rlm@0: Dear Sakura rlm@0: by G.P. rlm@0: pearsong1954@yahoo.com rlm@0: rlm@0: I. rlm@0: rlm@0: Walking slowly down the hallway of the now quiet mansion, Sakura and rlm@0: Tomoyo finally arrived at the guest room. The two stood face-to-face, rlm@0: hand-in-hand, smiling silently at each other. Captivated by the rlm@0: beautiful woman gazing lovingly at her, Sakura was unable to say good rlm@0: night. Tomoyo was tired, but her enchanted friend simply couldn’t rlm@0: tear herself away. Finally, as if groping for some excuse to keep the rlm@0: night alive, she stammerd out, rlm@0: rlm@0: “Tomoyo-chan, ummu, would you like to meet Dark-sama and Light-sama? rlm@0: I know it’s late, and if you’re tired we can go to bed, but…” rlm@0: rlm@0: Tomoyo squeezed the brunette’s hands and sweetly replied, rlm@0: rlm@0: “I’d love to, Sakura-chan. I’m never sleepy when I’m with my rlm@0: favorite Cardmistress.” Then, with a little frown of concern, she rlm@0: added, “But is Sakura-chan too tired? I know that she has written her rlm@0: magic is sometimes fatiguing, and I would not want her to be rlm@0: exhausted for my sake.” rlm@0: rlm@0: Sakura smiled brightly, shaking her head, “No, I’m fine, really”. rlm@0: With that, she spun about and ran down the hall, then turned rlm@0: sheepishly and started to yell. Suddenly covering her mouth at the rlm@0: realization of how late it was, she rushed back and whispered rlm@0: excitedly that she would return quickly with the cards. As she rlm@0: disappeared down the dark hallway, Tomoyo giggled, then took a slow, rlm@0: deep breath, struggling with her tumultuous emotions. She was indeed rlm@0: desperately tired, but sleep seemed trivial when she could be with rlm@0: her perpetually genki friend. After a few moments Sakura reappeared, rlm@0: Clow Book in hand, and the two entered the room. rlm@0: rlm@0: Sakura carefully laid the book down on the old desk and pulled a rlm@0: little gold chain from her cheongsam as Tomoyo busied herself with rlm@0: something in the corner of the room. Sakura undid the chain and slid rlm@0: the Key off, cradling it in her hands. Puzzled, she looked about the rlm@0: room for Tomoyo, and saw her already filming with the video camera. rlm@0: Despite a sweat drop, Sakura basked in the warmth of Tomoyo’s rlm@0: attention. Holding the Key to her breast, she chanted the words of rlm@0: power, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Key of the Star, rlm@0: with powers burning bright, rlm@0: reveal the staff, rlm@0: and shine your light. rlm@0: Release!" rlm@0: rlm@0: A swirl of yellow light arose, and the floor glowed with the the rlm@0: Star Seal. Sakura felt a pulsating power rush through her body. rlm@0: Leaning over the desk, she carefully picked up The Light card, and rlm@0: flicked it into the air. Twirling her staff, she nimbly brought it rlm@0: down with a splash of bright, white light. As the light slowly rlm@0: coalesced into a feminine form, she awoke The Dark, and black shadows rlm@0: poured into the room. Within seconds, two beautiful women, clad like rlm@0: queens from a fairy tale, stood before the two friends. The woman rlm@0: with long, straight dark hair looked smilingly at Tomoyo, and then rlm@0: shyly averted her eyes. But the other, her golden hair curling to the rlm@0: floor and floating in the air, gazed lovingly at the unknown dark- rlm@0: haired girl. Bowing slightly, she greeted her melodiously in sing- rlm@0: song Chinese. Wishing Fanren was with her, Tomoyo bowed deeply and rlm@0: replied, rlm@0: rlm@0: “Nihao. I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I don’t speak Chinese”. Dark rlm@0: looked at her in surprise. Light hid her tittering behind a slender rlm@0: hand, and spoke, rlm@0: rlm@0: “I’m sorry. I thought perhaps I was addressing a Princess of the rlm@0: Imperial House. Sakura-chan, would you please introduce us to this rlm@0: lovely girl?” rlm@0: rlm@0: Sakura shook her head, suddenly remembering her manners, rlm@0: rlm@0: “Oh, gomenesai! Dark-sama, Light-sama, this is my very best friend rlm@0: from Japan, Daidouji Tomoyo.” rlm@0: rlm@0: The shimmering