wonderful

 best friend. I’m glad you’re worried, but you really shouldn’t be,”

 Tomoyo said softly, her delicate fingers brushing away Sakura’s

 tears. The brunette looked on in confusion. Had it just been the

 lighting? Tomoyo seemed completely fine now. Her smile still strong

 and bright, her eyes covering over the cracks she had seen in

 Tomoyo’s soul. Had she been mistaken? “I’m sure. I would live my

 whole life alone if it would make my special person happy. When you

 love someone enough that their own happiness means so much more to

 you than your own, then you know that it truly is love. I know I love

 my special person with all my heart and soul. I would do anything for

 them. I would be happy to be with them, but if I can’t make them

 happy, doesn’t it make sense that they should be with whoever can

 make them happy? It would be selfish to try to keep them all to

 myself. I won’t weigh them down. For me, it’s a joy to see them

 soaring in the air, happy and free. I could never deprive them of

 their happiness. So in a way, I am making them happy. And that brings

 a song to my heart. If I could keep them all to myself or give them

 up to be with whoever would make them happy, I would let them go.

 Because I love her so much that I would do anything, sacrifice

 anything, to make sure that she lives a happy life. And if I can’t be

 a part of it, then that’s okay. Because my heart will always belong

 to my special person.” The sweet musical voice had begun to falter

 near the end, her stormy blue eyes shimmering wetly in the moonlight,

 yet her smile remained constant. They remained focussed on Sakura’s

 emerald orbs, as if whispering ‘I love you’. 

 	“But Tomoyo-chan, doesn’t it feel lonely that way? Don’t you feel

 sad?” Sakura asked, grabbing Tomoyo’s hands with her own. She had to

 know. She knew that she couldn’t do the same thing if she were in

 Tomoyo’s position. It sounded too painful, too sad. How could she be

 happy like that?

 	Tomoyo nodded slowly, the wind playing with her long hair. “Hai, it

 can get lonely sometimes. And I do feel sad, too. But Sakura-chan,

 you have to understand. Sometimes you love something so much that you

 have to set it free. Like a child. You love your child so much but

 one day they have to leave you. But you love them so much that you

 have to let them. I love my special person with all my heart. But I

 can’t hold on because I can’t interfere with their happiness. So I

 have to let them go out and live their own beautiful life. Because I

 love them.”

 	Shaking her head, Sakura held onto Tomoyo’s hands tightly. What

 Tomoyo said was sounding suspiciously familiar with what she had

 often said about Sakura herself. “I still don’t understand. It’s just

 too sad. I don’t see why you can’t make your special person happy.

 Anyone would be lucky to have you, Tomoyo-chan. It’s not right for

 you to be alone like this. I don’t want you to be alone. You make me

 so happy that I can’t imagine any man who's heart you couldn't win.

 Seeing you alone hurts me, Tomoyo-chan.”

 	Biting back tears, Tomoyo tried in vain to hold herself together.

 “No, please don’t say that, Sakura-chan. It shouldn’t make you sad.

 I’m fine. I’ll always be fine as long as my special person is happy.

 Please, Sakura-chan... I have to be alone. My special person already

 has someone. They’re already happy. I can’t interfere with that. And

 I wouldn’t. I need you to be happy, Sakura-chan. Please be happy or

 it’s all been for nothing. I know I can’t have my special person.

 I’ve known that for years. But I can’t stop loving them because my

 heart belongs to them, even if they’ll never know. You have to be

 happy for me, Sakura-chan. I don’t think I can hold on if you take

 that away from me.” Her voice was strained, tears streaking her pale

 cheeks. Her mother had warned her about this trip and now she wished

 she had agreed to call it off. Sonomi had been through the same

 thing, after all. But she had thought that she had to come. Her

 carefully orchestrated masks had finally proven worthless,

 splintering into pieces at Sakura’s words. It was a paradox that

 Sakura couldn’t see. She loved Sakura, but Sakura couldn’t love her.

