rlm@0: Kiss from a Rose
rlm@0: A CCS fanfiction by Siobhan Pettit
rlm@0: tomoyo_daidoji_0903@yahoo.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Daidouji Tomoyo sat down very carefully on the freshly mowed grass
rlm@0: of the park, straightening outwards the full folds of her frilly
rlm@0: English dress. Honestly, she doesn't want to crumple her delicate
rlm@0: white and black couture. Mother already underwent a great deal of
rlm@0: trouble considering what happened-giving her a lovely rite and buying
rlm@0: her this outfit and even a peaceful place to rest, not to mention the
rlm@0: grief she had given her Mother.
rlm@0: 	Her dress, harked back to ancient times, was a Victorian-inspired
rlm@0: pinafore clothing of ankle-length skit and full-blown sleeves. It was
rlm@0: a French-maid-meets-Alice-in-Wonderland image, but its black and
rlm@0: velvet brocade materials made it more grown-up and serious. There was
rlm@0: nothing morbid in the dress. Even it was done in a Gothic fashion.
rlm@0: The look was gathered entirely in an elegant slant, and kawaii is the
rlm@0: major factor in the final ensemble. Mother was really an
rlm@0: exceptionally talented person when it comes to choosing what to wear.
rlm@0: Imagine, her daughter is a grown woman already in her early twenties
rlm@0: and yet, okaa-sama made her don for the last occasion a dress that
rlm@0: was childlike yet elegant in their tradition and detail. Something
rlm@0: that would be fixed in everybody's memory. Mother had even fixed a
rlm@0: ribboned Sunday hat on her head, with beautiful flowers in the brim.
rlm@0: The juxtaposition of the dress in her made her look like somebody
rlm@0: jumping out of a fantasy world, but she liked it altogether.
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo raised her head towards the clear September sky. The sun was
rlm@0: getting higher now, yet the warmth was not unpleasant. It had been
rlm@0: eight days since the incident happened, but it seemed like an
rlm@0: eternity already had passed. Everything went by in a slow motion-the
rlm@0: visits from the family's acquaintances, the mass, and the final
rlm@0: rite…everything. Everyone came to see her. Yamazaki-
rlm@0: kun…Chiharu…Rikka…Naoko-chan. Even Eriol-kun and Mizuki-sensei was
rlm@0: there. And Meiling-chan. Her dear, good friend. It was the second
rlm@0: time she had seen Meiling cry like that-lost and very angry at the
rlm@0: same time. It felt so grateful somehow, the first time in her life
rlm@0: that all her beloved ones and everyone dear to her were gathered in
rlm@0: one place. And Touya too. Tomoyo smiled inwardly. Her arrogant and
rlm@0: emotion-free cousin wept silently while being patted in the shoulder
rlm@0: by an equally emotional Yukito. And Fujitaka-sama. The church was
rlm@0: filled with friends, visitors, flowers and beautiful music. All for
rlm@0: her, only hers. They were all there. 
rlm@0: 	Except for one person.
rlm@0: 	The lovely heiress stretched out her hand and fidgeted the bouquet
rlm@0: of red tulips and anthuriums her mother had brought yesterday. They
rlm@0: were almost dry and wilted. Nevertheless, it was a grand visit.
rlm@0: Sonomi told her in a cheerful tone that Sakura had arrived from Hong
rlm@0: Kong at last. Mother knew it would cheer her up too. No, Li Syaoran
rlm@0: wasn't with her, she said. That's sad. She wanted to see him too. But
rlm@0: Sakura told Sonomi personally that she would visit Tomoyo today. And
rlm@0: she would do it alone.
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo's s smile materialized. It had been two years since they
rlm@0: last saw each other. And that had been in Sakura's wedding day. The
rlm@0: couple is living in Hong Kong now. Tomoyo chewed her lip. At least
rlm@0: she could get to see Sakura before living today. She missed Sakura so
rlm@0: badly.