figures smiled and bowed, as did Tomoyo. She watched rlm@0: in awe as shadows and light swirled languidly through the room. The rlm@0: two women from the cards held hands, their fingers lightly rlm@0: interlaced. Light's voice was soft and glowing, rlm@0: rlm@0: “Sakura-chan has told us so much about you. Sometimes you’re all she rlm@0: talks about.” Turning to her shadowy friend, she spoke earnestly, rlm@0: rlm@0: “She reminds me a little of you: sweet, gentle, and beautiful as rlm@0: twilight.” They were slowly drawn to one another, and for a rlm@0: breathless second Tomoyo thought they might actually kiss. But Light rlm@0: laid her hand on Dark’s blushing cheek, then turned slowly again to rlm@0: Tomoyo. In a voice like bright sunshine she said, rlm@0: rlm@0: “And like you, Dark-chan, I think she has many secrets, don’t you, rlm@0: Tomoyo-chan?” rlm@0: rlm@0: Tomoyo colored as Light’s sparkling eyes regarded her with measured rlm@0: care. Bowing slightly, Tomoyo replied, rlm@0: rlm@0: “None that I could ever keep from you, Light-sama.” rlm@0: rlm@0: With lady-like laughter, Dark’s delicate fingers touched her rlm@0: companion’s alabaster shoulder. In a voice like willows whispering in rlm@0: the night, she gently chided, rlm@0: rlm@0: “Secrets are yours to reveal, Light-chan, but mine to keep. Some rlm@0: hearts abide in darkness, lest they shatter in the light of day. When rlm@0: she wishes her secrets known, she will seek you. Till then, let her rlm@0: rest with me.” rlm@0: rlm@0: Dark leaned closer, her hand carefully brushing a stray lock of rlm@0: lavender hair from Tomoyo’s stormy blue eyes. Tender as a mother, or rlm@0: a lover, she caressed the girl’s pale, crimson-flushed cheek. Tomoyo rlm@0: was shrouded in the shadowy-black hair that drifted serenely about rlm@0: her. Eveloped by a fragrance of night flowers and wisteria, of rlm@0: sandalwood and incense, Tomoyo stood breathless as the beautiful, rlm@0: pale face hovered over her. Dark lightly kissed her forehead. The rlm@0: young woman from Japan swooned as a peaceful wave washed over her, a rlm@0: tranquil blessing that calmed the thudding in her breast. All the rlm@0: knotted fears and worries wound so tightly round her heart were rlm@0: loosed, and for an instant her unfettered soul soared free. She rlm@0: slumped into Dark’s arms, tears flowing, hugging her tightly. rlm@0: Surprised, the Dark figure smiled and hugged the trembling young rlm@0: woman, whispering reassurance as she gently carressed her. Tomoyo’s rlm@0: hair came magically undone, the shimmering tresses cascading like a rlm@0: black waterfall. The red and gold jewelry that had adorned her hair rlm@0: tinkled to the floor as her body grew limp. She fell into a deep rlm@0: slumber, and Dark laid the little body gently on the futon and wiped rlm@0: away the sparkling tears with her fingers. The emeralds encircling rlm@0: the darksome woman's slender throat shone brightly, illuminating the rlm@0: room in a magical, green glow. With sad, black eyes she turned to rlm@0: Sakura and spoke in a solemn whisper, rlm@0: rlm@0: “Everything will be all right, if you take care of her. For now, let rlm@0: her sleep.” Sakura nodded silently. Dark and Light smiled and bowed, rlm@0: and Sakura returned them to their card forms. She carefully laid them rlm@0: in the book, then gazed at the still figure asleep on the futon. rlm@0: Sakura knelt and lovingly straightened her friend's shimmering rlm@0: lavender hair, slipped off the drowsing beauty's shoes, then loosened rlm@0: the red cheongsam. She finished by covering her with the silken rlm@0: quilt, but still could not will herself to leave. Tomoyo’s face was rlm@0: calm and placid, and she smiled sweetly at some delightful dream. rlm@0: Sakura looked at her with longing, glad that Dark-sama had apparently rlm@0: lifted some great burden from her heart, but secretly wishing she rlm@0: were still awake. There was so much she wanted to say, so much to do. rlm@0: But what? Sakura creased her brow and sorted through a jumble of rlm@0: thoughts and feelings. rlm@0: rlm@0: What exactly did she want to say, or do? rlm@0: rlm@0: She wanted to wipe away all the pain and hurt she had seen in rlm@0: Tomoyo’s azure eyes. Her chest tightened with the memory of Tomoyo rlm@0: sobbing in her arms just the night before. Looking at her now, that rlm@0: pain seemed so far away. But when she awoke, whatever had caused it, rlm@0: her loneliness, her lost love, or something else, would still be rlm@0: there to haunt her. It wasn’t fair that so gentle a spirit as Tomoyo rlm@0: should bear such agony. Sakura felt her will harden to a steely rlm@0: resolve as she thought, I will not let her suffer. I will not. rlm@0: rlm@0: But what else did the Mistress of the Cards want? She wanted to know rlm@0: why she loved Tomoyo more than her husband, her family, or her own rlm@0: life. This feeling confused her greatly, but she knew it to be true. rlm@0: Her love for her friend was boundless, like a glimpse of eternity, or rlm@0: a taste of the infinite. This realization had been long and slow in rlm@0: coming, but shook the foundations of Sakura’s little world when it rlm@0: finally arrived. Tomoyo was not her special person, or her true love. rlm@0: Nor was she a brother, or father, or Mother. Sakura loved them all rlm@0: dearly, but not like this. Sakura was happily married to a wonderful rlm@0: man. Tomoyo was not the love of her life, she couldn’t be. But that rlm@0: was exactly how it felt. There was nowhere on earth she would rather rlm@0: be but in this room, by her side. Sakura shook her head as she rlm@0: thought, how can I love her more than my own husband? Fighting back rlm@0: the tears she whispered, rlm@0: rlm@0: “I don’t know, but I do.” rlm@0: rlm@0: Finally, a cold emptiness gripped her as she realized that in three rlm@0: days Tomoyo would be gone. She clenched her fists into tight little rlm@0: balls as the thought sunk in. A metallic desperation seized Sakura as rlm@0: she contemplated life without her best friend. Being apart after the rlm@0: wedding had been hard, bringing her at times to tears. But now it was rlm@0: worse, for she had again shared life with her beautiful best friend. rlm@0: To see her, to hear her voice, to touch her and hold her and- and to rlm@0: kiss her. Sakura blushed and trembled, shaken by memories too sweet rlm@0: for words. She wanted to be with her not just tonight, not just in rlm@0: her visit to Hong Kong, but forever and ever and ever. rlm@0: rlm@0: But it was all impossible. Tomoyo had her own life now, and would rlm@0: soon return to it. She also had her own true love, a thought that rlm@0: pained Sakura, even as she determined that this heart’s desire of her rlm@0: friend would not go unfulfilled. And, for that matter, she herself rlm@0: had a new life with the man she loved. Sighing heavilly, Sakura lay rlm@0: down beside her sleeping friend, watching the quilt rise and fall rlm@0: with each sweet, slow breath. Nothing made any sense at all, and she rlm@0: was hopelessly confused. All she knew for certain was her love for rlm@0: Tomoyo. Wrapping an arm round the sleeping figure in the soft, downy rlm@0: quilt, the Mistress of the Cards quietly cried herself to sleep. rlm@0: rlm@0: II. rlm@0: rlm@0: With a flutter of dark lashes, Tomoyo slowly awoke. Dawn crept into rlm@0: the guest room, painting a warm yellow triangle on the wall opposite rlm@0: the garden window. Laying on her back, she began to stretch, but rlm@0: found herself tightly swaddled in the silken quilt. She noticed an rlm@0: arm wrapped around her, and, with a puzzled expression looked over to rlm@0: her side. There was Sakura, still dressed in the black cheongsam, rlm@0: fast asleep and holding her tightly. Tomoyo smiled, luxuriating in rlm@0: embrace of her dearest friend. Staring at the heavy wooden beams of rlm@0: the ceiling, she felt a tranquil sense of peace, a peace unknown for rlm@0: a very long time. She remembered Dark-sama's haunting presence, rlm@0: washing the aches and fears from her heart in a peaceful, shadowy rlm@0: wave. Maybe everything really would be all right. Somehow, it was rlm@0: impossible to think otherwise, here in her arms. rlm@0: rlm@0: She carefully shifted onto her side to better see Sakura. Is this rlm@0: what it would be like, to be with her all the time? To awaken every rlm@0: morning and see her, to putter about in the kitchen making breakfast, rlm@0: to come home at night and greet her, and then sleep together, rlm@0: entwined in her arms? Tomoyo sighed at this sweetest of sweet rlm@0: thoughts. She was fascinated by Sakura's face, so close to her own. rlm@0: Placid and happy, she was cute and adorable in her innocent slumber. rlm@0: It struck Tomoyo as odd that she had spent the night here, rather rlm@0: than with her husband. But she must have been too exhausted to make rlm@0: it back to her bedroom. Even Sakura's genki energy has it's limits, rlm@0: she giggled to herself. Well, if she had to go to sleep, this was as rlm@0: good a place as any. The young guest lay enfolded in her true love's rlm@0: arms for several blissfull minutes until she felt Sakura slowly begin rlm@0: to awaken. Smiling as Sakura yawned and stretched, one eye open and rlm@0: the other still closed, Tomoyo watched her intently. Half-asleep for rlm@0: sure, she giggled to herself. Softly she spoke to her still sleepy rlm@0: friend, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ohayo, Sakura-chan." rlm@0: rlm@0: Sakura looked at her, eyes blinking in wonder. Realizing she had rlm@0: wrapped her arm around her friend, Sakura quickly sat up and rlm@0: spluttered, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Oh, ohayo, Tomoyo-chan. Gomenesai, I guess I fell asleep. I didn't rlm@0: mean to..." rlm@0: rlm@0: Tomoyo shook her head and smiled as she sat up, "No, no, it was rlm@0: wonderful laying here with you. I haven't slept so well in a very rlm@0: long time." rlm@0: rlm@0: Sakura smiled back, her hand behind her head in embarrassment. But rlm@0: then she put her hands in her lap, bowed her head so she didn't have rlm@0: to meet Tomoyo's gaze, and said, rlm@0: rlm@0: "I guess I didn't want to leave you, Tomoyo-chan. I just wanted to rlm@0: be with you." rlm@0: Sakura looked up, her emereald eyes shimmering. Tomoyo felt her rlm@0: heart stop at the sight. Suddenly, Sakura hugged her tightly, nearly rlm@0: squeezing the breath out of her startled friend. Tomoyo felt the rlm@0: soft, silk-clad form nestled against her, and a shiver of passion rlm@0: flowed through her body. She hugged back, resting her head on the rlm@0: brunette's shoulder. Finally they parted, slightly dazed but smiling. rlm@0: Sakura suddenly gushed forth with barely suppressed excitment, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Do you still want to see the school today? I thought maybe we could rlm@0: stop by before we went to the beach." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Yes, Sakura-chan, I'd love to see your school. I think it's so rlm@0: wonderful that Sakura-chan is a sensei." rlm@0: rlm@0: "Thank you Tomoyo-chan. I feel so wonderful today, not tired at all rlm@0: like I sometimes am after using the Cards. I'll meet you in the rlm@0: kitchen and we can have breakfast!" rlm@0: rlm@0: Sakura hugged Tomoyo again before rushing out the door. She left the rlm@0: pale girl huddled in the comforter, hand on her cheek, gazing rlm@0: adoringly. rlm@0: rlm@0: III. rlm@0: rlm@0: As Tomoyo clambered off the bus, she saw the modern looking, white, rlm@0: six-story building that formed the main structure of the Fung Kai Liu rlm@0: Yun Sum Memorial School. It was different from the traditional rlm@0: Japanese schools that she was used to. Large Chinese characters were rlm@0: written from top to bottom on the right side of the building. There rlm@0: were beautiful trees in front, and the grounds and building were rlm@0: impeccably maintained. Sakura took her by the hand and led her rlm@0: through the empty halls. Sakura had mentioned the school was on rlm@0: holiday, so she was able to get time off. Finally they went through a rlm@0: set of double doors into a small-sized gymnasium. Sakura scanned it rlm@0: to make sure that her gym was in proper shape, and then said, rlm@0: rlm@0: "We can