 And Sakura wanted her to be with her true love so that she could be

 happy. Which brought her back to the beginning, where Sakura couldn’t

 love her. It would ruin everything. But she couldn’t explain it to

 Sakura, couldn’t make her realize that she had to be happy for her

 even if she was alone. She dimly felt Sakura pulling her into her

 arms, holding onto her dearly. Tomoyo let herself collapse in

 Sakura’s embrace. She had tried so hard to keep her pain hidden from

 Sakura for all these years but the past few moments had ruined all of

 it. 

 	Sakura was amazed at the sudden change in Tomoyo’s behavior, from

 smiling and calm to wracked with sobs. So she hadn’t been mistaken

 after all. She stroked Tomoyo’s back gently, the same way Tomoyo used

 to whenever she would cry in her arms. “Oh, Tomoyo-chan,” she

 whispered softly. The dark haired woman was more hurt by her special

 person than she had ever let on. Sakura’s heart felt ready to break

 as she pulled her pale best friend closer. She didn’t know what to

 say. But a new resolve grew within her. She would find a way to make

 Tomoyo happy. Somehow. She couldn’t let Tomoyo stay in so much pain. 

 	The two woman stayed that way for a long time. Neither were sure of

 how much time had finally passed when Tomoyo stopped crying on

 Sakura’s shoulder. “Gomen nasai, Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo said weakly.

 “I’ve been so tired lately with working on Hanako-chan and all and I

 haven’t really slept much since I got here.” She felt horrible. How

 much damage had she caused? She had never meant for Sakura to see her

 like that. Crying like that, thinking that way was only for when she

 was all alone. She never wanted to hurt Sakura, especially with the

 burden of her own terrible loneliness. And what if this spurred her

 on to find out who her special person was? A shiver went through her

 body at the thought. It suddenly felt very cold.

 	Smiling softly, Sakura shook her head. “No, it’s okay, Tomoyo-chan.

 I’m glad. I really don’t think I’ve seen you cry often. I’m your best

 friend. I want to help you. And if you feel bad about this, then I

 want to know about it.”

 	Resting her head against Sakura’s shoulder, Tomoyo tried to calm

 herself. In Sakura’s embrace, she found it remarkably easy to do.

 “No, I don’t feel bad about it, Sakura-chan. Sometimes I just wish

 that I could be with my special person. But I know it can’t be. I

 hope you understand. It truly does mean everything to me that they’re

 happy. I love them dearly and to see them delighted means that I’ve

 helped to make sure that their life will be a joyous one. It hurts

 sometimes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. And being with you

 makes me happy, Sakura-chan. In your arms, I feel like it’s all

 perfectly fine. Being with Sakura-chan makes it all worthwhile.” She

 sighed softly, her nose brushing past Sakura’s neck. “I’m so happy to

 be with you, I don’t need anything else. Hearing your warm, joyous

 heartbeat makes my heart want to beat in rhythm with it.” Her eyes

 closed as she held onto Sakura. “Treasured moments like these

 reassure me that what I did was the right thing. Because I know that

 I had to make sure my true love was the happiest.”

 	Sakura sat in silence, feeling the rise and fall of Tomoyo’s

 breathing. Her own eyes were closed, listening to the toy designer’s

 beautiful voice. “Tomoyo-chan,” the brunette finally spoke at last.

 “I don’t ever want you to go. I want to be with you always. I want to

 know that my best friend is always close by when I need her. I do

 need you. You act like one day I’ll just stop needing you and that’s

 not true at all. Tomoyo-chan, I can’t imagine life without you. From

 the day we’ve met, you’ve always been so wonderful to me. And I want

 you to have the same happiness I have. I want you to be married and

 happy.”

