A Tomoyo and Sakura Story

 By G. P.

 Please send comments to: treeandleaf2002@yahoo.com

 

 Note: all names and characters are property of CLAMP. This story is

 in no way meant to infringe on their intellectual property rights.

 

 This story is part of a series, but may be read alone. The previous

 stories in order are:

 Love is the Crooked Thing

 First Date

 Fruits Candy

 Tomoyo and the Visitor

 

 

 I.

 The teachers all agreed. "Beauty in the Woods" had been such a

 success for the fourth grade class that it deserved a reprise as the

 fifth grade play. The students, enthusiastic but nervous, began

 writing their names on the board. Just like last year, Mizuki-sensei

 would determine the parts randomly. As Sakura wrote her name, Tomoyo

 smiled, wondering what new costumes she would get to create for her

 friend. Already her head was full of fantastic designs for a fairy

 godmother, and dignified, regal attire fit for a queen. She could

 hardly wait to start sewing! So enraptured was she with the prospect

 of getting a new costume on Sakura that she missed the scowl on

 Sayoran when she got up to write her own name on the board. 

 

 Newly returned from Hong Kong, he felt as out of place as ever. He

 was puzzled why his awkward, tentative approaches to Sakura had gone

 unnoticed. Brooding back home, he realized that Sakura had shown

 interest in him, but he had been too busy to see. Now, she seemed

 friendly, but that "something else" he had sensed was no longer

 there. If only he were the Prince, and she the Princess of the play,

 perhaps she could be made to see the connection they shared, as well

 as their proper place in the order of things. Despite everything, he

 had never really accepted the notion that a weak little girl could be

 the true successor to Clow Reed. Awakened from his reveries by gasps

 and cheers, he was delighted to see the first part of his plan fall

 into place as Mizuki-sensei revealed the name of the Princess:

 Kinomoto Sakura.

 

 Tomoyo flew from her chair, holding her hands together in ecstasy.

 Sakura would make a perfect, absolutely perfect princess! Enraptured

 in a flurry of flowers and bubbles, she failed to see own name

 revealed:

 

 The Prince: Daidouji Tomoyo

 

 Dumbstruck, Sayoran glared at the blackboard. This was even more

 ridiculous than last year. How could a quiet, nondescript girl like

 her ever play the part of a noble prince? As shock turned to

 aggravation, he finally noticed that his own name had been revealed

 as well.

 

 Mizuki smilingly passed out scripts to the eager boys and girls. She

 took great delight in being the new fifth-grade math teacher, though

 her students were sadly unaware of the true power of numbers. As she

 absently took her copy, Tomoyo’s attention was fixed on the Mistress

 of the Cards. Mizuki laughed to herself and spoke up brightly,

 

 "Daidouji"

 

 The girl turned to face her, lavender eyes sparkling at the prospect

 of her friend as a princess.

 

 "I think you'll make an interesting Prince."

 

 Tomoyo smiled and bowed slightly as she caught Mizuki-sensei's

 enigmatic smile. She had not even thought about her own part in the

 play. Well, with a little altering, she could wear the costume from

 last year. But most of her time would be spent in designing a costume

 fit for a true Princess.

 

 Next day the class had their first walk-through rehearsal. Terada

 sensei joined Mizuki to supervise and direct. Right away he saw the

 problem. Mizuki's odd method of casting generated excitement among

 the students and audience, but this was the sort of snag he had

 always feared. The Daidouji girl was one of his best students:

 bright, punctual, cheerful, and talented. But she made an awful

 Prince. Kinomoto had been surprisingly good in the role last year,

 with a physical verve and commanding presence that convinced all that

 here was a Prince indeed. But now he covered his face in his hands as

 Daidouji dropped her sword instead of drawing it with a flourish.

 Worse, her soft voice had none of the iron determination that such a

 part demanded. He looked helplessly at Mizuki, who simply smiled as

 if she had not a care in the world. Already, he was preparing his

 apologies to the Principal. Turning to the math teacher he whispered,

 

 "Mizuki-san, eh, perhaps we might consider some slight alterations

 to ensure, eh, a more harmonious cast?" He winced as Daidouji bowed

 in apology after dropping her sword again. 

