rlm@0: Dear Sakura
rlm@0: by Amazoness Duo and G.P.
rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: pearsong1954@yahoo.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura smiled at her brother as he drove in front of the Daidouji
rlm@0: mansion. The young woman nervously gathered up her purse and a bag
rlm@0: with the newly finished costume inside. Her brother eyed her
rlm@0: carefully and asked,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You have my cell phone number?” She nodded, and he answered in his
rlm@0: big-brother-casual voice, “Call me when you need a ride back. Or for
rlm@0: whatever. I took the day off” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sensing her mood, his voice softened and he spoke quietly, “Don’t be
rlm@0: so worried. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you. And tell her I say
rlm@0: hello.” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura seemed ready to cry, but instead leaned over and wrapped her
rlm@0: arms around him. He squeezed back as she whispered, “Thank you”, and
rlm@0: slipped out the door without looking back. He watched her run up to
rlm@0: the gate, his eternal little sister. Driving there in the car he
rlm@0: almost told her about Tomoyo's love. But Sakura loved surprises, and
rlm@0: this figured to be the biggest one in her life. Besides, Tomoyo had
rlm@0: waited all these years, so she should be the one to tell. He shook
rlm@0: his head as he drove away, secretly thrilled that his sister had
rlm@0: finally found love. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura’s hand shook as she rang the buzzer of the intercom. The last
rlm@0: time she felt so nervous was the wedding. Tomoyo was there, too,
rlm@0: guiding her every step of the way, consoling and calming, a mother
rlm@0: and sister and confidante. But this was something she would have to
rlm@0: do on her own. She was thrilled, excited, and scared to death. What
rlm@0: would Tomoyo say? Would she be embarrassed, or amused, or upset?
rlm@0: Tomoyo would never say or do anything to hurt her. But she worried
rlm@0: that this revelation might be bothersome for her friend, who would
rlm@0: bear her feelings in silence as she had born the pain of her special
rlm@0: someone for years. Maybe there was no place for Sakura’s love in her
rlm@0: heart. The pale woman already had her special someone, and Sakura
rlm@0: could no more take the place of that person than anyone could replace
rlm@0: Tomoyo in her own heart. Sakura sighed and shook her head, and then
rlm@0: was startled by a voice bursting from the intercom,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Daidouji residence”.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura recovered from her surprise and answered, “Oh, hello, yes,
rlm@0: I’m sorry. This is Kinomoto Sakura. I’m here to see Tomoyo-chan, I
rlm@0: mean, Daidouji Tomoyo”. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: During the lengthy pause her thoughts returned to Tomoyo. Since
rlm@0: realizing her love for the beautiful woman, Sakura had slowly
rlm@0: determined what to do. She would tell Tomoyo of her love. She could
rlm@0: no more keep that a secret than she could stop breathing. Just last
rlm@0: night on the phone she nearly blurted out, “Tomoyo-chan, I love you!”
rlm@0: So she had to tell her. But what then? If Tomoyo-chan’s special
rlm@0: someone would not have her, well... Well what? Well, she thought,
rlm@0: distracted at her own uncertainty, she can have me. A surge of
rlm@0: determination rippled through her body as she clenched her fists.. I
rlm@0: may not be her True Love, but at least I love her. I can be with her,
rlm@0: and make her as happy as I can. It’s the least I can do, after all
rlm@0: she’s done for me. And after what I did to her. Sakura felt heartsick
rlm@0: about the way she had ignored her friend for all those years. She
rlm@0: could not change the past, but she could be a loving part of Tomoyo’s
rlm@0: future. She smiled and whispered to herself, “I’ll live my life for
rlm@0: her, if she’ll have me”.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Finally, the intercom spoke up in a metallic, somewhat officious
rlm@0: voice, “You may enter”. As the buzzer sounded, she pushed the gate
rlm@0: open and walked onto the grounds of the mansion. There were so many
rlm@0: memories that lingered here, but she was too caught up by the thrill
rlm@0: of being close to Tomoyo to feel them. The pathway seemed terribly
rlm@0: long, and Sakura’s excitement mounted with every step. It was as if
rlm@0: her entire life had led up to this one point, to three simple words:
rlm@0: I love you. Near the end of the walkway she was running, desperate to
rlm@0: close the last remaining distance between her and the woman she
rlm@0: loved. Sakura wanted to hold the lavender-haired beauty in her arms,
rlm@0: to comfort and be comforted. Nearing the door, she felt a wave of
rlm@0: delirious happiness as she dashed forward in a final burst of speed.
rlm@0: Nothing mattered but Tomoyo; not the past, or the future, not her
rlm@0: failed marriage or the magic or even life itself. Catching her
rlm@0: breath, she knocked excitedly on the door, her heart flooded with a
rlm@0: giddy mix of joy, anticipation, and desire. When the door opend she
rlm@0: let out a curious little yelp, and nearly flew into the arms of a
rlm@0: waiting Sonomi.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: At the last second she pulled back, nearly tumbling backwards. Still
rlm@0: staggering, she grinned sheepishly, bowing low and apologizing,
rlm@0: “Gomenesai, Sonomi-sama. I, I thought you were Tomoyo-chan. Ohayo.
rlm@0: Ohayogozaimasu”.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura looked up cheerfully and saw Sonomi regarding her with quiet
rlm@0: reserve. For the longest time she was silent as Sakura stood and
rlm@0: smiled. Finally, the woman bowed politely and spoke in a flat tone of
rlm@0: voice, “Come in”.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura entered, feeling a warm glow at the sight of Tomoyo’s
rlm@0: gorgeous mother. She remembered their delightful talks about life at
rlm@0: school, her friendship with Tomoyo, and her own mother. She was a
rlm@0: supurb cook, and delighted in having the daughter of Nadeshiko over
rlm@0: for luncheons and dinners. Sakura always felt a maternal love and
rlm@0: concern from Sonomi that wrapped her like a blanket, happy and snug.
rlm@0: With an odd pang, she thought how lucky Tomoyo was to have had such a
rlm@0: wonderful mother. Sonomi indicated a seat, and they both sat down.
rlm@0: Smoothing her skirt, Sakura glanced at her host, wondering why she
rlm@0: was so silent. Nervously, the young woman peeked at her watch and
rlm@0: looked up, smiling and speaking anxiously,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I’m sorry. I hope I’m not too early?” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sonomi glared in righteous anger at the Cardmistress. Finally, the
rlm@0: older woman broke the uneasy silence. “How could you do that to my
rlm@0: baby girl? How could you hurt her so terribly? She trusted you! She
rlm@0: loved you!” Sonomi turned on the younger woman, her dark blue eyes
rlm@0: looking like the sky before a terrifying storm hits. “My little girl
rlm@0: gave you everything and you disregarded her as nothing more than a
rlm@0: plaything that you had grown tired of! She sacrificed her happiness
rlm@0: for you, but even that wasn’t good enough! You couldn’t even thank
rlm@0: her for that!” The business woman was now shaking with fury, hatred
rlm@0: boiling up at this spawn of Fujitaka. The man had managed to ruin her
rlm@0: life and now his daughter was having a delightful time ruining the
rlm@0: life of her own child. “Get the hell out of my house, Sakura. And if
rlm@0: I ever see you again...” She balled up her fists, her whole body
rlm@0: shaking. Her soul felt scalded by the rage boiling over inside of
rlm@0: her. “You stay away from my daughter!” Part of her cried out in pain,
rlm@0: in regret for saying such things to the girl her daughter loved, to
rlm@0: the child of her own love, to this sweet and naďve girl. But her
rlm@0: anger had finally gotten the best of her. She could no longer sit by
rlm@0: while Sakura slowly killed her daughter. She wasn't about to let the
rlm@0: Cardmistress hurt her darling Tomoyo any longer. It no longer
rlm@0: mattered to her that Sakura was Nadeshiko’s daughter or that Tomoyo
rlm@0: wanted her to be happy. “Tomoyo-chan always wanted you to be happy,
rlm@0: but what about her happiness? She suffered and strived so that you
rlm@0: would be happy, Sakura, and what did you do? Nothing. You never
rlm@0: thanked her. You never tried to return the favor. It was as if you
rlm@0: simply expected it of her. She devoted herself to you, but you gave
rlm@0: her nothing in return. You never once concerned yourself with her
rlm@0: happiness. You’re selfish, Sakura-chan. You went off to live your
rlm@0: happy life without a look back to see if Tomoyo was equally happy, if
rlm@0: your best friend was also living a happy life. Tomoyo-chan needed you
rlm@0: and you abandoned her. You failed her. She always thought you would
rlm@0: come back and save her, but you never did. And I hate you for that.”
rlm@0: Her voice was laced with venom, tears falling unnoticed down her
rlm@0: cheeks. Sonomi was crying, but it hardly concerned her. “You
rlm@0: destroyed her just as surely as your father destroyed me all those
rlm@0: years ago. I never wanted Tomoyo-chan to live through what I have. I
rlm@0: never wanted her to feel the pain of losing the only one she could
rlm@0: ever love. But you dashed my baby girl’s hopes and dreams right in
rlm@0: front of me. And I did nothing. I let you hurt her because I thought
rlm@0: that it was just like my love for Nadeshiko, that it was the way
rlm@0: things were. But you’re just like your father. You smile, happy in
rlm@0: what you have, but you disregard the pain you bring to others,
rlm@0: ignoring what you have taken from them. Whether it be my dearest
rlm@0: Nadeshiko or Tomoyo-chan’s loving heart, it doesn’t matter. You have
rlm@0: what you want, so why should you care that you hurt others through
rlm@0: your ignorance? You can smile blissfully while Tomoyo-chan cries
rlm@0: herself to sleep. I will never forgive you for that.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura was dumbstruck, caught completely off guard by Sonomi’s
rlm@0: sudden outburst. Her mouth opened and closed as words escaped her.
rlm@0: Tears began to trickle down her cheeks at Tomoyo’s mother’s words.
rlm@0: The look that Sonomi was giving Sakura broke her heart. This woman
rlm@0: had always looked at her with such love and kindness. But now, that
rlm@0: warmth was completely missing, replaced instead by a burning anger
rlm@0: that seared Sakura in her seat. Sonomi’s words played over and over
rlm@0: again in her head, a haunting chorus of guilt and anger as Sakura
rlm@0: realized her own voice was mixed into the painful truths. “I.. I
rlm@0: didn’t mean to..” Sakura got out weakly. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Getting out of her seat, Sonomi brushed back some dark hair from her
rlm@0: eyes with the same irritated presence of mind one might use to crush
rlm@0: a fly. Sakura’s tears, something that would at one time have brought
rlm@0: a deep and motherly sympathy from her, now only managed to fuel the
rlm@0: rage inside her battered and broken heart. “My baby girl has suffered
rlm@0: through hardships unnumbered for you. She has sailed a sea of
rlm@0: loneliness all by herself simply because she wanted to for her
rlm@0: princess. You don’t deserve all that she’s given you. You’re a
rlm@0: pathetic excuse for a friend. And if you don’t get out of my home,
rlm@0: Sakura-chan, I swear I’ll make you regret ever meeting my daughter.”
rlm@0: Her voice was low and menacing and it was with a measure of
rlm@0: satisfaction that she noted Sakura tremble. All the years of pent up
rlm@0: frustration, anger, and pain finally seemed to find a single focal
rlm@0: point. Nadeshiko had left her all those years ago for a man that had
rlm@0: taken everything from a younger Sonomi. But there had been nothing
rlm@0: she could do. She had only been able to run away. Run away and try to
rlm@0: mend her own broken heart. Part of that had been having a daughter of
rlm@0: her own. But she had been forced to watch her daughter also lose the
rlm@0: one she loved. It had all been maddening to Sonomi, a woman who
rlm@0: generally liked to take action. Now she finally had the object of her
rlm@0: current frustration, the person who had caused such terrible anguish
rlm@0: in her daughter’s heart. It wasn’t Fujitaka, but it sure was a good
rlm@0: enough second. All of her righteous fury was brought to bear upon the
rlm@0: Cardmistress and Sakura found her defenses against Sonomi severely
rlm@0: lacking. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Shaking her head, Sakura tried to swallow back her tears, her fists
rlm@0: balling at her sides as she tried to get a grip on the situation. She
rlm@0: couldn’t go now. If she left, then how could she ever tell Tomoyo
rlm@0: before she left? How could she finally fix things? How could she make
rlm@0: amends for her terrible mistake? “Sonomi-sama... Please, don’t... I
rlm@0: need to see Tomoyo-chan,” she pleaded desperately, getting to her
rlm@0: feet as well. She was less than an inch smaller than Sonomi, no
rlm@0: longer the little girl she once was. Yet even then, Sonomi still
rlm@0: towered over her, the pillar of strength that she had always been in
rlm@0: Sakura’s eyes. Part of her felt sick at a sudden realization. Tomoyo
rlm@0: had always said that Sakura would protect her, but now that wasn’t
rlm@0: the case. Tomoyo’s mother had come to her rescue, and she had come to
rlm@0: protect her from any more pain that Sakura could deliver. This role
rlm@0: reversal didn’t sit well at all with the Cardmistress. She wanted to
rlm@0: be the one protecting Tomoyo’s precious heart, not the one it was
rlm@0: being protected from. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: With a swift motion of her head, Sonomi cut Sakura’s request short.
rlm@0: “I’m not about to let you go hurt her anymore than you already have,
rlm@0: Kinomoto-san. Now if you’ll excuse me, I had some work I must attend
rlm@0: to. Good day.” Turning curtly on her heel, Sonomi took a few steps
rlm@0: towards the entrance to the room. She decided to give Sakura several
rlm@0: minutes to leave before she had one of her bodyguards escort the
rlm@0: younger woman off the premises. Her heart regretted having to be so
rlm@0: cold to Sakura, but deep down she felt immense relief to finally be
rlm@0: able to affect the situation. She wasn’t idly sitting by while her
rlm@0: daughter crumpled in front of her. She would make this up to Tomoyo.
rlm@0: Somehow. She would piece her daughter back together, piece by piece
rlm@0: if need be. Her baby girl would be happy again one day. And if she
rlm@0: had anything to say about it, Sakura would never again be able to
rlm@0: pain her daughter anymore. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Sonomi-sama!” Sakura yelled out, stumbling a few feet towards the
rlm@0: business woman. Her heart felt as if it had been torn out and left to
rlm@0: bleed on the floor. Tears dripped down her chin to the floor below,
rlm@0: some falling down to Sakura’s shaking hands. Despite the severity of
rlm@0: Sonomi’s words, Sakura couldn’t argue with the conviction behind
rlm@0: them. Deep down, she realized that they were right, that she had
rlm@0: slighted her best friend horrifically over the years. Tomoyo had
rlm@0: suffered immeasurably in her wake. She couldn’t blame Sonomi at all.
rlm@0: The woman was just trying to protect her precious daughter. Moreover,
rlm@0: she was correct. That realization sent Sakura reeling. She had
rlm@0: suspected for some time that she had hurt Tomoyo, that her ignorance
rlm@0: had pained her best friend. Ever since discovering her love for the
rlm@0: pale girl, that thought had gained strength. But never before had she
rlm@0: seen such furious intensity, such a glimpse into the pain that she
rlm@0: had unwittingly caused. And it was frightening. Not in her darkest
rlm@0: nightmares had she suspected that she could have done such damage.
rlm@0: The pure, unadulterated joy that had coated Sakura’s heart such a
rlm@0: short time before was now replaced with a deeply disturbing sorrow
rlm@0: that encompassed her soul. If she had broken her poor best friend
rlm@0: then she simply couldn’t leave. There had to be some way that she
rlm@0: could fix the damage she had done. She had to at least try to make up
rlm@0: for what she had done. If she left... “I can’t leave, Sonomi-sama...
rlm@0: I have to apologize to Tomoyo-chan..”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Turning back to face the younger woman, Sonomi’s face held a mixture
rlm@0: of hatred and pity for the brunette. She could hear the anguish in
rlm@0: Sakura’s voice, the pain that now gripped the Cardmistress. But
rlm@0: Sonomi couldn’t leave it that easily. She was quick to anger and slow
rlm@0: to forgive. Especially when it came to the few that she allowed
rlm@0: herself to love so completely. Her daughter and Nadeshiko were the
rlm@0: only women she allowed such a high place in her heart. She had seen
rlm@0: firsthand the pain Sakura had caused her only child and no amount of
rlm@0: apology could ever make up for that. “Get out, Kinomoto. I never want
rlm@0: to see you again,” she said coldly, her finger pointing to the door. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura’s head drooped on her shoulders, sniffles coming up from the
rlm@0: crying brunette. She had caused everyone such trouble by her
rlm@0: naivette. Syaoran through their failed marriage, Sonomi by forcing
rlm@0: her to relive her own pain, and most of all, Tomoyo for taking her
rlm@0: for granted for all these years. All because she had failed to find
rlm@0: the love in her heart so many years ago. She had left a trail of bad
rlm@0: feelings and broken hearts in her wake. But there had to be some way
rlm@0: that she could make it all better. That she could somehow make things
rlm@0: all right. “I didn’t mean to...” Sakura sobbed weakly. ‘If you cry,
rlm@0: you won’t be able to solve anything,’ a voice whispered in Sakura’s
rlm@0: heart. ‘Sakura shouldn’t look so sad. That just makes me sad,’
rlm@0: another voice added. Sakura blinked through her tears, her vision
rlm@0: slowly clarifying as she looked up to Sonomi. “I never wanted to hurt
rlm@0: Tomoyo-chan. She’s the last person I ever wanted to hurt. I’m so, so
rlm@0: sorry, Sonomi-sama... I never wanted to hurt Tomoyo-chan. I love
rlm@0: her... I just want to make her happy...” she got out weakly. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sonomi froze at Sakura’s words, her arm falling slowly to her side.
rlm@0: Those words that she had long ago wished to hear from a woman named
rlm@0: Nadeshiko played through her mind amidst Sakura’s sobs. ‘I love her,’
rlm@0: the younger woman had said. There had been genuine regret in her
rlm@0: voice, along with something else. Something that Sonomi knew full too
rlm@0: well. The unrequited love from the depths of one’s heart. The
rlm@0: business woman’s cold glare softened and finally melted away
rlm@0: altogether as she watched the crying form of her own love’s daughter.
rlm@0: Standing there, her fists clenched and head bowed, she looked like
rlm@0: the child that Sonomi remembered so vividly. The girl that had
rlm@0: captured her own daughter’s heart so many years ago. It was with some
rlm@0: surprise that Sonomi realized Sakura wasn’t here for a simple apology
rlm@0: or to take anything else from her daughter. She was here to give of
rlm@0: herself. The brunette may not be able to fix the damage she had
rlm@0: caused, but that didn’t matter. She had come to offer of herself for
rlm@0: the sake of the future, not for the ruins of the past. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tears fell quietly to the floor as Sakura choked back her sobs, her
rlm@0: athletic body shaking with each attempt. How could she have been so
rlm@0: careless with the greatest gift she had ever received? Tomoyo had
rlm@0: given so much to her, but she had taken such a wonderful gift for
rlm@0: granted. She had ignored her darling friend and now she deserved
rlm@0: Sonomi’s anger. She deserved far worse than that. How could Tomoyo
rlm@0: accept her heart after what she had done? A hand on her shoulder
rlm@0: slowly drew Sakura’s attention. Was it a maid or a bodyguard to lead
rlm@0: her away? A hand on her chin rose her tear streaked eyes slowly until
rlm@0: she met Sonomi’s dark blue orbs. The older woman smiled gently at
rlm@0: her, soothingly. With a small hiccup as she suppressed another sob,
rlm@0: Sakura through herself into the older woman’s arms. Sonomi held onto
rlm@0: her like her own mother had an almost forgotten amount of time
rlm@0: before. Sakura’s heart felt some of the pain flutter away, though
rlm@0: some of it continued to cling deep inside of her. The knowledge of
rlm@0: just how badly she had hurt Tomoyo refused to give up the refuge of
rlm@0: her heart. But at least Sonomi wasn’t angry with her anymore. Maybe
rlm@0: there was still hope that she could make things all right after all.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Standing with the younger brunette in her arms, Sonomi let her own
rlm@0: eyes fall closed. “You’re not like your father. I was wrong. You’re
rlm@0: like Nadeshiko. You didn’t see the love your friend held for you and
rlm@0: didn’t realize what it would do. But you’re also like me, Sakura-
rlm@0: chan. You follow your impulses. You act on instinct. And sometimes
rlm@0: that hurts people. Neither of us give it enough time to really think
rlm@0: things through before we jump into action. We can only hope that it’s
rlm@0: not too late to fix our mistakes.” Standing at arms length, the
rlm@0: business woman smiled softly. “So I want to apologize. You’re a sweet
rlm@0: girl, Sakura-chan. And I’m sorry for letting myself forget that.”
rlm@0: Sonomi had mixed feelings about admitting to herself that Nadeshiko
rlm@0: herself had hurt her, that it hadn’t simply been Sakura’s father that
rlm@0: had caused her such pain, but she was glad to see that perhaps all
rlm@0: wasn’t lost with Nadeshiko’s daughter. She realized that she must
rlm@0: have known more how Tomoyo felt than she had realized. Sakura had
rlm@0: hurt Tomoyo in the same way that Nadeshiko had hurt her, through
rlm@0: ignorance and naivette. But Sonomi had never allowed herself to see
rlm@0: any of the pain Nadeshiko had caused her, unable to place any such
rlm@0: blame on her sweet and kind cousin. Just as Tomoyo could never blame
rlm@0: Sakura for the pain in her heart. Had that been part of the
rlm@0: frustration in Sonomi’s heart at watching Sakura so blatantly hurting
rlm@0: her daughter? It didn’t matter. Even in death, Sonomi could never
rlm@0: quit loving Nadeshiko. Something so trivial may explain a few things,
rlm@0: but it didn’t affect her feelings in the least. It only served to
rlm@0: make the business woman even more lonely for her cousin’s presence.
rlm@0: But if she couldn’t be reunited with her darling Nadeshiko at the
rlm@0: moment, at least she could help bring their daughters together. “I
rlm@0: was a bit hasty about you leaving. I couldn’t let you go without
rlm@0: seeing Tomoyo-chan. She should be in her room right now.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Nodding eagerly, Sakura wiped away the last remnants of tears from
rlm@0: her eyes. “H..Hai!!” she said quickly, smiling at the head of the
rlm@0: Daidouji household. Her heart began to pound again as she followed
rlm@0: behind the older woman. She once again realized just how close she
rlm@0: was to seeing Tomoyo again, to being once again in her best friend’s
rlm@0: presence. It was a delightful feeling, but it was agonizing at the
rlm@0: same time. Would Tomoyo even be happy to see her? Would she accept
rlm@0: her heart when she offered it up? Sakura almost felt dizzy at the
rlm@0: possibilities as Sonomi led her upstairs. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Tomoyo-chan? You have a visitor,” Sonomi said cheerfully from the
rlm@0: doorway. She waited a moment, expecting a response from her
rlm@0: introverted daughter. When none came, she frowned and knocked on the
rlm@0: door. Perhaps Tomoyo had fallen asleep watching one of her videos
rlm@0: again. But as no answer seemed forthcoming, Sonomi began to worry
rlm@0: that that wasn’t the case. Her naturally protective instincts finally
rlm@0: got the best of her and she pushed the door open, hurrying inside her
rlm@0: daughter’s room. Sakura followed right behind her. The business
rlm@0: woman’s stormy eyes darted across the room for any sign of her pale
rlm@0: daughter, but the dark haired girl seemed to have gone missing. Her
rlm@0: eyes settled on Tomoyo’s bags for a second, but the items were still
rlm@0: there, half packed. Tomoyo hadn’t been scheduled to leave for another
rlm@0: few days at the least. Sonomi’s eyes frantically scanned the large
rlm@0: room for any sign of her child. Pictures of Sakura adorned the room
rlm@0: like a religious shrine, the occupant having grown only more
rlm@0: obsessive in recent years. That didn’t particularly surprise Sonomi,
rlm@0: as she had seen Tomoyo’s room often enough over the years to know
rlm@0: just how much of it was dedicated to the brunette. Something on
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s desk finally caught the worried mother’s eye and she hurried
rlm@0: over, Sakura just steps behind. “Oh God...” Sonomi got out weakly.
rlm@0: Her knees felt like they were about to collapse, the blood slowly
rlm@0: draining from her body. On Tomoyo’s desk lay a bloody shard of glass,
rlm@0: dried blood covering the wood finish of the desk. Nearby rested a
rlm@0: crumpled costume design. Sonomi’s heart felt like it had stopped with
rlm@0: all the suddenness of an explosion. Her mind raced back to just
rlm@0: several days earlier, to her daughter’s carefully bandaged hand. Her
rlm@0: head shook slowly in shock as she picked up the shard of glass. “No,
rlm@0: Tomoyo-chan...” ‘I want you to see a doctor about that,’ her own
rlm@0: voice rang in her ears. And Tomoyo had agreed, but she had looked
rlm@0: so... different. As if a part of her had been missing. Or killed.
rlm@0: Sonomi continued to shake her head, holding the blood stained shard
rlm@0: of glass to her chest. “Tomoyo-chan...” Her heart felt like the glass
rlm@0: shard had been wedged inside of it. Not now. Not when Sakura had
rlm@0: finally come to rescue her baby. She couldn’t be too late to rescue
rlm@0: her child. But all of the signs were pointing to that. Images of her
rlm@0: broken child plagued Sonomi’s mind like a horrific vision of the
rlm@0: future. Her sweet, darling child lying broken and lifeless on the
rlm@0: floor. What made it all the worse was that Sonomi could remember her
rlm@0: own failed suicide attempt from years earlier. How close had she
rlm@0: herself come to dying back then? And Tomoyo was a much more
rlm@0: meticulous planner than she herself had been. If Tomoyo intended to
rlm@0: go through with it, she would very well go through with it. Tomoyo
rlm@0: had been the only thing that had made Sonomi’s life worth living for
rlm@0: so many years. The idea of losing her only child in such a violent
rlm@0: fashion froze her heart. Her mind tried desperately to locate her
rlm@0: child, but nothing came to mind. She was blank. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura looked from the distraught Sonomi to the desk and back. Her
rlm@0: fingers traced slowly over the blood stains on Tomoyo’s desk, her
rlm@0: heart pounding desperately in her chest. Part of her didn’t want to
rlm@0: admit that anything was wrong, the idea of Tomoyo disappearing
rlm@0: completely from her life seeming as absurd as a life without water or
rlm@0: air. Her trembling fingers grappled around the crumpled costume
rlm@0: design when her eyes caught sight of Tomoyo’s handwriting on the
rlm@0: back. She quickly smoothed out the piece of paper on top of the
rlm@0: bloodstained desk, her mind frantically searching for any clues to
rlm@0: her friend’s sudden disappearance. Suddenly Tomoyo’s aversion to
rlm@0: meeting her last night began to make sense. She hadn’t intended on
rlm@0: ever seeing Sakura again. She had played her final part the night
rlm@0: before, pretending to be her happy and pleasant best friend one last
rlm@0: time. Sakura silently cursed herself for not having seen through
rlm@0: Tomoyo’s cracks, to seeing the lost and lonely little girl
rlm@0: underneath. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ‘Dear Sakura-chan,
rlm@0: As I sit here writing this, I see your beautiful face in my mind’s
rlm@0: eye, your sweet smile sending ripples throughout the stormy ocean of
rlm@0: my soul. I know that you may hate me for this, and though I could
rlm@0: hardly bear the thought of you ever hating me, I know that I must go
rlm@0: through with this. I’m not sure if I can explain why, but it doesn’t
rlm@0: really matter. Please know that you have always been the most
rlm@0: treasured thing in my life. I would never wish to hurt you. That’s
rlm@0: why I have to say goodbye.’
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Swallowing painfully, Sakura forced her way through the rest of this
rlm@0: unsent letter, forcing back tears as she tried to make out Tomoyo’s
rlm@0: beautiful strokes. Every word struck her with deadly precision, every
rlm@0: revelation shaking the beliefs she had once held in her heart. But
rlm@0: despite the truths they revealed, Sakura could find no comfort in
rlm@0: them. They only seemed to add up to a desperate and frantic Tomoyo
rlm@0: who was determined to escape Sakura’s life for Sakura’s sake and her
rlm@0: own. That Tomoyo had been so hell bent on Sakura’s happiness even to
rlm@0: the bitter end both astonished and frightened Sakura. It seemed that
rlm@0: Tomoyo was always proving just how deep her love ran. Halfway through
rlm@0: the letter, Sakura read and reread through the dark haired girl’s
rlm@0: confessions in a near delirious frenzy. “She loves me...” Sakura
rlm@0: whispered, her eyes skimming the passage again. “She loves me. That’s
rlm@0: why she left. She left... for me..” She shook her head, as if unable
rlm@0: to comprehend the logic behind such an action. But in Tomoyo’s
rlm@0: eccentric way, it made perfect sense. Tomoyo had left to save
rlm@0: Sakura’s marriage, to protect Sakura’s new life. She had no way of
rlm@0: knowing that Sakura had thrown it all away for her, had perhaps left
rlm@0: to keep that from happening. The brunette felt a chill run up and
rlm@0: down her spine. Because she had been too late, she may have lost
rlm@0: Tomoyo forever. In a final desperate attempt to save everything,
rlm@0: Tomoyo had left after Sakura’s phone call the night before. Where she
rlm@0: was now, Sakura couldn’t hope to guess. She had been too late to
rlm@0: rescue her princess after all. She had failed Tomoyo. Tears stung her
rlm@0: eyes like liquid fire, her body begging her to collapse as the
rlm@0: strength drained away from her. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Everything will always be all right,” Sakura whispered to herself.
rlm@0: Sonomi turned to look at her in confusion, but Sakura stood up as
rlm@0: strength rushed in to fill the vacuum. With a thought, brilliant blue
rlm@0: wings unfurled from Sakura’s back, nearly sending Sonomi sprawling.
rlm@0: There had to be time. Sakura could still find Tomoyo. She could still
rlm@0: put things right. She had to. This was her final test, the test of
rlm@0: her heart. Tomoyo believed in her. She believed that Sakura would
rlm@0: come and save her. Sakura couldn’t disappoint her. She couldn’t fail
rlm@0: Tomoyo. “I love her,” Sakura whispered determinedly, her long wings
rlm@0: spreading behind her. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sonomi watched in awe as an angelic Sakura darted out the window,
rlm@0: glass shards glinting in the early morning light like shooting stars.
rlm@0: “Sakura-chan...” Sonomi watched as Sakura flew away, as angelic as
rlm@0: she had always imagined Nadeshiko’s angel. “Find her, Sakura-chan.
rlm@0: Find my baby girl before it’s too late. Please help her be on time,
rlm@0: Nadeshiko-chan,” Sonomi pleaded as she clutched onto the blood
rlm@0: sullied piece of glass that warned of a tragic fate for her daughter.
rlm@0: Exhausted, the business woman collapsed to her knees, praying
rlm@0: desperately that her daughter wouldn’t be joining the woman she loved
rlm@0: so soon.