 	Giggling softly, Tomoyo sat up against Sakura, looking into her

 jade eyes. “But Sakura-chan, I am happy. You make me happy. All of

 the time I’ve spent with you, all of the memories you have given me,

 I treasure them close to my heart.” Taking Sakura’s hand, she placed

 it gently over her heart, which was still beating rapidly. “You’re

 why I know that I can do this. Because you make me so happy that I

 know it’s worth making my special person as happy as they can be,

 even if we can’t be together. Seeing you smile, hearing about you

 being in love with your new husband, it all makes me think ‘Sakura-

 chan is so happy. I know that no matter what happens, Sakura-chan

 will live a wonderful life’. Everything has a price, Sakura-chan. But

 I know that my special person’s happiness is worth any sacrifice. I

 would do anything for them. Because I love them so much that I want

 to give them all of the happiness of the world. And if I can’t give

 it to them, at least I know someone else can.” Her stormy blue eyes

 never left Sakura’s, her heart still pounding against Sakura’s palm.

 	Blushing deeply, Sakura nodded slowly. “But still... I.. I want to

 make you happy, Tomoyo-chan. I want to..” She trailed off, unsure of

 what she wanted to say. It almost sounded like Tomoyo was talking

 about her. But that was silly. How could she be Tomoyo’s special

 person? “If I was your special person,” she began softly, the blush

 tinting her cheeks crimson, “I would want so much to make my Tomoyo-

 chan the happiest person in the world.” Glistening like an angel in

 the pale light, Sakura was rewarded with a genuine smile from Tomoyo.

 She was gorgeous, her heart so earnest with the happiness of her true

 love. It was awe-inspiring. Tomoyo had such a loving soul that it

 surprised Sakura sometimes with the strength of the love Tomoyo could

 pour out. That, too, was something she had missed.

 	“Then Sakura-chan understands,” Tomoyo said quietly, her eyes

 finally closing. She felt relief wash through her at that. Sakura

 finally understood. After all this time. She didn’t let go of

 Sakura’s hand at first, still holding it to her heart, wanting to

 convey that the beating was for her alone. When she finally let go,

 Sakura’s hand stayed on it’s own. Her stormy blue eyes opened to

 Sakura’s still looking into their depths. 

 	“You’re heart’s beating so fast,” Sakura whispered after a moment.

 Her feelings weren’t confusing her so much anymore. She did

 understand, like Tomoyo had said. So that was true love, wanting more

 than anything for your true love to be happy. Loving them so much

 that your heart would always belong to them. When she thought about

 it that way, it did make sense. Her emotions slowed in their swirl in

 her heart. 

 	Tomoyo smiled softly, holding Sakura’s gaze. “It’s because I’m very

 happy right now. I love being here with you, Sakura-chan. You make my

 heart pound in joy. Sakura-chan’s cute, genki spirit fills me with

 energy. So much energy that it doesn’t know where to go and it gets

 all trapped inside. It’s saying Sa Ku Ra. Sa Ku Ra.” She knew that

 this type of thing was exactly what she had planned on holding back

 from during her trip, but she couldn’t help herself. Sakura’s

 presence warmed her heart, filling up the emptiness that had existed

 within her while they were apart. Living without Sakura was

 infinitely more painful than she had originally thought. 

 	“Tomoyo-chan.” Sakura couldn’t look away, her eyes focussed on the

 brilliant blue orbs in front of her. The pale woman’s essence seemed

 to wrap itself around her heart, pulling her closer. “Tomoyo-chan,

 you make me happy, too,” she finally got out, barely above a whisper.

 “You make me feel so special. You make me feel... loved.” That

 realization hit her with a sudden impact. Tomoyo did make her feel

 all those things and more. She filled her up with all sorts of warm

 feelings inside. 

 	“That’s all I want, Sakura-chan. I want you to be happy,” Tomoyo

 whispered softly, leaning nearer to Sakura. Her fingers lightly

 brushed through Sakura’s considerably shorter hair. 

 Sakura rested her head against Tomoyo’s hand, her eyes half closed

 as she tried to make sense out of the sudden realizations. Her mind

 was having a difficult time following as Tomoyo drew ever nearer. It

 took a moment for her to notice that she was leaning closer as well.

 Once again, it seemed like pure emotions were driving her. For a

 brief moment, it didn’t matter if any of it made sense. It just was.

 “Tomoyo-chan,” she got out silently. The two were finally inches

 apart. She could feel Tomoyo’s soft breath against her. She really

 was stunningly gorgeous. She had known that for a long time, but she

 had never quite seen her in this light. 

 Watching Sakura’s bright emerald eyes, Tomoyo could see the same

 shining determination that had always captivated her about them.

 Their glimmer seemed to draw her forward. Sakura had grown into such

 a pretty young woman, always managing to draw Tomoyo’s attention. She

 was still amazingly cute, but she had gained a very pretty look to

 her as well. Tomoyo had begun mentioning that as well over recent

 years, whereas when they had been younger she had always embarrassed

 Sakura about how cute she was. But right now she was content to bathe

 in that beauty, in the shining light from Sakura’s heart that she

 could feel radiating from her. Tomoyo’s masks were broken for the

 time being, left behind. She couldn’t hide the glimmer of her own

 heart. It was impossible to keep it back, nearly blinding her with

 the love she felt for the woman in front of her. Sakura’s own heart

 was beating furiously against her as she drew the brunette closer in

 her arms. “Sakura-chan.” Sakura was her entire world. Nothing existed

 beyond the pretty Cardmistress. Her fingers played across Sakura’s

 ear. She had always found her ears incredibly cute when they were

 younger. She still did. Everything about her was perfect. Tomoyo

 loved all of her, even her flaws, the few she had. They were all part

 of what made her love Sakura so dearly. The few inches between them

 beckoned, Sakura’s lips seeming ever closer. Before she quite knew

 what had happened, her lips brushed lightly against Sakura’s. To her

 surprise, Sakura didn’t move back in the slightest. In fact, Sakura

 moved closer to her dark haired best friend, her lips pressing back

 against Tomoyo’s. Sakura’s eyes fell closed, but Tomoyo’s remained

 open, wanting to see Sakura the entire time. Dream or not, this

 moment would forever remain in her heart. 

 Sakura blushed feverishly as she felt herself returning Tomoyo’s

 kiss. Tomoyo's lips were petal soft and inviting, drowning out all

 conscious thought from Sakura. Her hands rested at the small of

 Tomoyo’s back as the eccentric heiress’s fingers kept playing with

 her hair. This felt perfect. Her entire body and soul ached for

 Tomoyo. She could feel her heart going out to the dark haired woman,

 begging for her warmth and love. And Tomoyo happily gave that with

 all that she was. Tomoyo’s tongue slowly pushed between her lips

 after a time, and Sakura graciously accepted, thrilled at the feeling

 of Tomoyo’s tongue in her mouth. She kissed back with all of her

 heart, her fingers clasping together as she pulled Tomoyo tighter.

 For the first time since she had come to Hong Kong, and possibly for

 the first time in her life, she felt complete. It was like a circuit

 was completed within her, love pouring through her entire body. It

 was different from the kisses she got from Syaoran. This was gentler,

 sweetly exploring all that there was to offer. Tomoyo kissed slowly

 but passionately, giving of herself completely to Sakura. His were a

 little more forceful, more to the point. Forgetting all about that as

 the kiss grew more passionate, she held on tightly to her best

 friend. The feelings rushing through her felt stronger than any magic

 she had ever experienced. Tomoyo didn’t need magic to touch her soul.

 Her kiss was magical enough. 

 When the kiss finally ended, the two woman held very close in the

 cool night air. Peaceful silence surrounded them, the only sound that

 of the flowing water. ‘The love in your heart has to flow, just like

 water,’ Tomoyo thought to herself as she held onto Sakura, her head

 resting on the brunette’s shoulder. Her hands went gently up and down

 Sakura’s back as Sakura lightly toyed with her hair. The two stayed

 that way for a long while, Sakura finally falling asleep in Tomoyo’s

 arms.

 

 Watching from the deck where she had concealed herself, Ieran

 watched the entire scene unfold. Yes, she had been right after all.

 This would require quite a bit of thought. Turning from her daughter-

 in-law and her friend, Ieran faded into the night.