 

 Beaming, Mizuki whispered back, "Oh, that would be fine. I do worry,

 though, about the effect such a change might have on the children. I

 am sure that many of them would love to have a different part." With

 a puzzled look on her face, she said distractedly, 'How might we

 apportion the parts fairly so that every child gets the one they

 want, and is also right for them?"

 

 Terada groaned to himself. She was right. One change would lead to

 another, and it would be impossible to match up every student with

 the part they wanted and would be best at. With a blush, he

 remembered his secret hope that Rika-chan would play the Princess.

 Well, they would just have to do their best. But already he was

 dreading the night of the play.

 

 

 II.

 With the performance only a few days away, Sakura asked Tomoyo if

 she would like to get together and rehearse. In Sakura's room the

 following day the auburn-haired girl struggled to remember the lines

 while her friend looked on encouragingly. For the first time, she

 made it through without a stumble.

 

 "Do you want to do your lines, Tomoyo-chan?", she smiled.

 

 Tomoyo looked up and said, "Oh, thank you, Sakura-chan, but I

 already know them by heart."

 

 Looking closely at her friend, Sakura noticed a brief look of

 concern. Taking her by the hand, she spoke earnestly,

 

 "Tomoyo-chan, is everything all right?" 

 

 Startled, Tomoyo looked at her, smiling again, and said, "Oh, yes. I

 was just thinking about how to finish the sleeves on your costume".

 

 With a worried look, Sakura blurted out, "Oh, I'm sorry if I

 interrupted your sewing by asking you to come over. And even though

 you already knew your lines you came to help me! I'm so sorry, Tomoyo-

 chan".

 

 Tomoyo, distressed by Sakura's reaction, squeezed the girl’s hand,

 "No, no, it's all right, really, That's not it, I'll have it all

 finished in time...." Her voice trailed off in silence.

 

 Sakura looked closely at her friend, and again sensed something

 troubling her. Smiling, she said, "If that's not it, Tomoyo, what is?

 Something is bothering you, isn't it?"

 

 Tomoyo looked up into the shimmering emerald eyes and felt her heart

 flutter. Since Sakura had first confessed her love almost a year ago,

 the two had grown ever closer. An unexpected result of this was that

 Tomoyo could hide less and less from her increasingly perceptive

 friend. For years, Tomoyo locked her love away, safe and secret as

 the little eraser in the box in her room. Unaware of Tomoyo's

 passionate affection (as well as her silent pain), Sakura had

 directed her singular concentration towards the capture of the Clow

 Cards. Now that attention was focused laser-like on Tomoyo, and the

 dark-haired girl found it increasingly difficult to conceal the

 things she feared would hurt her friend. Haltingly, groping for the

 right words, Tomoyo whispered,

 

 "Sakura-chan, I'm just...worried that I won't be a very good Prince

 for you." 

 

 She looked away lest the tears take her. Ever since the first

 rehearsal she had worried about being an adequate Prince for Sakura's

 Princess. That concern was oddly like the anxiety that had stalked

 her for the past year: how could she ever be worthy of Sakura's love?

 Her adoration for the girl was boundless, but had boxed her in. She

 was torn with worry that she could not be all her friend deserved. On

 stage with the choir, and even as a soloist, Tomoyo performed with

 confident ease. But now, the possibility of dropping her sword or her

 lines terrified her, for that would bring unbearable dishonor to

 Sakura. She had even gone to Mizuki-sensei, to suggest that another

 student, perhaps Li-kun, might make a better Prince. But the

 teacher's strange smile flustered her and left her speechless.

 Suddenly she felt arms around her, and turned to see Sakura hugging

 her tightly.

 

 "Tomoyo-chan, that's so silly! I wouldn't want anybody besides you

 as my Prince. I know you'll be wonderful!" 

 

 As she smiled and hugged back, Tomoyo knew Sakura would love her no

 matter what.  But at the thought of having to be "wonderful" in the

 play her body tensed, and Sakura sensed it. Tomoyo was usually so

 good at things like this, and Sakura had been too absorbed in the

 role of the Princess to even notice her friend's anxiety. But what

 could she possibly do? Tomoyo knew her lines; that wasn't the

 problem. Thinking about it, Tomoyo fit all the ideals of a fairy tale

 prince: she was gracious, self-sacrificing, confident, brave, kind,

 and... beautiful. Sakura blushed. But physically, Tomoyo seemed

 strangely ill at ease with the part. Sakura realized that with

 cheerleading club, and gymnastics, and the exertions of capturing the

 Clow Cards, the physical activity of the Prince’s role had been

 second nature to her. But Tomoyo was different. How could she

 possibly help her friend to look and move and sound like a prince?

 

  Long after Tomoyo had left to go sew, Sakura sat awake in her room,

 determined to do something. She couldn't count all the times that

 Tomoyo had helped her. When she was down, or afraid, or uncertain,

 her friend was always ready to listen, to talk, or just to be there.

 Now those roles were reversed, and she had to find a way to help.

 Finally, long after midnight, she took out the Clow Cards and studied

 them. Slowly going through the cards, each with her name engraved

 upon it, she waited for inspiration. Finally, one leapt to her

 attention as the obvious solution. She held it up, dancing out of

 bed, heart bursting with the certainty that now everything would be

 all right.

 

 III.

 As the audience expectantly greeted the rising curtain, Tomoyo

 helped Sakura into the elaborate Princess’ costume off-stage. A

 circle of girls surrounded them, oo-ing and ah-ing at the magnificent

 design. Sonomi had pitched in with sewing the night before, and even

 then the two had been up till dawn. Stifling a yawn, Tomoyo felt it

 all worthwhile as she made the final adjustments, sewing a loose bow

 on the hem. She only hoped her own part in the play would not prove

 too embarrassing for her friend. After worrying the matter to the

 point of tears, she had finally resolved to just do her best.

 Finished at last, she stepped back for a final appraisal, and stood

 in awe.

 

 The design was inspired by the dress of the Italian Renaissance in

 the early 15th Century. A moiré of dark green brocade served as the

 gown. Decorated with golden moons and suns, the lush fabric was

 outlined in a thick, gold trim. The gown was slashed in front,

 revealing a crimson velvet petticoat embroidered with silver stars.

 The sleeves were puffed and slashed, tied together with blood-red

 ribbons, a delicate pink chemise peeking out from underneath. The

 ends of the sleeves flared out and hung down, lined in spring green

 silk. Pearls encircled Sakura’s delicate neck, and trimmed the

 squared neckline of the gown. Typical of the time, she wore a wig of

 blonde hair made of two long braids, entwined with long, pink

 ribbons. Finally, a single teardrop emerald graced her forehead like

 a third eye, hanging in place on a golden chain that encircled her

 head like a tiara. She remembered her mother's words when she

 borrowed the gemstone, "Please be careful, it's very precious to me.

 It was Nadesico's"

 

 Tomoyo could only stand and stare in the presence of a Princess from

 long ago. But if the costume so lovingly crafted by Tomoyo's heart

 and hands had brought the Princess magically to life, the real

 miracle was Sakura herself. Most girls would look awkward and out of

 place in the costume, overwhelmed by the rich, luxurious fabrics. But

 she wore them with a natural grace, as if she'd been raised as

 royalty from birth. The real glory was Sakura's, and the dress merely

 an obedient compliment to her innate beauty. Utterly enraptured,

 Tomoyo was only dimly aware of the girl's anxious voice,

 

 "Tomoyo-chan, does it look all right? Tomoyo-chan?"

 

 As though awakened from a dream, Tomoyo blinked and stood

 speechless. A male voice from behind whispered,

 

 "It looks wonderful. Kinomoto, you're on next, come with me.

 Daidouji, you'd better get your own costume on soon".  Terada-sensei

 had stopped short when he first saw her in the costume. Like a fairy-

 tale come to life, Kinomoto made a radiant princess. As she went on-

 stage for the first time, he heard the audience gasp, then applaud.

 He smiled and thought, maybe this will work out, after all.

 

 As Tomoyo finished buttoning her costume, she went over her lines

 one last time. She was nervous and sad and resigned all at once. With

 a sigh, she stood on the edge of the stage as Yamazaki, this year's

 narrator, intoned, 

 

 "To the country came a Prince".

 

 Terada-sensei nodded, while Mizuki-sensei, standing at his side,

 watched her with curious eyes. With a sinking heart, Tomoyo scuttled

 on stage, faced the bright floodlights, and spoke in her usual sweet

 voice,

 

 "They say this is a mysterious castle".

 

 She saw the three fairy godmothers, and heard Rika-chan's

 encouraging voice, "We've been waiting for you".

 

 Lying on her bier in the dark, behind the scenery of castle and rose

 briars, Sakura fumbled about, looking for the Key. She had hidden it

 and the card all too well in the costume's many layers. Finally she

 found it, and quickly whispered the words, bathing the backstage in a

 flash of golden light. A startled stagehand, wondering if a bulb had

 suddenly blown, thought he heard a whispering voice,

 

 "...and be a proper servant for Tomoyo's princely heart."

 

 Relieved of an anxiety for her friend that had kept her up all

 night, Sakura smiled to herself, and drifted off to a deep,

 mysterious sleep.

 

 As Tomoyo drew the little prop sword, shortened by Terada-sensei to

 keep her from dropping it, everything changed. When the sword emerged

 it was longer, sharper, and more menacing than a mere prop.

 Simultaneously, she changed, feeling a flood of confidence and power

 surging through her arm, flooding her body. In a calm, measured, but

 commanding voice, she demanded,

 

 "Who's there?"

 

 As the normally placid girl flourished the sword high above her

 head, the children playing the fairies stepped back in fear. Though

 stunned by the sudden transformation, Rika had the presence of mind

 to continue with her lines. After warning the Prince of the sorceress

 within, Tomoyo declaimed,

 

 " I have my sword, and my courage. I swear that I will break the

 Princess' curse." 

 

 As the fairies bowed low and stepped aside, Tomoyo strode towards

 the thick briars encircling the castle. But before the boys could

 move back the props, the Prince slashed away, scattering them off-

 stage. The sword cut through the two-by-fours in a shivering blow,

 scattering fragments of props and wood across the stage. The audience

 cheered the heroic assault, but Terada stared from off stage in

 disbelief. He turned to Mizuki, only to be greeted by the ever-

 present smile as she spoke,

 

 "I thought Daidouji might make an interesting Prince."

 

 He swallowed hard, and watched as the little girl advanced on the

 evil Sorceress and her minions.

 

 As soon as he saw the sword, he knew. Peering through swirls of

 black silk, Sayoran watched the girl in Prince's clothes advance

 towards him. There was no doubt that she wielded the Clow Card,

 Sword. Or rather, that the sword wielded her. Only a strong will

 could master it, and the Daidouji girl lacked even Kinomot's meager

 strength. How had she ever gotten a hold of such a thing? Well, no

 matter, he would strip her of it and end this farce. He drew his own

 sword, the indomitable legacy of the honored House of Li. He

 whispered to his minions to get off the stage, and in a mad scramble

 they happily obeyed. He took a fighting stance as a hush fell over

 the audience.

 

 Terada, mumbling that none of this was in the script, made ready to

 go on stage and stop the play. But Mizuki held his sleeve, and calmly

 whispered,

 

 " It's all right. I made a few changes in the script so it wouldn't

 be the same as last year".

 

 He stopped and watched aghast as Li lunged at the girl with a

 glistening sword.

 

 Tomoyo deftly parried the heavy blow and slipped aside as Sayoran

 charged. His surprise quickly changed to anger, and he slashed about

 wildly. But each time she turned his blade, lightly dancing away. The

 massive plume bobbed on her hat, but her body was calm and still

 amidst the furious action. The audience gasped, then roared its

 delight as the black sorceress hacked in vain at the plucky Prince,

 who time and again dodged the deadly seeming blows. Panting, Sayoran

 was engulfed in a rage of humiliation as the girl avoided his every

 stroke with mocking ease. His mind clouded with anger, he failed to

 remember that the Card's power was proportional to the will of its

 user. Staring at the girl he felt true hate, and spat out the words,

 

 "You can never have her. She's mine!"

 

 Suddenly Tomoyo caught a glimpse of the figure on the bier, shrouded

 in the dark and fast asleep. Her heart burst with longing for the

 Beauty that lay within. Her voice rang out, clear and strong,

 

 "Witch! I'll finish you."

 

 She sprang like a panther, sword sweeping the air in a great

 shinning arc. The blow knocked the sword from Sayoran's hands, and it

 fell clattering to the floor. Another swing, and the sword stopped

 short, inches from his neck. He stared into the icy blue eyes and

 felt his courage drain away. In a commanding whisper she ordered,

 

 "Fall!"

 

 And he obeyed, dropping like a sack of potatoes, fast asleep.

 

 The audience clapped and yelled, swept away by the fantastic

 spectacle. But Tomoyo stood oblivious, quietly sheathing the sword as

 the castle gates opened and revealed Princess Aurora on her darkened

 bier. Tomoyo now spoke not in the regal tones of the Prince, but with

 her own earnest voice, which touched the hearts of all who heard her. 

 

 "The fairies spoke truly, for here is beauty beyond the world's rim.

 Not sun, nor stars, nor shimmering moon compare with thee, oh fairest

 of the fair. All victories are fleeting, my conquests brought to

 naught, for this heart is mine no more. Awaken, Princess, and claim

 thy thrall".

 

 Riffling through the script, Terada exclaimed, "I don't remember

 those lines." glancing up at Mizuki, he stammered, "Did you.....?"

 

 But she only smiled, watching the play. Trancelike, the fairies spoke,

 

 "The Princess can be awakened with a kiss of true love"

 

 Tomoyo swept off her hat, hair falling down in a black cascade. She

 knelt over the still, silent Princess, leaning closer and closer.

 Their lips brushed lightly, then locked together in a passionate,

 consuming kiss. Sakura's lashes fluttered as she awoke, a pulsating

 warmth throbbing through her very being. She flushed crimson with an

 aching desire, and instinctively wrapped her arms around the figure

 above her. The world spun dizzily as she slowly came to. Waves of

 longing washed over her as she rose from the bier, embracing the

 sweet, pale figure in her arms. She held her ardent lover tightly,

 their kiss a red ribbon binding their hearts together, forever. 

 

 Terada's frantic signaling failed to catch the attention of the

 stunned stagehands working the lights. But Mizuki hid her giggle

 behind one hand as she tinkled and dimmed the lights with the other.

 As the stage went to black the Prince and Princess disappeared, and

 the audience rose to their feet in a thunderous ovation. When Terada

 saw the Principal rushing towards him, he quailed, and prepared for

 his humiliation. As the applause continued and the actors made their

 bows, the Principal rumbled,

 

 "Excellent job, you two. Best play I ever saw at Tomoeda. Better

 special effects than the movies, I'd say!"

 

 "Thank you, Sir!" Terada spluttered as he and Mizuki bowed low.

 Looking out the corner of his eye, he saw her smiling that odd, Mona

 Lisa smile. Next year, he thought to himself, we'll do a damn variety

 show. I couldn't survive another one of these.

 

 The next day, Sakura and Tomoyo sat on the grass after lunch. Sakura

 had slowly come to realize just what had happened the previous night,

 and blushed with every memory of it. Tomoyo couldn't stop talking

 about how wonderful she looked in the Princess costume. Finally,

 Sakura asked in a halting voice,

 

 "Ummm, Tomoyo-chan, ummm, why did you, ummm, kiss me....like that?

 

 Tomoyo tilted her head and smiled holding her friend's hand

 delicately in hers,

 

 "But Sakura-chan, how else would a Prince kiss his Princess? I

 wanted to do the best job I could in the part."

 

 A soft, lilting voice came from behind, and they both turned to see

 Mizuki-sensei  standing by them,

 

 "She's quite right, Kinomoto. Besides, if you were the Prince and

 Daidouji the Princess, wouldn’t you have done exactly the same?"

 

 Tomoyo gazed at her friend. Sakura stared at the ground, blushing

 fiercely. There was nothing to say. 

 

 As always, Mizuki-sensei was exactly right.