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo was startled from her reverie when she heard a soft hum of a
rlm@0: car engine. She jerked her head towards the road in the distance and
rlm@0: saw a black Bentley Arnage snaking its way towards the gate and then
rlm@0: pulling down the curb. A minute later the sleek car screeched to a
rlm@0: halt. The driver's door opened and a brunette with a short, slant
rlm@0: hairstyle emerged into the sunlight. Li Sakura, now in her twenties,
rlm@0: was even more beautiful. She was dressed in an exquisite cream
rlm@0: Italian trenchcoat and black leather gloves. Sakura's attire was
rlm@0: subdued yet stylish and donned in good taste. Her child-like and
rlm@0: naïve features progressed to strong womanish facial expressions
rlm@0: through the years. Now, her resemblance to Daidouji Sonomi can be
rlm@0: distinguished with little or no effort at all. Sakura's likeness to
rlm@0: the Chairman of the Amamiya-Daidouji Corporation was so apparent that
rlm@0: they could be mistaken for a mother and daughter if seen standing
rlm@0: side-by-side.
rlm@0: 	Sakura shut the door of the Bentley with a rather strong force and
rlm@0: it closed with a resounding thud. She approached Tomoyo in languid,
rlm@0: slow-paced steps.
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo noticed Sakura's haunted gait. There was an uncertainty in
rlm@0: Sakura's appearance that made her shoulders seemed heavy as she
rlm@0: walked down the granite pathway.
rlm@0: 	At last, the tall auburn-haired woman reached her destination and
rlm@0: stepped beside Tomoyo. Sakura gave a wan smile, but a cute one
rlm@0: nonetheless. Tomoyo can't help to smile back. Old habits die hard,
rlm@0: apparently.
rlm@0: 	Sakura drew a tired breath. "Hello, Tomoyo-chan," she began. "It's
rlm@0: been a long time, wasn't it?"
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo nodded in agreement.
rlm@0: 	The brunette's lips suddenly trembled as if she was desperately
rlm@0: holding back her emotions. Sakura slumped down beside her carefully,
rlm@0: meticulously straightening too, the full length of her trench coat.
rlm@0: Like Tomoyo, Sakura sat with her feet clasped together at the sides.
rlm@0: The heiress couldn't hide another smile as her eyes noticed Sakura's
rlm@0: knee-high black suede boots peeking out behind the ankle-length robe.
rlm@0: She was quite impressed.
rlm@0: 	"Prada, isn't it, Sakura-chan? And Milan, not New York?" Tomoyo
rlm@0: asked giddily, wanting to lighten up the mood and start a good
rlm@0: conversation.
rlm@0: 	But Sakura never replied. Tomoyo's lips pursed, then she looked at
rlm@0: Sakura's guilt-ridden olive green eyes. But Sakura never returned her
rlm@0: gaze. The Card Mistress just kept staring down the ground.
rlm@0: 	"I…I'm sorry, Tomoyo-chan, if I wasn't present at the chapel. But
rlm@0: Sonomi-sama said that it was your wish not to inform me 'til
rlm@0: everything was over…"
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo nodded again. Yes, it was her decision. She won't be able to
rlm@0: bear it seeing Sakura breaking down in the middle of the ceremony-
rlm@0: 	"You cheated me, Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura suddenly exclaimed.
rlm@0: 	The heiress was taken aback. No, Sakura-chan, she whispered. I love
rlm@0: you; I don't want to see you get hurt! I wanted to spare you the
rlm@0: pain… the misery, the same pain I felt when I watched you took the
rlm@0: vows with Syaoran-kun. It was the end for me. I was dying the entire
rlm@0: ceremony, one knife plunging into my heart after another. I don't
rlm@0: want you to undergo the same torture that I went through.
rlm@0: 	Sakura's eyes began welling with tears. Her composure was now lost.
rlm@0: "You don't know what I felt when we parted, Tomoyo-chan. It was so
rlm@0: lonely, I missed you so much. Before I was glad because I know that
rlm@0: you're still here and just a phone call away. But now…but
rlm@0: now…everything's useless!"
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo fought the urge to touch Sakura's face and brush those tears
rlm@0: away, just as she was fighting until now, the yearning to throw
rlm@0: herself in the arms of the Card Mistress. She wished that Sakura
rlm@0: would hold her, kiss her, and never let go of her again, whisper to
rlm@0: her ears loving words and assurances. But it was such a ridiculous
rlm@0: notion. Tomoyo doesn't have the right. Sakura has already a husband
rlm@0: that would do all those things. To hold her close, kiss her in a
rlm@0: fierce abandon.
rlm@0: 	"Tomoyo-chan, why didn't you tell me?!" Sakura lashed, fighting
rlm@0: back the tears. At first, she was so shocked, learning Tomoyo's long
rlm@0: held secret from Sonomi herself-the secret that made Tomoyo finally
rlm@0: decide to part with her forever.
rlm@0: 	The heiress shook her head and bit her lip. The words she wanted to
rlm@0: say were choking down her throat. No, Sakura-chan, she thought. Would
rlm@0: you dare cross the turbulent waters that separated us and risked
rlm@0: everything knowing that you're loving another girl? What if you don't
rlm@0: feel the same for me? I cannot bear to jeopardize your happiness with
rlm@0: Li-kun and ruin your relationship with him lest you don't feel the
rlm@0: same way. But at least, Sakura had realized now. It was never
rlm@0: useless, Sakura-chan. You can have a normal family, a child to bear.
rlm@0: It was better that way, she thought. She will wait for the time they
rlm@0: could be together again. Their love for each other could wait even
rlm@0: for an eternity. But not now, not yet. Their feelings for each other
rlm@0: were already bad as it is. And she couldn't let Sakura commit
rlm@0: adultery, could she?
rlm@0: 	I'm so happy that you're here and I saw you at last, Sakura-chan,
rlm@0: Tomoyo thought. But I must go now, my time is almost up…"
rlm@0: 	"I have something for you, Tomoyo-chan…" Sakura intervened, cutting
rlm@0: Tomoyo's thoughts. She reached for the inside pocket of her garment
rlm@0: and pulled out a long-stemmed English rose-a large, deep red one,
rlm@0: like those roses Tomoyo grows in the mansion's garden. Sakura kissed
rlm@0: the rose, imagining it was Tomoyo.
rlm@0: 	But Tomoyo never reached out and tried to take it. Sakura bit her
rlm@0: lip to stop herself from crying, and put the rose on the ground.
rlm@0: Tomoyo, seeing Sakura putting up a brave front like that, broke her
rlm@0: tears at last. Now, her hand came up in its own volition and brushed
rlm@0: Sakura's cheeks. But she had forgotten. Her hand just went through
rlm@0: Sakura's face. Tomoyo curled her fist instead. She wished she could
rlm@0: touch Sakura even for the last time too.
rlm@0: 	At that moment, Tomoyo felt the heavenly breath of the autumn wind
rlm@0: gently stirring her, beckoning and reminding her. It's time to go.
rlm@0: With a heavy knot in her heart, Tomoyo reluctantly stood up and began
rlm@0: leaving.
rlm@0: 	Not forward, but upward.
rlm@0: 	The breeze lifted and bore Tomoyo towards the sky. From her new
rlm@0: vantagepoint, she could see Sakura standing up too, her brown head
rlm@0: stooped low, staring down at the tombstone that bore Tomoyo's
rlm@0: epitaph. Sakura's shoulders began shaking with strong sobs. 
rlm@0: 	"I…I love you too, Tomoyo-chan…" Sakura cried heavily, her voice
rlm@0: quivering wit the confession. She's so stupid! Why hadn't she
rlm@0: realized before? Her jade eyes squeezed tightly and more tears fell
rlm@0: to the dirt below. Yes, she knows it now. She really loved Tomoyo.
rlm@0: She still does. She always had. But she discovered it too late. Now
rlm@0: Tomoyo is dead! Life is so unfair! She'd do everything just to bring
rlm@0: Tomoyo back!  But that would be impossible. She felt useless. She's
rlm@0: the world's powerful sorceress yet she cannot do anything to righten
rlm@0: up her mistakes. Sakura's strength was snatched away from her legs.
rlm@0: For a moment she swayed dangerously, and then fell to her hands and
rlm@0: her knees, sobbing bitterly.
rlm@0: 	"Tomoyo-chan…why? Why did you do it?! Why did you have to leave me?!"
rlm@0: 	"But Tomoyo drifted farther and farther, her face serene. At peace
rlm@0: at last. She can rest now, savoring Sakura's words like lyrics from a
rlm@0: sad song. She will wait for the time they could be together again.
rlm@0: Her love for this girl can surpass even immortality.
rlm@0: 	Up in the sky, Tomoyo could see the rose petals waving in the wind.
rlm@0: It was the first gift Sakura had given her out of carnal intentions.
rlm@0: 	It was her first flower.
rlm@0: 	Her first rose.
rlm@0: 	
rlm@0: -Owari-