rlm@0: Dear Sakura
rlm@0: After the Banquet
rlm@0: by Amazoness Duo and G.P.
rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo stood alone for a long moment, looking for all the world like
rlm@0: a beautifully dressed up china doll. Her body was tired, sleep
rlm@0: tugging at her weary soul with the help of a full stomach. But her
rlm@0: mind was still busily going over things. The banquet really had been
rlm@0: spectacular. It would have been nice to be closer to Sakura, but she
rlm@0: looked very happy next to her husband. If only she had been able to
rlm@0: bring her camcorder... Those would have been images she would have
rlm@0: enjoyed watching again and again. Not only had Sakura been enjoying
rlm@0: herself, something Tomoyo always loved to see, but she had looked
rlm@0: simply gorgeous. With a sharp pang, she could remember the last time
rlm@0: Sakura had looked so stunning. At her wedding. Tomoyo had taken hours
rlm@0: to prepare Sakura for the big day. So she had thrown her all into
rlm@0: making sure that Sakura looked perfect for her wedding. The dress had
rlm@0: been of her design, the last complete costume she had made for
rlm@0: Sakura. Part of her had been overjoyed to be a part of Sakura’s
rlm@0: wedding, but the other part had felt like she was giving Sakura away.
rlm@0: Like she was stepping away from her life. That Syaoran would now be
rlm@0: the one to help the Cardmistress with all of her problems and joys.
rlm@0: To protect her and give her the happiness that she never could.
rlm@0: During those long hours that she had readied Sakura she had felt like
rlm@0: she was saying goodbye. Yet here she was. 	A soft giggle lit the
rlm@0: empty room. She should have known that escaping Sakura wouldn’t be
rlm@0: quite so easy. Sakura had infiltrated her heart and soul, filling her
rlm@0: thoughts and dreams completely. Everything she did, she did for
rlm@0: Sakura. And now... Could she ever say goodbye again? Could she ever
rlm@0: completely slip out of Sakura’s life? She had thought that it would
rlm@0: be for the best. Sakura didn’t need her, after all, so it seemed less
rlm@0: painful for everyone if she faded from Sakura’s life. It was too
rlm@0: painful watching it all, knowing that the brunette could never know
rlm@0: her heart’s desire. But now, after this visit to Hong Kong, she
rlm@0: wasn’t so sure that she could fade from Sakura’s life so completely.
rlm@0: She needed Sakura. Like a flower without sunlight, she would die
rlm@0: without the warmth her best friend bestowed upon her. And after the
rlm@0: miraculous kiss the night before, it seemed that Sakura’s feelings
rlm@0: were more entwined with her own than she had thought. She still
rlm@0: hadn’t completely understood why Sakura had shared in it as deeply as
rlm@0: she had, but Sakura’s love had been unmistakable. What that love
rlm@0: meant, Tomoyo wasn’t fully sure of either, but it seemed that she was
rlm@0: still important to Sakura. And that knowledge made the idea of
rlm@0: leaving Sakura’s life unbearably painful. She felt like a puppet,
rlm@0: caught up in the strings Sakura had wrapped tightly around her soul.
rlm@0: Everything Sakura did tugged at her, drawing her one way or another,
rlm@0: making her dance for the amusement of her audience, always hoping
rlm@0: that it would make the brunette happy. And so everything she did was
rlm@0: for Sakura, but her smiling doll exterior hid the pain in her heart.
rlm@0: 	For a brief moment, the lavender haired designer considered what
rlm@0: Fanren had said. Loneliness consumed her, a constant companion that
rlm@0: haunted her every waking moment and often caught her in the midst of
rlm@0: even her happiest dreams. For once, it would be so nice not to wake
rlm@0: up alone, crying in bed in a haze of lavender curls. Someone to talk
rlm@0: to, to hold on to, to be able to share her inner turmoil. The idea
rlm@0: was certainly tempting. Sakura would never be hers, of course. So why
rlm@0: was she still giving her heart to a married woman that would never
rlm@0: know her feelings? Everyone she knew was falling in love, finding
rlm@0: their special someone. She had already fallen in love before any of
rlm@0: them. But she was denied her special person. So while they were all
rlm@0: building their relationships, Tomoyo was very much alone. The
rlm@0: beautiful heiress to the Daidouji fortunes, wasting away as she kept
rlm@0: her heart locked up and away from view.
rlm@0: 	As Fanren had shown, it wasn’t impossible for her to find someone.
rlm@0: A relationship would not be impossible. Besides, with her masks and
rlm@0: perception she could easily manage a relationship. And for once she
rlm@0: wouldn’t be completely alone. Fanren herself was an extremely pretty
rlm@0: woman, and she was very kind. Spending time with her would be
rlm@0: infinitely better than being alone. But there was one thing she
rlm@0: couldn’t offer the Chinese beauty. Her heart. It didn’t matter if she
rlm@0: could manage a relationship or not. Or even if she could find someone
rlm@0: to be with. It was that her heart, her soul already belonged to
rlm@0: another. She could never love her, or anyone else for that matter,
rlm@0: with the same fervor, the same boundless passion that she held for
rlm@0: Sakura. The Cardmistress was what made an eternity of loneliness seem
rlm@0: livable. The very thought of her sent a surge through Tomoyo’s body,
rlm@0: her hands going over her heart as the feeling that she always had
rlm@0: when she was around Sakura shot through her. Yes, another
rlm@0: relationship would never be anything more than an escape from the
rlm@0: loneliness and a need for comfort. Her heart would always belong to
rlm@0: Sakura. A small smile crossed the dark haired woman’s lips. If she
rlm@0: had to be alone, it was worth it to be in love with her sweet best
rlm@0: friend. “Sakura-chan...” she whispered lovingly. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	Watching Tomoyo from the doorway, Sakura found herself entranced by
rlm@0: the almost ethereal beauty of her best friend. She really didn’t know
rlm@0: how long she had been standing there. Blushing a bit, she realized
rlm@0: that she had been staring the entire time. But oddly enough, Tomoyo
rlm@0: didn’t seem to notice. The pale woman seemed lost in thought, far
rlm@0: away from the dark banquet room in Hong Kong. Some of the thoughts
rlm@0: seemed to be troubling her. Sakura wondered if Tomoyo was once again
rlm@0: thinking about her special someone. The young designer thought about
rlm@0: them often. They had to be an extremely lucky person to be in her
rlm@0: thoughts so often. 
rlm@0: 	A soft sigh escaped Sakura as she leaned against the door frame.
rlm@0: She couldn’t help being a little jealous about Tomoyo’s special
rlm@0: person. When they were younger, it seemed that she was the one who
rlm@0: was always in Tomoyo’s thoughts. She had been the lead in the play of
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s life, always the center of attention to the slightly odd
rlm@0: dark haired girl. And it had been very embarrassing at times. But she
rlm@0: had enjoyed it immensely, knowing because of that that she was
rlm@0: important to her best friend. It had always made her feel good.
rlm@0: Special. Loved. She knew that she couldn’t be as important to Tomoyo
rlm@0: anymore. After all, she was married herself and knew how important
rlm@0: finding one’s love was. But she loved being so important to Tomoyo.
rlm@0: Was she being selfish still wanting that? Tomoyo had grown up. Her
rlm@0: special person was the most important person to her now. And whoever
rlm@0: that person was, they were making Tomoyo sad. Which made the whole
rlm@0: thing even worse for Sakura. The brunette had rarely ever seen Tomoyo
rlm@0: sad. It was like those stormy blue eyes were always glowing warmly.
rlm@0: The thought of Tomoyo being so sad like this left Sakura feeling weak
rlm@0: and helpless. There had to be something, anything that she could do.
rlm@0: 	Thinking back on things, it now looked like Tomoyo had planned on
rlm@0: being alone from the beginning. That thought sent a chill down
rlm@0: Sakura’s spine. How could such a loving, gentle girl like Tomoyo be
rlm@0: alone forever? What had been the first clue? When they had bought
rlm@0: materials to make teddy bears for someone special. Rika had made one
rlm@0: (that she now knew had been for Terrada-sensie) and Tomoyo had
rlm@0: explained how you were supposed to make one for the person you like.
rlm@0: Sakura had been overjoyed at the prospect and hurried to get the
rlm@0: materials. Strangely enough, Tomoyo didn’t buy any to make one for
rlm@0: the person she liked. That had surprised Sakura who had thought
rlm@0: Tomoyo would finally get to show her special person her feelings for
rlm@0: them. But Tomoyo had explained that what she wanted the most was for
rlm@0: her love to be happy, even if it wasn’t with her. Sakura hadn’t
rlm@0: understood at the time, but Tomoyo was telling her that she couldn’t
rlm@0: be with her special person so she couldn’t make them a teddy bear
rlm@0: because she didn’t think they could return her feelings. The pale
rlm@0: girl had only been ten at the time. Only ten years old. She should
rlm@0: have been dreaming about when she would marry her true love, sure
rlm@0: that everything would work out in the end. But Tomoyo had always been
rlm@0: a little odd, and much of what she did only made sense to Sakura in
rlm@0: hindsight. Tomoyo had known back then that she would be all alone.
rlm@0: And Sakura hadn’t had a clue. Her heart sank in her chest at the
rlm@0: painful realization. Was there anything she could have done? Was
rlm@0: there a way she could have helped Tomoyo? It was heartbreaking to see
rlm@0: Tomoyo alone after all these years. If the love that she showed
rlm@0: Sakura was anything like the love for her special someone, then it
rlm@0: must tear Tomoyo apart inside to be without them.
rlm@0: Later, when everyone started dating, Chiharu once asked why Tomoyo
rlm@0: wasn’t dating anyone. Tomoyo replied that she couldn’t date the
rlm@0: person she wanted to so she felt that dating wouldn’t be right. Then
rlm@0: she quickly added that it left in more time to videotape Sakura.
rlm@0: Sakura had blushed at the time and had brushed it off, but now she
rlm@0: felt horrible. Everyone had been so busy trying to balance
rlm@0: relationships back then but Tomoyo had always been with her. She had
rlm@0: been happy about that, but now she saw that she had been pouring
rlm@0: herself into her own relationship right in front of Tomoyo, glad to
rlm@0: have Tomoyo there, but not seeing how lonely it must have made her. 
rlm@0: Now Sakura had a dilemma. More than ever, she wanted to find
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s true love and help her with it. It wasn’t right that
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s beautiful love be kept locked away. But Tomoyo didn’t want
rlm@0: her to find out for some reason. And Sakura wasn’t sure she wanted to
rlm@0: know who it was. After that kiss they had shared in the garden, the
rlm@0: thought of all of Tomoyo’s love going to another frightened her.
rlm@0: Feeling that warmth encompass her, the kiss, the embrace, the gentle
rlm@0: immersion in Tomoyo’s love, she didn’t want to let that go. She
rlm@0: wanted it all for herself, not to see it all given to someone who
rlm@0: couldn't appreciate her lovely best friend.
rlm@0: Her emerald eyes shot open when she heard Tomoyo whisper her name.
rlm@0: The sound of Tomoyo’s melodious voice quickly brought her back to her
rlm@0: senses. Had Tomoyo seen her? A blush crept across her cheeks. She had
rlm@0: just been standing there and staring for a while now. No, it looked
rlm@0: like Tomoyo had just said it. But why? Maybe she wasn’t thinking
rlm@0: about her special someone at the moment. Stepping forward, Sakura
rlm@0: smiled. “You look so gorgeous, Tomoyo-chan! Syaoran’s sisters really
rlm@0: did a great job. Not that you aren’t always pretty. You’re probably
rlm@0: the most beautiful woman I know,” the brunette said quickly.
rlm@0: Tomoyo smiled giddily as she saw the object of her thoughts
rlm@0: approaching. “Sakura-chan must not look in mirrors very often,” she
rlm@0: stated softly. She delighted in the blush it brought upon Sakura. No,
rlm@0: there was no way she could truly love anyone besides the woman in
rlm@0: front of her. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. To love Sakura
rlm@0: was both the most wonderful feeling in the world and also the most
rlm@0: painful. She had thought the pain would lessen as she grew older, but
rlm@0: the loneliness only became more acute as time went by, her longing
rlm@0: for Sakura growing stronger by the day. And now she had actually
rlm@0: kissed Sakura. It had been Tomoyo’s first real kiss. That intimate
rlm@0: moment with the Cardmistress had thrown off everything she had been
rlm@0: sure about. Her visit to Hong Kong was supposed to help her distance
rlm@0: herself from Sakura so she could fade away from her life. Now she
rlm@0: felt even more attached. She had come with the intention of hiding
rlm@0: her feelings for Sakura now that she was married, but they had burst
rlm@0: forward in a torrential outpouring. She had been drowning without
rlm@0: Sakura. She needed her just as surely as she needed air. Living
rlm@0: without her was becoming more and more difficult. That all too brief
rlm@0: moment with Sakura had been a tantalizing piece of Heaven.
rlm@0: Giggling slightly, Sakura brushed some hair back from her shimmering
rlm@0: jade eyes. “Most people save that sort of thing for the banquet,
rlm@0: Tomoyo-chan.”
rlm@0: “But if it’s equally true during the banquet and after, I should be
rlm@0: sure to let Sakura-chan know,” Tomoyo pointed out. It took every
rlm@0: ounce of her remaining strength to stand still as Sakura took both of
rlm@0: her hands in her own. For a moment’s time, Tomoyo wondered feverishly
rlm@0: if Sakura was going to kiss her again. Sakura was very close to her.
rlm@0: The pale woman’s heart stopped in her chest as eternity seemed to
rlm@0: stretch on endlessly before her. She ultimately dismissed the thought
rlm@0: as wishful thinking. She had been lucky that Sakura hadn’t acted
rlm@0: adversely to the first kiss. The fact that Sakura kissed back with
rlm@0: nearly the same passion in Tomoyo’s heart made the event one she
rlm@0: would both treasure and try to understand. Why had Sakura given so
rlm@0: freely of herself? Why had she kissed back so lovingly? Perhaps she
rlm@0: had misjudged how important she was to Sakura. If Sakura’s letters
rlm@0: were any indication, the brunette missed her greatly. So was the kiss
rlm@0: merely Sakura returning it with all of the love she held for her best
rlm@0: friend and nothing more? But there had been so much behind the kiss.
rlm@0: The entire thing sent Tomoyo’s head spinning. Sakura still didn’t
rlm@0: seem to know that she was the object of Tomoyo’s affections, so she
rlm@0: must not have understood completely why the toy designer had kissed
rlm@0: her in the first place. Tomoyo understood Sakura better than anyone
rlm@0: else did, but this was confusing her. She didn’t know how to act
rlm@0: about it or what masks she should wear. If she could manage the
rlm@0: strength to wear any at all.
rlm@0: Sakura watched Tomoyo intently. Was the pale woman shivering? It was
rlm@0: hard to tell in the dark. Squeezing Tomoyo’s soft, ivory hands
rlm@0: gently, Sakura asked, “Tomoyo-chan, are you cold? Maybe we should go
rlm@0: get you a blanket or something.”
rlm@0: “No, I’m not cold at all. I feel very warm being here with you,
rlm@0: Sakura-chan. You’re the bright, shining sun that lights up my world,”
rlm@0: Tomoyo explained, her soft voice barely above a whisper. She brought
rlm@0: her hands up, Sakura’s hands still holding onto them as she rested
rlm@0: them on Sakura’s cheeks. She could feel the hot blush under the
rlm@0: brunette’s cheeks and the soft feel of her skin. Tomoyo sighed
rlm@0: happily, meeting Sakura’s eyes with her stormy blue ones. Yes, it was
rlm@0: certainly nice to be with Sakura again, even if Sakura was married
rlm@0: now. She was happy just to be there with her best friend. 
rlm@0: “Tomoyo-chan...” Sakura said quietly, unsure of what to say. Her
rlm@0: heart was pounding in her chest like a drum, her feelings swirling
rlm@0: inside her like a tornado. Why couldn’t there be some way for her to
rlm@0: make Tomoyo happy? Tomoyo said she was happy as long as her special
rlm@0: someone was happy, but there had to be some way to make Tomoyo happy
rlm@0: herself. If she were the boy that Tomoyo loved, she would never be
rlm@0: able to leave her all alone. She would be overjoyed to be the focus
rlm@0: of all the love in Tomoyo’s heart. The chiming of an old grandfather
rlm@0: clock nearby rang a reminder through her head. “Oh! I need to call
rlm@0: one of the girls from the cheerleading club. I promised I would give
rlm@0: her mother some information about it tonight.”
rlm@0: Nodding, Tomoyo smiled sweetly at Sakura as her hands slowly trailed
rlm@0: away from the brunette’s cheeks. “All right, Sakura-chan. Those girls
rlm@0: are all very lucky to have you as their sensei. You were always so
rlm@0: cute when you were cheerleading. I loved to watch you when I didn’t
rlm@0: have choir practice. They’ll all look so kawaii training with you.” 
rlm@0: “Arigato, Tomoyo-chan. You always say such nice things. I’m really
rlm@0: sorry for leaving like this. I’ll try not to take too long. I don’t
rlm@0: want to waste any of the time we have together,” Sakura said
rlm@0: hurriedly as she walked backwards towards the door. The two said
rlm@0: goodbye before Sakura made her way back to her room.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo looked up at the stars sparkling in the sky above, like
rlm@0: sparkling pearls resting on a huge velvet cloth. Yet for all of their
rlm@0: beauty, they paled in comparison to her spirited best friend. Her
rlm@0: thoughts kept returning to Sakura as she walked out in the garden
rlm@0: under the moonlight. Thoughts of the night before continued to course
rlm@0: through her, the sweet scent of Sakura and the warm feel of her lips
rlm@0: lingering like a ghost in her mind. That sent another smile across
rlm@0: her lips. She didn’t know if she should thank Touya or not for
rlm@0: frightening Sakura about ghosts. She always loved how Sakura would
rlm@0: grab onto her for comfort when she was scared of ghosts. These days
rlm@0: she must do that with Syaoran. 
rlm@0: Thinking about Syaoran made her feel a little uneasy. Not because of
rlm@0: him. She had grown used to him long ago. And she had chosen him as
rlm@0: the one Sakura’s heart must belong to. But now she was starting to
rlm@0: wonder about that, as well as Ieran’s words. Could it be that she had
rlm@0: been wrong? Had she misjudged Sakura’s heart? She had taken into
rlm@0: account that Syaoran had liked Sakura very much and that he would be
rlm@0: able to take care of her and give her a child. And she seemed rather
rlm@0: close to him. But had she made a terrible mistake? Syaoran always had
rlm@0: difficulty with his emotions and that made things difficult with
rlm@0: Sakura, who was a very emotional woman. She had been surprised to
rlm@0: hear that Sakura had to leave to talk to one of the girls from school
rlm@0: and not to go be with Syaoran. He hadn’t been around very much during
rlm@0: her visit, but whether that was normal or because he didn’t want to
rlm@0: get in the way during the trip, she wasn’t quite sure. And the kiss...
rlm@0: The sounds of heavy breathing up ahead grabbed Tomoyo’s attention.
rlm@0: Stepping forward past a tree, she spotted a Chinese woman around her
rlm@0: age, still dressed in her beautiful dress as her legs whipped through
rlm@0: the air as if fending off invisible attackers. “Hello, Meiling-chan,”
rlm@0: she said pleasantly as she approached the black haired woman. Tomoyo
rlm@0: could tell that the night's festivities had not sat well with her.
rlm@0: Meiling looked rather upset, probably at seeing Syaoran and his new
rlm@0: bride again. She knew how painful that could be. She and Meiling had
rlm@0: been in the same boat, pouring out their heart to the one they loved
rlm@0: but unable to have them. Of course, Meiling had taken a much more
rlm@0: aggressive route than she had. And she had known that she couldn’t
rlm@0: have Sakura for a very long time. It wasn’t until after Sakura had
rlm@0: captured all of the Clow Cards that she realized she wouldn’t be the
rlm@0: one to make Sakura happy. Meiling didn’t seem to realize that, at
rlm@0: least not consciously. 
rlm@0: “Why do you put up with it?” Meiling asked, her leg sweeping through
rlm@0: the shadows. The slit in her long dress shifted again as she kicked
rlm@0: out. She was still upset about the dinner. She had been Syaoran’s
rlm@0: fiancee for years, always by his side when he needed her, there to
rlm@0: love him always. And then he ran off with some girl he met in Japan.
rlm@0: She had not wanted to come tonight at all. Were they trying to rub it
rlm@0: in her face? The only reason she had come was because Ieran told her
rlm@0: to personally. Otherwise she was sure she could find something better
rlm@0: to do than to spend all night watching Syaoran and his bride. Just
rlm@0: about anything. “I mean, all this time you’ve loved her and now she’s
rlm@0: married to my Syaoran and you’re still all smiles and warmth to her.
rlm@0: I don’t get it. If you loved her back then, then why are you
rlm@0: pretending like it’s no big deal?”
rlm@0: “I still love her. I always will. I’m sorry about Li-kun, but I just
rlm@0: want Sakura to be happy. Now that she’s married and starting a new
rlm@0: life, I want her to know that I still care for her. I don’t want her
rlm@0: to have to worry about how the marriage affected me or how I feel
rlm@0: about her.” Tomoyo sighed as she steadied herself against a tree.
rlm@0: “Besides, I can’t be angry with her. Or with him. As long as he takes
rlm@0: care of Sakura, then I’m glad that they got married. Sakura deserves
rlm@0: a happy marriage.”
rlm@0: Meiling finally stopped her assault on the shadows, trying to catch
rlm@0: her breath. She shook her head, clenching her fists. “But she hurt
rlm@0: you. She ran off with some boy from Hong Kong. Leaving you all alone.
rlm@0: How can you sit back and take it? I can’t believe Syaoran did it. He
rlm@0: promised me...” Her amber eyes closed for a moment as she tried to
rlm@0: calm down. She was not going to cry in front of Tomoyo. Today was bad
rlm@0: enough without breaking down in the garden. Indulging her anger a
rlm@0: bit, she found it easier to push the tears away. “Why is it all right
rlm@0: for them to be happy when neither of us can be? Did things really
rlm@0: work out the right way? I loved Syaoran so much and you loved Sakura
rlm@0: and now we’re both left alone like discarded playthings. It feels
rlm@0: like things worked out the wrong way. Why did we both have to get
rlm@0: hurt in the end? Why couldn't we all be happy with the ones we love?”
rlm@0: The garden was silent for a full minute. The pale heiress didn’t
rlm@0: have an answer to Meiling’s question. There had been times when she
rlm@0: was all alone that she found herself asking it to the sky above.
rlm@0: There was never an answer. “I don’t know,” she said at last. Fate had
rlm@0: done a pretty painful job of patching things up, leaving too many
rlm@0: loose ends that refused to heal. She and Meiling seemed to be two
rlm@0: more casualties in Fate’s work.
rlm@0: 	Sighing, Meiling toyed with a large bracelet she had on. “Neither
rlm@0: do I. I still don’t see how you can be happy for the both of them.
rlm@0: I’m still pissed about the whole thing. I really did love him,
rlm@0: Tomoyo. I can’t believe that he’d do this to me. Sakura didn’t know
rlm@0: how you felt, but I made sure Syaoran knew everyday just how I felt
rlm@0: about him. And he still went through with it. It’s not right that we
rlm@0: both got left behind like this.” She smiled a little in the dark,
rlm@0: pushing a pigtail over her shoulder. “I wish you had gotten Sakura.
rlm@0: Then neither of us would be in this mess.”
rlm@0: 	Returning the smile, Tomoyo hugged herself as the cold began to
rlm@0: settle into her pale body. Meiling was suffering through the same
rlm@0: pain she was, but like always, she was handling it differently.
rlm@0: Almost like her mother. She smiled more at the thought. Of course,
rlm@0: her mother never could have been angry at Nadeshiko. “Sometimes I
rlm@0: wish I could have, too. Thank you, Meiling-chan. I’m very sorry about
rlm@0: how everything turned out.”
rlm@0: 	“Me too,” Meiling answered, looking out across the garden. Her eyes
rlm@0: darted around the dimly lit area when she heard someone running
rlm@0: towards them. It was Sakura, hurrying along. She crossed her arms and
rlm@0: frowned.
rlm@0: 	“Tomoyo-chan! There you are! I finally finished. I was wondering
rlm@0: where you had gone off to. Oh, hello, Meiling-chan!” Sakura smiled
rlm@0: politely as she reached the two dark haired women. From the distance,
rlm@0: Sakura hadn’t been quite sure which was which. She had almost thought
rlm@0: that Mirror had gone off as Tomoyo. 
rlm@0: 	“Hello, Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo said happily, smiling at the young
rlm@0: bride. “I wanted to come back and take a walk in the garden. It looks
rlm@0: like Meiling-chan had similar ideas.” 
rlm@0: 	Meiling brushed past Sakura as she headed for the door. “I really
rlm@0: must be going. I should get home before it gets too late. I have some
rlm@0: things I need to do tomorrow. Goodbye, Tomoyo! Enjoy your visit!”
rlm@0: With that, she disappeared inside the house, leaving Sakura blinking
rlm@0: after her.
rlm@0: 	Watching the bewildered look on Sakura’s face, Tomoyo let out a sad
rlm@0: sigh. She could understand Meiling’s pain and her anger, but she
rlm@0: could never be angry at Sakura. Taking one of Sakura’s hands, she
rlm@0: quickly smiled again. “Please don’t worry about it, Sakura-chan. 
rlm@0: Meiling-chan is in a lot of pain and she doesn’t know what to do
rlm@0: about it.”
rlm@0: 	Sakura nodded slowly. Meiling hadn’t been very pleased with her at
rlm@0: all during her stay in Hong Kong. But Tomoyo was right. There was no
rlm@0: reason to worry about it. “I’m glad I found you. I was wondering
rlm@0: where you were.”
rlm@0: 	“I’ll always be there if you know where to look, Sakura-chan. Even
rlm@0: if it doesn’t seem like I am.” Tomoyo’s smile disappeared for a
rlm@0: moment, her voice sounding earnest. A cloud seemed to pass over her
rlm@0: stormy blue eyes for a moment before it faded away to be replaced
rlm@0: with her nearly ever present smile. 
rlm@0: 	Standing with Tomoyo in the dark, Sakura felt her fingers
rlm@0: intertwine with the toy designer’s. Tomoyo’s pale skin seemed to
rlm@0: shine in the luster of the moonlight. “I found some photos you might
rlm@0: like for your photo album, Tomoyo-chan.”
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo smiled again happily. “I would love that, Sakura-chan. They
rlm@0: are little frozen moments in Sakura-chan’s life that I can flip
rlm@0: through whenever I want to see her again.”
rlm@0: 	“Oh good! I hope you like them. Syaoran-chan and I were going to
rlm@0: make an album ourselves some time, but we haven’t gotten around to
rlm@0: it. I’d be happier if you had the pictures instead of them going to
rlm@0: waste.” Squeezing Tomoyo’s hand, she led her best friend back inside.
rlm@0: