rlm@0: Learning to Fly
rlm@0: Chapter 1
rlm@0: by
rlm@0: The Amazoness Duo- amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: G.P.- pearsong1954@yahoo.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The breeze off of the nearby ocean meandered playfully about on a path it neither knew nor
rlm@0: understood. It was free in a way that Syaoran Li, the heir to the illustrious Li Clan, could
rlm@0: never be. He felt some contempt for it as it's gentle, invisible fingers caressed his shirt to
rlm@0: his chest. What made it worse was that the breeze didn't know, nor care, for his jealous regards.
rlm@0: With all the power his position levelled him, with all the magical strength he possessed, he was
rlm@0: still as nothing to the wind. Oh, to be that free...
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You haven't said a word since the banquet. I hope it didn't fry your brain. And you were doing
rlm@0: so well, too. I had you all trained and everything.” A snap of fingers and an exhale of breath
rlm@0: followed a dark haired woman's exclamation as she feigned frustration. “Ieran is going to be so
rlm@0: disappointed that I broke her son.” Meiling Li, one time fiancee of Syaoran, walked along the
rlm@0: small stone fence aside and above her cousin. Long wisps of beautiful raven hair trailed behind
rlm@0: her, almost as one with the wind. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Whereas the wind seemed to fight against Syaoran, finding a barrier in him, it seemed to flow
rlm@0: effortlessly about his female companion, offering her no barriers. Perhaps it was because she was
rlm@0: at peace with the wind, with the very nature of the world we live in. Or at least at peace with
rlm@0: herself and her place within the world. Syaoran still found himself trying to find his place in
rlm@0: it all, which seemed unneccessary what with his destiny as the head of the Li Clan preordained.
rlm@0: Yet still he found himself unsure of his future and his place within it. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I'm fine.” His voice was rough, strong. He liked how it sounded. No longer the child he had been
rlm@0: back during his time assisting with the Clow Cards, he was a man now. It was known throughout
rlm@0: China that he was the premiere wizard, nearly as strong as his mother in the ways of his families
rlm@0: mystical arts. With a lean body, handsome looks, and enormous potential as the next heir to the
rlm@0: most powerful family of magicians in China, he was heavily sought after to wed the daughters of
rlm@0: many different influential families. Yet none of them managed to sway the admittedly headstrong
rlm@0: young master of the Li Clan. The one and only Cardmistress was his lover, the one who would one
rlm@0: day join him. He was happy with his strength, with the man he was now. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: In many ways, Meiling had made his transformation possible. Or was transformation too strong of a
rlm@0: word? It was more subtle than that. He held a confidence he had been lacking when he was younger.
rlm@0: No longer was he a slave to his fears of not being good enough for his mother, for the Li Clan.
rlm@0: It had taken all of his courage to tell his mother that he was dating the Cardmistress. Back
rlm@0: then, he had been afraid she would turn her icy, disappointed eyes into him and the small amount
rlm@0: of love he had garnered from her over the years would wither and die. But the great and all
rlm@0: powerful Ieran had simply agreed and asked him if there was anything else of import he wished to
rlm@0: discuss. Perhaps it was then that he discovered his mother had never expected him to be stronger
rlm@0: than Sakura. She had never expected him to be the one to take back the cards of their ancestor,
rlm@0: Clow Reed. Anger and relief in equal parts had flooded him until he had been almost unable to
rlm@0: excuse himself and collapse on his bed back in his room. His whole life, he had been the only boy
rlm@0: in his family, the heir to the head of the household, the one expected to handle the family's
rlm@0: problems despite being the youngest. All that time, his mother had treated his sisters with
rlm@0: warmth and caring while she had granted him a somewhat disappointed indifference. He had thought
rlm@0: it was because he hadn't been strong enough, that she had expected more from him, that he had to
rlm@0: be better to gain her approval. But it seemed to be something altogether different. Perhaps she
rlm@0: had only been preparing him for the harsh life that awaited him as the head of the Li Clan. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: With that experience, Syaoran had slowly taken up more and more responsibilities within the
rlm@0: household. Oddly enough, it had been Meiling who stood behind him throughout it all. His
rlm@0: beautiful, dark haired cousin had given him the confidence in himself to perform his duties as
rlm@0: well as to cultivate an air of authority he had long lacked. When other family members had
rlm@0: giggled at his attempts to take charge of a situation, Meiling had barked at them to listen to
rlm@0: him. Meiling had supported him unfalteringly every day for the past few years, despite the fact
rlm@0: that she knew he had cancelled their engagement. Even then, she was always the first to support
rlm@0: him, the first to tell him how great he was, how strong and smart and capable he was. She was the
rlm@0: one to make him feel as if he could accomplish anything.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:  Meiling was his backup when he couldn't finish things on his own. When he had been told to
rlm@0: search through some family records for an important document, she had stayed up all night with
rlm@0: him, helping him through all the large, musty volumes that filled the huge library. Bringing them
rlm@0: tea every few hours, Meiling had been right alongside him as they poured through the thick,
rlm@0: boring manuscripts. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: So much of his newfound sense of self, his gained self-confidence, came from Meiling's unwavering
rlm@0: support. He felt like he could handle taking over the household, which was slowly becoming a
rlm@0: reality. All thanks to the help of his strongwilled cousin. All of his self-doubts, his fears and
rlm@0: weaknesses, felt as if they were being ironed away, smoothed out of himself. He was pleased with
rlm@0: what he saw in the mirror and what he heard when he spoke. It was strong and honorable and he
rlm@0: liked it. Sakura would be so glad when she saw him again. He would show her how he had grown, how
rlm@0: much more in control he was. He would sweep her off her feet. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “So you can speak!” Meiling clapped her hands delightedly, grinning as she startled Syaoran from
rlm@0: her thoughts. From personal experience, she knew she was one of a few lucky people who could drag
rlm@0: Syaoran from his moody thoughts. He came kicking and screaming sometimes, but she could force him
rlm@0: into the here and now nonetheless. It was for his own good, she always told herself. Better to
rlm@0: make him pay attention than to be ignored. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Glancing up at his cousin, resplendant in her beautiful red and yellow dress, he nodded. “Thanks
rlm@0: for your help at the banquet, Meiling. I really thought Fanren was going to argue about my idea
rlm@0: for a minute.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Amber eyes seemed to sparkle gleefully as slim shoulders shrugged. “She was going to. But she
rlm@0: wasn't going to fight the both of us. She still doesn't like the idea, but she doesn't have to.
rlm@0: You're the new head of the household, not her. Besides, if she really wants to fight over it, you
rlm@0: can always bring up her plethora of lovers. That would shut her up real quick. Your mother
rlm@0: tolerates it because she keeps it quiet. You could make a big fuss over it once you're in charge
rlm@0: though. She'd stop fighting with you just so you'd leave her alone about it.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ”Silence followed for
rlm@0: a moment. It was at this moment that Syaoran realized Meiling could fight extremely dirty when
rlm@0: she wanted to. The revelation was both exciting and frightening at the same time. He decided to
rlm@0: push that away for the moment. “I'd... rather not piss off Fanren if I can help it. She's still
rlm@0: my big sister. If we can resolve it without her hating me for the rest of my life, I'm happier.
rlm@0: Besides, it all seemed to get resolved when you threw in with me. She didn't want to have to
rlm@0: argue with both of us.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “If you say so. She'll have to get used to you being in charge sooner or
rlm@0: later, no matter how much older she is,” Meiling stated. Her arms spread out like wings, keeping
rlm@0: her balance despite the increasingly harsh sea wind. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A part of Syaoran's mind flinched at the thought. Fanren was his eldest sister. Memories of his
rlm@0: older sisters dressing him in their old clothes, going through their makeup to make him look like
rlm@0: their pretty little sister, their personal dress up doll, made his cheeks turn a light shade of
rlm@0: crimson. The thought of threatening Fanren with the knowledge of her many lovers seemed
rlm@0: impossible in the light of those memories. She was still his older sister. He'd always be the
rlm@0: baby to her, which was why it was so hard for her to entirely defer to him. But at least Fanren
rlm@0: had given in with Meiling's help. The thought of trying to force his fiery older sister to submit
rlm@0: in any situation didn't strike him as pleasant. Whereas his mother had an icy strength to her,
rlm@0: Fanren's spirit was fiery. He liked to think that he himself held his mother's reserve of ice
rlm@0: cold strength, but he couldn't be entirely sure. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “....ting engaged soon. He's from that Chang family. That one with all the scholars? I hear
rlm@0: they've got some magic in the family, too. So I guess it makes sense,” Meiling was finishing, a
rlm@0: few paces ahead of Syaoran by now. The wind continued to play with her hair, sending the pigtails
rlm@0: trailing behind her, almost far enough out for Syaoran to reach if he tried. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Hmm?” Syaoran gathered himself, looking up to his slightly younger cousin. Thoughts swirled in a
rlm@0: fragmented pattern as they tried to piece themselves back together. What had she been saying? A
rlm@0: touch of anxiety began eating at him. He quashed it immediately. If there was anything he hated
rlm@0: with a passion, it was fear. He never wanted to fear, to worry, again. Such a feeling was
rlm@0: unfitting someone of his post. But all the same, Meiling's next words left him shaken.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “What are
rlm@0: you going to do when I'm not here to force you out of your thoughts? You'll never go do anything
rlm@0: fun. I'm the one who drags you out to go dancing or to see movies or even to go to the park.
rlm@0: You're hopeless.” The smile on her lips didn't meet her eyes as she walked backwards along the
rlm@0: fence, eyeing her onetime fiancee. “I'm getting married,” she said after a brief pause. She
rlm@0: hurried before Syaoran could respond. “I'm my mother's oldest daughter and I'm unmarried. Mom
rlm@0: doesn't have as many kids as your mother has, so she can't afford to squander her bargaining
rlm@0: chips. She's been looking for someone for me to marry for a while now. To 'bolster the strength
rlm@0: of the Li Clan' is how she put it, I think.” Another shrug of her athletic shoulders. “It got to
rlm@0: the point where she began to arrange my marriage to the only son of the Chang family. I think
rlm@0: we're getting married in August.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “But... you can't!” His voice wasn't as controlled as he wanted it to be. When upset or angry, he
rlm@0: still lost a bit of that vital control he longed for. His voice had come out harsh, too harsh.
rlm@0: Too... afraid? No, it was Meiling's life. It didn't concern him. Maybe it was that she was
rlm@0: getting married off. But hadn't she always been in a situation where she would be married off?
rlm@0: First him and now this Chang boy. His stomach clenched at the thought of this person taking away
rlm@0: his... best friend. Another realization. Meiling was his best friend. Perhaps his only friend.
rlm@0: And she was being taken away from him. Fear and anger and frustration all threatened, crashing
rlm@0: like stormy waves against the walls of control he had so diligently crafted. Now he wasn't so
rlm@0: sure they would hold. His mind raced desperately for a way to solve the problem. “You don't have
rlm@0: to have an arranged marriage. I stepped out of mine. I told mother I was going to be with
rlm@0: Sakura.” As soon as it was out of his mouth, he immediately regretted it. In an unspoken pact, he
rlm@0: and Meiling rarely discussed his love life with Sakura. Meiling didn't want to hear about it,
rlm@0: didn't want to think about it. And this scenario was infinitely worse. He had stepped out of his
rlm@0: engagement to Meiling in order to be with Sakura. Unlike himself, Meiling had not wanted to end
rlm@0: their engagement. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Amber eyes that would be beautiful in almost any light got incredibly frosty in the blink of an
rlm@0: eye. Though Syaoran couldn't tell what had changed about Meiling's posture or demeanor, her aura
rlm@0: was much, much crisper now, matching the biting wind that had risen. “This is political. The
rlm@0: family is strengthened from my marriage to the heir to the Chang Clan. And, whether you want to
rlm@0: believe it or not, you being with Sakura is also political. You want to know why your mother
rlm@0: didn't put up so much as an argument for why you couldn't be with her? Because she's the
rlm@0: Cardmistress. She has the book that belonged to our ancestor. Having you marry her, to bring both
rlm@0: her magic and her Sakura Cards back into our family, is the next best thing to if you had managed
rlm@0: to get the Cards in the first place.” Turning to look forward, she continued to walk briskly
rlm@0: along the stone fence. Syaoran had to hurry to keep up. “So my mother probably wouldn't care even
rlm@0: if I told her I 'didn't want to' marry him. And I have no reason not to marry him.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Continuing on
rlm@0: in silence for a moment, the sounds of the street beneath his shoes sounded distant and false.
rlm@0: Not only had he lost his precious control for a brief moment, but he had also hurt Meiling with a
rlm@0: stupid comment he should have known better than to let slip out of his mouth. “Do you love him?”
rlm@0: It took all his effort to make the question sound casual, to keep it from revealing how concerned
rlm@0: he was for its answer. If she didn't have a reason to not marry him, then maybe...
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “No. I haven't even met him. But what do I have to wait around for? Your sisters are starting to
rlm@0: get married off. My brother's already engaged. I don't want to be the only daughter sitting
rlm@0: around here like a dusty old maid. Then what? I get to sit around and watch you and Sakura get
rlm@0: married and have kids while I sit at home? At least I'm doing the family some good by marrying
rlm@0: him. I don't have to like him to have his kids. Who knows. Maybe I'll fall for him.” The last was
rlm@0: mean and she knew it. Part of her still wanted to make him jealous. The rest of her was just
rlm@0: tired and lonely and exhausted. The love she held for Syaoran had blossomed when she had been a
rlm@0: small child. The seedling had grown into something that filled her entire being. And yet, the
rlm@0: past few years she had watched him in love with another. Never once had he seen her crying over
rlm@0: him, tearry eyed in her bed, wishing they had never gone to Japan. She had waited and hoped that
rlm@0: maybe, just maybe, he would eventually choose her. But now that seemed unlikely. She would never
rlm@0: love anyone the way she loved Syaoran, but she wouldn't sit and wait like an old pet. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: There was nothing he could say at this point. Words would fail him and he knew it. They had never
rlm@0: been his strong point anyway. Almost all of their arguments were won by Meiling because of that.
rlm@0: But he felt incredibly empty as he watched her ahead of him.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hopping off the low fence, Meiling landed lightly in her sandals. “I need to get home to help
rlm@0: mother for the preparations. I'll stop by tomorrow to see how things are going. Goodnight,
rlm@0: Syaoran.” With that, she left, not bothering to look back over her shoulder.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Goodnight, Meiling.” The words were not enough and they sounded tiny and irrelevant in his ears.
rlm@0: The hollow, empty sounds plagued him as he watched her receding back. He should have said
rlm@0: something, done something to make it better. Instead, he had succeeded only in sticking his foot
rlm@0: in his mouth. He was about to lose his best friend to some boy she didn't even know because of
rlm@0: the family honor he had devoted his life to. He felt weak. The support for everything he had
rlm@0: built was suddenly slipping away. He would be strong enough on his own, wouldn't he? Without her,
rlm@0: he could still handle it, right? Doubts nagged at him, doubts he had long suppressed. The girl he
rlm@0: had long depended on without realizing was suddenly getting ready to leave. And there was nothing
rlm@0: he could do about it. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Fuck!!” Fist cracked against stone in a battle that was shortlived. Pain
rlm@0: crackling through his knuckles, Syaoran hoped Meiling had been far enough away not to hear him.
rlm@0: He hit the stone again. And again. He didn't want to let her go. It was like losing the one
rlm@0: pillar he had to keep things together. But it wasn't his choice to make. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Slumping against the wall, he slid down into a sitting position. 'Don't go, Meiling,' he wanted
rlm@0: to say. 'Stay with me,' his younger voice pleaded. Tears built in his eyes, damned tears he had
rlm@0: long thought dried out. His sisters had been playing with him again, something he had always
rlm@0: loved when he was a child. They'd dressed him up in their most beautiful old clothes, made him as
rlm@0: pretty as any young girl his age, and had played with him all afternoon. And then his mother had
rlm@0: come. His mother never told his sisters to leave him alone back then, never scolded them for
rlm@0: playing with him in such ways. She simply sent them away. It was time for some of Syaoran's
rlm@0: lessons. He had to learn to be strong. He had to learn to be a man because he would one day lead
rlm@0: the Li Clan. And his older sisters all bowed to their mother and made their hasty retreat.
rlm@0: Leaving him with his mother's cold, disapproving glare. That glare was so different from the
rlm@0: smiles and giggles of his sisters as they played with him. He hated it. And he had begged his
rlm@0: fleeing sisters to stay. To not leave him alone with those cold, disappointed eyes. But they
rlm@0: always left. And he was always alone with her. Fighting his dragons. Trying to be the man his
rlm@0: mother demanded him to be. And now, when he was fighting again for control of the Li Clan, the
rlm@0: brilliant smile and light that Meiling bestowed upon him was about to flee. And he knew he would
rlm@0: be left in darkness again. 'Don't go...' his voice from years long gone cried out. Sakura. He
rlm@0: still had Sakura. Pulling out his cell phone, her number was speed dialed in seconds. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Trrrrrrriiiiil. Trrrrrrrrrrrriiiil. Trrr.... “Hello?” Her soft voice was still as bright and warm
rlm@0: as it had been when he had fallen for her as a child. “Hello? Syaoran?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Sakura...” His voice was
rlm@0: steady, calm, and for that he was glad. His earlier signs of weakness had been erased. He barely
rlm@0: felt the tears trickling down his cheeks. He was in control again. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Syaoran! How are you? I was
rlm@0: just talking to Tomoyo-chan about you.” A pause. “I miss you.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Mmm... I miss you, too. I'm fine.”
rlm@0: His voice was sounding better by the minute. “Just wanted to check up on you. How've things been
rlm@0: going?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Oh, they're fine. We've finally got everything moved in. Oh, Syaoran, you should see the place!
rlm@0: It's so cute! I really, really have to thank Sonomi-san for finding us such a nice place. And
rlm@0: it's really close to the campus, too, kind of between my campus and Tomoyo's. I still have to
rlm@0: take the tram, but... well, I could take the limo that Sonomi has take Tomoyo-chan to school, but
rlm@0: then I'd feel even guiltier. I mean, she already got this place for us. Hoe... I need to find a
rlm@0: way to thank her. Can you think of anything?” Sakura finally paused for a breath. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “No,
rlm@0: nothing.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Well, I'll have to think of something.” Then, away from the phone. “Yeah, right there
rlm@0: is fine, Tomoyo-chan.” Back to the phone. “You really should come out soon, Syaoran. It's such a
rlm@0: nice place. The view at night is gorgeous. Tomoyo-chan and I stayed up last night and the city
rlm@0: looks so beautiful. It's lit up like a thousand different stars. The cars look like little
rlm@0: shooting stars under us.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Yeah, I'd like that, Sakura. Maybe I can check it out soon.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Really?
rlm@0: I'd love that, Syaoran. It's been so long. It'd be so great to see you again.” Sakura sighed
rlm@0: softly, the sigh she always gave when she was lonely. He got it a lot on their phone calls. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I'll try to see what I can do, then,” he promised. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Thanks, Syaoran,” her cheerful voice responded. “Ack... I have to go now. Tomoyo-chan needs my
rlm@0: help to move something. Well, she didn't say she needs my help, but you know how skinny and
rlm@0: fragile she is. She's trying to lift it herself, but....” Away from the phone, he can still hear
rlm@0: her voice. “Tomoyo-chan, let me help you with that. You're going to get hurt if you try to carry
rlm@0: that by yourself.” Pulling the phone to her ear, her voice was clear again. “We sent the
rlm@0: bodyguards her mother had sent home after they helped get everything up to the apartment. We
rlm@0: didn't want them to have to wait for us to figure out how we want the layout.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Go
rlm@0: ahead and help Daidouji. I'll call you later.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Syaoan, I hope I can see you soon,” Sakura said,
rlm@0: her voice a lot whisper.“Me too, Sakura-chan.” Maybe if she were near, he could stave off this
rlm@0: collapse. And then the phone went silent as he let it turn off.Nothing was better. Icy tears
rlm@0: rolled down his cheeks as the wind got more and more violently, making the leaves scractch
rlm@0: against anything like distant, insane laughter. No one heard the cries in his head. Or perhaps
rlm@0: they didn't care. Nonetheless, he was left all alone in the cold. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “And that one? Does it have a name?” After all of her years as the head of a large toy company,
rlm@0: Sonomi Daidouji still managed to hold onto an almost childlike glee at times. Her harshly cut
rlm@0: diagonal hairstyle and her business suit seemed at odds with the thin violet bow she had tied
rlm@0: around her neck. She was, as her employees would attest, eccentric. As Tomoyo would be quick to
rlm@0: add, she was also an extremely caring woman. Like a lioness, she would care for her cubs with the
rlm@0: utmost care. But if ever any harm threatened one of her love ones, she would sink her claws in
rlm@0: faster than the blink of an eye. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Currently, the brunette was in one of her former moods, as she often was when around her lovely
rlm@0: daughter. The particular business they were doing could have been delegated to others, but Sonomi
rlm@0: hadn't assigned anyone to that particular task yet, so she had decided to do it herself. It was
rlm@0: well known that she was the hardest worker at Daidouji Toys. And since she was never one to miss
rlm@0: out on time she could spend with her daughter, Tomoyo, she had dragged her daughter along. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Yes,
rlm@0: this one is to an Inaka Tsushimoto,” Tomoyo soft, singsong voice replied, reading off the list.
rlm@0: “It's one of the working toy camcorders. It fits with the hobbies she listed. I think she'll like
rlm@0: it.” The pale girl smiled beautifuly when she looked up, a sight that always stunned her mother
rlm@0: for a second or two. Tomoyo bore a stunning resemblence to the late love of Sonomi's life. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I'm sure she will,” Sonomi replied, pulling up the next box. They were getting toys ready for
rlm@0: delivery to a children's hospital. Children's hospitals were not an unfamiliar sight to the elder
rlm@0: Daidouji woman. Her cousin, Nadeshiko, ever accident-prone and always eager to try anything,
rlm@0: despite the danger involved, mixed with a weak constitution to begin with, sat in the small
rlm@0: hospital beds more times than Sonomi would like to count. But being her protective older cousin,
rlm@0: Sonomi had always been there, sometimes staying the night with Nadeshiko when they would let her.
rlm@0: 'I don't want Nadeshiko-chan to stay here alone,' she had once told her mother. 'She'll get bad
rlm@0: dreams.' And so Sonomi had stayed to protect her darling cousin from the specter of bad dreams.
rlm@0: 'The shot doesn't hurt so bad, but I don't like to look at it,' Nadeshiko had once told her, eyes
rlm@0: tearing up even as she smiled, holding onto Sonomi's hand with a death grip as the doctor gave
rlm@0: her the injection. Sonomi's hand tightened on the box reflexively, almost thinking she would find
rlm@0: her small cousin's hand in her grip. But as had been the case for too many years now, it wasn't
rlm@0: so.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Nowadays, Sonomi seldom had occasion to be in a hospital setting herself. She was incredibly
rlm@0: healthy and her daughter was reasonably so. Thought somewhat frail looking, Tomoyo wasn't plagued
rlm@0: by the sicknesses that had occasionally haunted Nadeshiko. For that, Sonomi was grateful. But
rlm@0: nonetheless, Sonomi still had an attachment to the small children locked away in those hospital
rlm@0: rooms, many without loving older cousins to look out for them, getting shots that looked worse
rlm@0: than they felt. So the businesswoman wished to take away a small measure of that pain. In a way,
rlm@0: she was still searching for Nadeshiko, or the memory of the other girl, at any rate. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Sakura-chan loves the appartment. She wanted me to thank you for her. She bowed cutely many
rlm@0: times and said she'd do anything at all to make it up to you,” Tomoyo said excitedly, her stormy
rlm@0: blue eyes sparkling the way they often did when she spoke of Sakura. “I believe her words when
rlm@0: she first saw the appartment were 'Hoe... It's so beautiful! We have to give it back to
rlm@0: Sonomi-san! I can never pay her back for this!' There was lots of cute gesticulating and general
rlm@0: Sakura-chan cuteness, but I'd need to give you the videotape to show it all accurately.” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A warm laugh escaped the older woman. Sakura made her happy in two ways. The first was that
rlm@0: Sakura was the daughter of the woman she loved, and through Sakura, Sonomi could she glimpses of
rlm@0: her dear Nadeshiko. The second was that Sakura made her daughter deliriously happy, which was
rlm@0: always a wonderful sight for the elder Daidouji woman to behold. “Anything, huh? Then she'll
rlm@0: finally marry you?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Mother,” Tomoyo chided gently, still going through the list she held,
rlm@0: checking boxes. “Sakura-chan is still dating Li-kun.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Hmph... I never liked that boy,” Sonomi
rlm@0: said, frowning. Pulling another box closer, she began to wrap it, expertly tying a ribbon onto
rlm@0: the present. A present to a girl who didn't have any idea who she was. She hoped the girl would
rlm@0: smile. “Then how about a day... two days...” She shook her head, smiling as she decided. “A week
rlm@0: of passionate sex for my daughter. If Sakura-chan's dating that boy, she could at least make up
rlm@0: for it by making you come into my office with a great, big smile. But you have to tell me how she
rlm@0: moans. She's Nadeshiko-chan's daughter, after all.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “She moans very cutely,” Tomoyo stated
rlm@0: matter-of-factly. “Very soft and cute and in little sounds now and then. As if they just bubble
rlm@0: out.” Her mother raised an eyebrow, wondering how Tomoyo was privy to such information. The
rlm@0: heiress smiled. “Sakura-chan thinks about her boyfriend sometimes. I just happen to be near
rlm@0: enough to hear what happens.” Of course, that sometimes took some doing, but it wasn't past the
rlm@0: lavender haired girl. Going back to her list, she shakes her head slightly, her hair swishing
rlm@0: about. “I think by 'repaying you', Sakura-chan doesn't mean 'sleep with your daughter'.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Well,
rlm@0: then what does she mean?” Sonomi asked, sounding mock stern. Tomoyo's giggle undid her facade and
rlm@0: she couldn't help but smile herself. Yawning, Sonomi stretched, letting her weary eyes fall
rlm@0: closed for a moment. She'd worked past a full day at her normal job alone. Now she and Tomoyo had
rlm@0: been at the office for half the night already. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Watching her mother for a moment, the lavender haired girl tapped her pen against her lips
rlm@0: thoughtfully. “You really should get some rest, mother. You work yourself too hard. If you keep
rlm@0: this up, you'll be joining Nadeshiko-san too soon and Sakura-chan and I will both miss you too
rlm@0: much.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: If there was one thing that made her life worth living, it was certainly her daughter. And having
rlm@0: Sakura and Tomoyo so close after all these years was almost like having two daughters. 'Our
rlm@0: daughters,' she sometimes thought, gazing at her portrait of Nadeshiko. “Someone has to get all
rlm@0: this done. Everyone here is too busy to do our charity work as well as their normal work but the
rlm@0: charity work is too off and on for me to hire full time help to do it.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Another thoughtful look
rlm@0: from Tomoyo before the pale girl commented. “I can do it for you. I know your office well enough
rlm@0: and you can trust me with handling the charity. You can give me clearance to get whatever toys or
rlm@0: items we need for the different charities and I can get them all together. I'm a student, so I
rlm@0: can't work full time, but I have enough time to devote to the charity.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The older woman rolled the
rlm@0: idea over in her head before shaking it. “You couldn't handle it by yourself. It's taking the two
rlm@0: of us to get through it all, Tomoyo-chan. You'd be exhausted by the end of the first night. Then
rlm@0: I'd have to drag you home to bed and fire my precious little girl just so she'd get some sleep.”
rlm@0: Tomoyo nodded, having already thought of that. “Then Sakura-chan can help me. You and I have
rlm@0: managed to handle most of the charity between the two of us. I can take over for you. I know it
rlm@0: well enough. I've been helping since you started it. And Sakura-chan and I make a good team. We
rlm@0: can handle it. Sakura-chan feels guilty that you got her such a nice appartment. She can pay you
rlm@0: off by working for you on the charity. It gets her job experience and she'll feel a lot better
rlm@0: about the appartment.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Leaning back in her chair, the businesswoman considered. A small grin
rlm@0: played across her face. “Then I get to see the two of you more, too, if you're working here, even
rlm@0: if it is only part time. All right. Tell Sakura-chan about it later. If she agrees, you two can
rlm@0: get started tomorrow. For now,” Sonomi stretched, yawning. “Go home and get some sleep,
rlm@0: Tomoyo-chan.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Thank you so much, Tomoyo-chan!” Sakura hugged her friend tightly for the third time, wearing
rlm@0: only her green pajama top. “I'd love to work for Sonomi-san! I felt so bad about her letting me
rlm@0: stay in this nice place.” Her sweatdrop lasts only a moment before she smiles happily again. “Now
rlm@0: I can finally repay her for all of the kindness she's shown me.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Returning the smile, Tomoyo stood
rlm@0: calmly in the dress she'd returned from Daidouji Toys in. “Mother practically sees you as family,
rlm@0: Sakura-chan. She wants to make sure you're happy. You're very special to her. You're very special
rlm@0: to many people.” Granted, Sonomi would rather have Sakura as a daughter-in-law than a daughter,
rlm@0: but Tomoyo decided to leave that fact out.Sakura turned about, looking back towards her room.
rlm@0: Soft, light blue panties peaked out from under the pajama top as Sakura raised a hand to her
rlm@0: chin, thinking. Tomoyo continued to smile her patented smile, wishing she had her camcorder. It
rlm@0: was in her room on her bedside table, right where she'd left it. Damn. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Her arms dropping
rlm@0: dramatically, Sakura sighed miserably. “Hoe... I don't have any business clothes. I'll look so
rlm@0: out of place at Sonomi-san's business.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You'll look fine in whatever you wear, Sakura-chan.
rlm@0: Mother will probably just worry that your beauty will distract the staff.” Tomoyo shrugged
rlm@0: lightly, her dark hair shifting over her shoulders.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Tomoyo-chan...” Sakura laughed nervously,
rlm@0: rubbing the back of her head. She had known Tomoyo for well over a decade. Despite having heard
rlm@0: well over a million flattering comments from the pale heiress in the time she had known her,
rlm@0: Sakura still got flustered every time. She was starting to think she'd never entirely get used to
rlm@0: it. Deciding to put it aside for now, as she had so often in the past, she changed the subject.
rlm@0: “So tomorrow's our first day? I should get an outfit ready. This is my first job. Maybe I should
rlm@0: call onii-chan and ask what you do the first day. But then he might lie and I'll do something
rlm@0: stupid. Grrrr... Maybe I could ask Yukito to hit him if he lies. Only Yukito-san would never hit
rlm@0: onii-chan, even though he really should sometimes because...” Light fingers on her cheeks slowed
rlm@0: down Sakura's thoughts, bringing her back to the present, her anxiety spun through her like a
rlm@0: spiders web. Tomoyo's soothing, stormy blue eyes met her own shining emeralds, her friend's
rlm@0: incredibly soft fingers cupping her cheeks. And for a moment, Sakura was breathless, her heart
rlm@0: still pounding a thousand miles a minute, but her thoughts tapering off into
rlm@0: nothingness.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo began softly. “Breath.” She didn't start again until she saw
rlm@0: that Sakura was taking in air through her lips once more. “You're not going in for an interview.
rlm@0: My mother has known you for almost as long as I have. And she loves you almost as much as I do.
rlm@0: She's happy that you're working for her. You don't need to wear anything to impress her and you
rlm@0: don't need to do anything special at all. You're special enough the way you are. Just be you.
rlm@0: That's all anyone wants.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sometimes Sakura wondered if Tomoyo would kiss her. It was a dumb
rlm@0: thought, she told herself, and something she shouldn't be thinking, but at moments like this, it
rlm@0: resonated in her head. She had learned years ago when they were teenagers that her best friend
rlm@0: was in love with her. Though she could be dense, and even Sakura knew that she could be, Tomoyo
rlm@0: couldn't keep her feelings a secret forever. An embarrassing revelation for Sakura, but not one
rlm@0: she couldn't accept and move on with. Tomoyo was Tomoyo. And when she stopped and thought about
rlm@0: it, Tomoyo being in love with her didn't change anything about that. In a way, it just shed light
rlm@0: on so much that Sakura hadn't understood before. Tomoyo's devotion to her took on a new light. In
rlm@0: many ways, nothing had changed. Sakura merely had a name for Tomoyo's affection for her. In other
rlm@0: ways, Sakura was now accutely aware of her best friend's feelings. No longer afraid of Sakura
rlm@0: finding out, Tomoyo had become more and more generous in how she went about showing her
rlm@0: affection. No longer confined to vague statements and showings of her love, the lavender haired
rlm@0: girl could now outright tell her, or show her. It was embarrassing, but Sakura had accepted it as
rlm@0: she always had Tomoyo affection. With lots of stammering and blushes. Despite being perfectly
rlm@0: open about her love for the Cardmistress, Tomoyo never once tried to get between Sakura and
rlm@0: Syaoran. And that puzzled Sakura to some extent. And at times like this, when Tomoyo was so
rlm@0: close, so soft, so.... so very Tomoyo, Sakura wondered why Tomoyo didn't kiss her. Why her
rlm@0: beautiful best friend didn't take the kiss she so obviously wanted.Tomoyo's hands were gone and
rlm@0: Sakura was blushing now, hoping she hadn't looked too goofy for the past moment, staring wide
rlm@0: eyed at her best friend. “I know, Tomoyo-chan,” she stated quickly. “I just want everything to go
rlm@0: perfectly. It's my first job and I really don't want to disappoint Sonomi-san. She's been so
rlm@0: wonderful to me.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Smiling softly, the pale girl nodded. Sakura was always so cute when she was
rlm@0: hyper. Which was most of the time. Sakura's emotions were to Tomoyo like vibrant colors to an
rlm@0: artist or musical notes to a musician, a feast for the sensations. Living with Sakura, being so
rlm@0: near her, it was like living inside your favorite painting, enveloped in the colors or lost in
rlm@0: the music. Sakura's emotions hit like a tsunami, and Tomoyo loved to stand outside and let it
rlm@0: wash over her. “You'll do fine, Sakura-chan. It's just you and me and the charity comittee. We'll
rlm@0: be putting it together in our spare time after classes. We've been working together for years.
rlm@0: It's the same thing. It's just that this time we're trying to bring miracles to people who need
rlm@0: them.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Miracles?” That sounded nice. When all was said and done, Sakura had caught the Cards
rlm@0: because it was her duty. Because she had to stop the Catastrophe. But she had't really been able
rlm@0: to make anything better because of it, she had only kept things from getting worse. Now she was
rlm@0: the world's most powerful magician and, as Kero told her, she 'didn't do anything fun' with her
rlm@0: magic. The chance to actually help people sounded like a welcome change. She nodded swiftly.
rlm@0: “Hai! We'll bring all sorts of miracles, Tomoyo-chan!”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Taking Sakura's hands, the lavender haired
rlm@0: girl squeezed them in her own. “I knew you'd want to, Sakura-chan. We'll do even more than mother
rlm@0: expected. We'll do more than give a few gifts to those in need here and there. We'll bring
rlm@0: miracles to all sorts of people. We'll be shooting stars for people to wish on. A pair of
rlm@0: shootings stars high up in the sky.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The imagery sounded beautiful to Sakura. It seemed fitting
rlm@0: that she and Tomoyo would be partners in this. Working with Tomoyo always comforted her. No
rlm@0: matter how hard things got, she knew she could count on her best friend. So it sounded perfect
rlm@0: that she would be going into her new job with Tomoyo by her side. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “For now, though, Sakura-chan should get some sleep. You have a test tomorrow that I hope you
rlm@0: were studying for while I was gone and then we need to head to work to pick up everything,”
rlm@0: Tomoyo said, slowly letting go of Sakura's hands. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The brunette nodded slowly. “Yeah, if I can get
rlm@0: any sleep.” She was far too excited about the new events to be able to shut off her mind for
rlm@0: sleep. She had hoped to study with Tomoyo a bit for her test the next day, but that thought was
rlm@0: lost to her. Despite the fact that they went to different Universities, Sakura having not quite
rlm@0: made it into Tokyo University with her incredibly intelligent and perceptive friend, she still
rlm@0: felt more at ease when Tomoyo helped her study. For now, that would have to wait. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “That's all
rlm@0: right. I don't think I'll be able to sleep, either. I'll have visions of Sakura-chan clad in
rlm@0: nothing but panties all night long.” Turning to head to her room, Tomoyo sighed dreamily with not
rlm@0: a sound of distress. Cheeks burning a brilliant rouge, Sakura watched Tomoyo's elegant form
rlm@0: walking away from her. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I'm wearing a shirt,” she squeaked in self-defense.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Not in my dreams,
rlm@0: you're not,” Tomoyo replied before she disappeared into her room for the night.