leave our things in my office. It's over there, in the back." rlm@0: rlm@0: They walked accross the wooden parquay floor. Sakura pointed out the rlm@0: door to the dance studio, and then used a little brass key to open rlm@0: her office. The office was quite small, but Sakura had arranged rlm@0: things nicely without it seeming to be cramped. On her desk Tomoyo rlm@0: saw three pictures: one of Sakura and Syoaran from their wedding, and rlm@0: one of Fujitaka, Touya, and Yukito, all clad in their summer yukata. rlm@0: The other was of her, the same as the one she had sent Sakura for her rlm@0: nightstand at home. Sakura saw her looking and laughed, rlm@0: rlm@0: "I had a copy made so there would be one of you here at work, too. I rlm@0: have to have a picture of my girlfriend, after all." rlm@0: rlm@0: Tomoyo blushed and giggled, and made a mental note to send another rlm@0: picture. With that, Sakura began her guided tour of the school, rlm@0: pointing out classrooms and labs and the teacher's lounge. There, rlm@0: she was delighted to find her sensei friend, Wei Jun. Introducing rlm@0: Tomoyo, Sakura begged to be excused to attend to something with the rlm@0: cheerleading club. The older woman poured a cup of tea for her guest rlm@0: as the two sat down in the empty lounge. Her eyes lit up as she spoke rlm@0: in impeccable Japanese, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ah, so this is Daidouji Tomoyo. I almost feel as if I know you, rlm@0: from all that Sakura-san has said.You're even prettier than her rlm@0: descriptions, which seems nearly impossible." rlm@0: rlm@0: Tomoyo blushed and bowed again as she spoke in her musical voice, rlm@0: "Thank you, Jun-sama, both for your kind words, and for helping rlm@0: Sakura with her new job." rlm@0: rlm@0: The older woman smiled wistfully as she replied, "It's been a rlm@0: pleasure to have her at the school. She's done a wonderful job. rlm@0: Besdies, she reminds me of someone from long ago. Oh, and so rlm@0: energetic! Sometimes even the girls have a hard time keeping up with rlm@0: her." rlm@0: rlm@0: The two talked about the school, and Hong Kong, and Japan, but rlm@0: somehow the topic always managed to return to again to the genki new rlm@0: P.E. teacher. With a twinkle in her eye, Jun asked, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Tomoyo-san, how long have you known Sakura-san?" rlm@0: rlm@0: This triggered another stream of reminisence from the young dark- rlm@0: haired woman, who recalled picnics and festivals, dances and rlm@0: contests. Immersed in visions of her adorable friend, the starry-eyed rlm@0: Tomoyo failed to see Jun's barely suppressed smile. Finally, the rlm@0: Chinese woman gently asked, rlm@0: rlm@0: "You still love her very much, don't you?" rlm@0: rlm@0: Tomoyo stopped and gazed at the kindly face of the teacher. She rlm@0: smiled and nodded, her alabaster cheeks touched with a crimson blush. rlm@0: After a moment of silence, the older woman continued, rlm@0: rlm@0: "But you've never told her, or if you did, she didn't quite rlm@0: understand you, yes?" rlm@0: rlm@0: Again, Tomoyo nodded solemnly. With a worried look she asked in a rlm@0: plaintive voice, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Sensei-sama, please don't say anything about this. I don't want to rlm@0: trouble her. She's found her own special soemone, and she's married rlm@0: to him. Everything is as it should be, and I'm happy that way." rlm@0: rlm@0: Tomoyo's words rang hollow in her ears, and the look on Jun's face rlm@0: showed how easilly the woman saw through her faltering mask. Her look rlm@0: held knowledge of Tomoyo's hidden hurt, and a sympathy that only rlm@0: mutually shared pain could bring. The Chinese woman looked out the rlm@0: window and sighed, rlm@0: rlm@0: "We're always happy that our loved ones are happy. If they really rlm@0: are happy, that is. But that doesn't ease the pain all that much, rlm@0: does it, Tomoyo-san? I remember Ming Xia's wedding. It was so rlm@0: beautiful, and I was so, so happy for her. But all the same, I wanted rlm@0: to die. I really did. To see her with him, knowing she was gone from rlm@0: my life, forever. But I couldn't tell her that, and ruin her rlm@0: happiness, too. I thought the years would be kinder, that someday I rlm@0: might forget. But it doesn't happen like that. Not when it's your rlm@0: true love. That kind of love isn't affected by time, or distance, or rlm@0: anythng at all. Before she died last year, she sent me a little rlm@0: letter. She wanted me to visit her in England. After all these years, rlm@0: she was lonely. She said she missed me. But I didn't make it. She rlm@0: never knew I loved her. Maybe she knows know, somehow. I don't know." rlm@0: rlm@0: On the brink of tears, Jun looked at Tomoyo with a sad smile and rlm@0: spoke in a broken whipser, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Don't worry, Tomoyo-san. I won't say anything to Sakura. I'm sorry, rlm@0: I..." rlm@0: rlm@0: She suddenly stood up and rushed to the door. Tomoyo rose to go to rlm@0: her, but she waved the young woman away. As the door closed, Tomoyo rlm@0: stood with her hands to her breast, azure eyes misted with tears. rlm@0: Poor, poor Jun-sama. How strong she must be to have lived through all rlm@0: those years of pain. How could she do it? How could anyone do it? rlm@0: Clutching her chest she felt a cold stab of pain at the thought: how rlm@0: can I do it? I don't know how I've survived for four months. How can rlm@0: I go on like this for years? She sat on the chair and struggled to rlm@0: calm herself before Sakura arrived. Somehow, when her friend at last rlm@0: burst through the door, she once again wore her very sweetest smile. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Hello, Tomoyo-chan, I'm sorry I was gone so long. Oh, did Jun-sama rlm@0: leave?" rlm@0: rlm@0: "Yes, she had to go. But we had some tea, and a very nice rlm@0: conversation. so please don't worry." rlm@0: rlm@0: Sakura smiled, though to Tomoyo's practiced eye she looked as if she rlm@0: were hiding something. Obviously in a hurry, the little P.E. teacher rlm@0: blurted out, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Umm, would you like to go out and see the athletic field now?" rlm@0: rlm@0: Sakura's eager face betrayed her as Tomoyo smiled in reply, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Yes, I'd love to." rlm@0: rlm@0: When they arrived, Sakura placed her friend in a little folding rlm@0: chair by the edge of the soccer pitch. A few boys were playing a game rlm@0: at the far end, though the late morning heat slowed their game to a rlm@0: crawl. Sakura suddenly blew a whistle, and out of the gym rushed rlm@0: eight girls attired in the uniforms Tomoyo had designed, followed by rlm@0: one in school shorts and a T-shirt, carrying a clipboard and running rlm@0: behind. Amid much giggling and blushing, the uniformed girls shyly rlm@0: formed up in front of Tomoyo. The small girl in T-shirt and shorts, rlm@0: her beribboned hair in two long, black braids, stood close to Sakura, rlm@0: warilly eyeing the mysterious friend from Japan through large, thick rlm@0: glasses. Tomoyo smiled and waved at her, and the little face quickly rlm@0: dissappeared behind the clipboard. Sakura blew the whistle again, and rlm@0: the girls formed up in two ranks of four. They bowed in unison as rlm@0: Sakura announced, rlm@0: rlm@0: "The Fung Kai Liu Yun Sum Memorial School Cheerleading Club thanks rlm@0: Daidouji Tomoyo for her wonderful uniform designs, and dedicates this rlm@0: performance to her honor." With another blow on the whistle, they rlm@0: began their routine. rlm@0: rlm@0: Tomoyo watched the splendid show with delight. The uniforms really rlm@0: did look adorable, and Sakura had trained the girls well in a rlm@0: remarkeably short time. One girl in particular caught her eye. She rlm@0: was nimble and quick, jumping over her teamates and spinning through rlm@0: the air like Jump or Dash from the Clow Cards. Tomoyo noticed that rlm@0: the girl with glasses had emerged from behind her clipboard and was rlm@0: watching the little acrobat with a look of utter rapture. Tomoyo rlm@0: giggled to herself and thought, that must be Chang Jung, the girl rlm@0: Sakura-chan mentioned. Finally, the girls formed a pyramid, with the rlm@0: object of Jung's affection perched on top. She stood fearlessly with rlm@0: arms raised high, then leaped into a summersault as Tomoyo gasped in rlm@0: surprise. The landing was perfect, and the dark-haired woman clapped rlm@0: her approval as the cheerleaders took their bows. Then they swarmed rlm@0: over her, chattering in an indescribably rapid Cantonese, eager to rlm@0: see sensei's legendary friend from accross the seas. A beleagured rlm@0: Tomoyo giggled as Sakura arrived, trying to bring order to the merry rlm@0: chaos. At that moment, her Jun arrived to the rescue, cheerfully rlm@0: translating the questions about toys and clothing design and life in rlm@0: Japan. Finally, Sakura sheparded her flock back to practice, rlm@0: demonstrating various moves with the easy grace that marked her rlm@0: gymnastics, and had captivated Tomoyo's heart. As she watched rlm@0: adoringly, Tomoyo noticed little Jung by her side. rlm@0: rlm@0: When she smiled, the little girl bowed, and spoke in a endearingly rlm@0: soft voice, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ohayo, Daidouji-sama." rlm@0: rlm@0: Tomoyo returned her bow and greeting. She asked Wei-sama to rlm@0: translate, and thanked the girl for being such a helpful assistant to rlm@0: Sakura. The little girl blushed, replying that it was because she rlm@0: wasn't very good at athletic things, and that sensei-sama was kind rlm@0: enough to let her help as best she could. But when Tomoyo asked the rlm@0: name of the nimble little girl who had topped the pyramid, Jung's rlm@0: face lit up. rlm@0: rlm@0: "Ah, that is Ling Xiao. Isn't she wonderful!" The child clasped her rlm@0: hands and looked up starry-eyed. Tomoyo smiled and nodded as Jung rlm@0: gleefully told her all about her marvelous friend. Finally, the rlm@0: Japanese woman knelt down, gazed into the girl's eyes and asked, rlm@0: rlm@0: "You like very very much, don't you, Jung-chan?" She smiled and rlm@0: nodded. Tomoyo then asked, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Does she like you the same way?" rlm@0: rlm@0: Jung suddenly became thoughtful, and her pretty face almost sad as rlm@0: she replied, "No, I don't think so. We are very best friends, but I rlm@0: don't think she likes me the same way." rlm@0: rlm@0: Tomoyo felt a stab in her heart. Fighting to keep her composure, she rlm@0: asked in a whisper, rlm@0: rlm@0: "Does Xiao-chan know how you feel?" rlm@0: rlm@0: Again, the little girl looked solemn beyond her years, "No, I don't rlm@0: think so. I don't think she would understand. But some day, I want to rlm@0: tell her how I feel." rlm@0: rlm@0: Tomoyo nodded as she fought back the tears. Her voice was trembling rlm@0: as she replied, rlm@0: rlm@0: "That's good. Tell her how you feel, Jung-chan, and soon. Even rlm@0: though it may be hard to do, it's very important that she know. OK?" rlm@0: rlm@0: The little girl nodded and smiled brightly, then ran off to help rlm@0: Sakura. Tomoyo stood up and hugged herself tightly. The Chinese rlm@0: teacher stood by her side, gazing with pity. There was nothing to rlm@0: say, so the older woman remained silent. Finally, Sakura made sure rlm@0: the girls had drunk their fill the of water before dismissing them to rlm@0: the showers. Then she bounced up to the two women, towling herself rlm@0: off and grinning. Tomoyo smiled as she spoke, rlm@0: rlm@0: "It was wonderful, Sakura-chan. Thank you so very much." rlm@0: rlm@0: Sakura smiled, "No, no, thank you! They wanted to do something for rlm@0: you, because of the uniform design. It really did turn out great. No rlm@0: wonder you're a professional designer, Tomoyo-chan. Are you ready to rlm@0: go to the beach?" rlm@0: rlm@0: Tomoyo nodded, then bowed to the older woman by her side, "Arigato rlm@0: gozaimasum, Jun-sama. I hope we will meet again." rlm@0: rlm@0: With a bow, the older woman smiled her goodbye, then silently rlm@0: watched the two friends hold hands and walk away. rlm@0: