rlm@0: A Tomoyo and Sakura Story
rlm@0: By G. P.
rlm@0: Please send comments to: treeandleaf2002@yahoo.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Note: all names and characters are property of CLAMP. This story is
rlm@0: in no way meant to infringe on their intellectual property rights.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: This story is part of a series, but may be read alone. The previous
rlm@0: stories in order are:
rlm@0: Love is the Crooked Thing
rlm@0: First Date
rlm@0: Fruits Candy
rlm@0: Tomoyo and the Visitor
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: I.
rlm@0: The teachers all agreed. "Beauty in the Woods" had been such a
rlm@0: success for the fourth grade class that it deserved a reprise as the
rlm@0: fifth grade play. The students, enthusiastic but nervous, began
rlm@0: writing their names on the board. Just like last year, Mizuki-sensei
rlm@0: would determine the parts randomly. As Sakura wrote her name, Tomoyo
rlm@0: smiled, wondering what new costumes she would get to create for her
rlm@0: friend. Already her head was full of fantastic designs for a fairy
rlm@0: godmother, and dignified, regal attire fit for a queen. She could
rlm@0: hardly wait to start sewing! So enraptured was she with the prospect
rlm@0: of getting a new costume on Sakura that she missed the scowl on
rlm@0: Sayoran when she got up to write her own name on the board. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Newly returned from Hong Kong, he felt as out of place as ever. He
rlm@0: was puzzled why his awkward, tentative approaches to Sakura had gone
rlm@0: unnoticed. Brooding back home, he realized that Sakura had shown
rlm@0: interest in him, but he had been too busy to see. Now, she seemed
rlm@0: friendly, but that "something else" he had sensed was no longer
rlm@0: there. If only he were the Prince, and she the Princess of the play,
rlm@0: perhaps she could be made to see the connection they shared, as well
rlm@0: as their proper place in the order of things. Despite everything, he
rlm@0: had never really accepted the notion that a weak little girl could be
rlm@0: the true successor to Clow Reed. Awakened from his reveries by gasps
rlm@0: and cheers, he was delighted to see the first part of his plan fall
rlm@0: into place as Mizuki-sensei revealed the name of the Princess:
rlm@0: Kinomoto Sakura.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo flew from her chair, holding her hands together in ecstasy.
rlm@0: Sakura would make a perfect, absolutely perfect princess! Enraptured
rlm@0: in a flurry of flowers and bubbles, she failed to see own name
rlm@0: revealed:
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The Prince: Daidouji Tomoyo
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Dumbstruck, Sayoran glared at the blackboard. This was even more
rlm@0: ridiculous than last year. How could a quiet, nondescript girl like
rlm@0: her ever play the part of a noble prince? As shock turned to
rlm@0: aggravation, he finally noticed that his own name had been revealed
rlm@0: as well.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Mizuki smilingly passed out scripts to the eager boys and girls. She
rlm@0: took great delight in being the new fifth-grade math teacher, though
rlm@0: her students were sadly unaware of the true power of numbers. As she
rlm@0: absently took her copy, Tomoyo’s attention was fixed on the Mistress
rlm@0: of the Cards. Mizuki laughed to herself and spoke up brightly,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Daidouji"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The girl turned to face her, lavender eyes sparkling at the prospect
rlm@0: of her friend as a princess.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I think you'll make an interesting Prince."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo smiled and bowed slightly as she caught Mizuki-sensei's
rlm@0: enigmatic smile. She had not even thought about her own part in the
rlm@0: play. Well, with a little altering, she could wear the costume from
rlm@0: last year. But most of her time would be spent in designing a costume
rlm@0: fit for a true Princess.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Next day the class had their first walk-through rehearsal. Terada
rlm@0: sensei joined Mizuki to supervise and direct. Right away he saw the
rlm@0: problem. Mizuki's odd method of casting generated excitement among
rlm@0: the students and audience, but this was the sort of snag he had
rlm@0: always feared. The Daidouji girl was one of his best students:
rlm@0: bright, punctual, cheerful, and talented. But she made an awful
rlm@0: Prince. Kinomoto had been surprisingly good in the role last year,
rlm@0: with a physical verve and commanding presence that convinced all that
rlm@0: here was a Prince indeed. But now he covered his face in his hands as
rlm@0: Daidouji dropped her sword instead of drawing it with a flourish.
rlm@0: Worse, her soft voice had none of the iron determination that such a
rlm@0: part demanded. He looked helplessly at Mizuki, who simply smiled as
rlm@0: if she had not a care in the world. Already, he was preparing his
rlm@0: apologies to the Principal. Turning to the math teacher he whispered,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Mizuki-san, eh, perhaps we might consider some slight alterations
rlm@0: to ensure, eh, a more harmonious cast?" He winced as Daidouji bowed
rlm@0: in apology after dropping her sword again. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Beaming, Mizuki whispered back, "Oh, that would be fine. I do worry,
rlm@0: though, about the effect such a change might have on the children. I
rlm@0: am sure that many of them would love to have a different part." With
rlm@0: a puzzled look on her face, she said distractedly, 'How might we
rlm@0: apportion the parts fairly so that every child gets the one they
rlm@0: want, and is also right for them?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Terada groaned to himself. She was right. One change would lead to
rlm@0: another, and it would be impossible to match up every student with
rlm@0: the part they wanted and would be best at. With a blush, he
rlm@0: remembered his secret hope that Rika-chan would play the Princess.
rlm@0: Well, they would just have to do their best. But already he was
rlm@0: dreading the night of the play.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: II.
rlm@0: With the performance only a few days away, Sakura asked Tomoyo if
rlm@0: she would like to get together and rehearse. In Sakura's room the
rlm@0: following day the auburn-haired girl struggled to remember the lines
rlm@0: while her friend looked on encouragingly. For the first time, she
rlm@0: made it through without a stumble.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Do you want to do your lines, Tomoyo-chan?", she smiled.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo looked up and said, "Oh, thank you, Sakura-chan, but I
rlm@0: already know them by heart."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Looking closely at her friend, Sakura noticed a brief look of
rlm@0: concern. Taking her by the hand, she spoke earnestly,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Tomoyo-chan, is everything all right?" 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Startled, Tomoyo looked at her, smiling again, and said, "Oh, yes. I
rlm@0: was just thinking about how to finish the sleeves on your costume".
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: With a worried look, Sakura blurted out, "Oh, I'm sorry if I
rlm@0: interrupted your sewing by asking you to come over. And even though
rlm@0: you already knew your lines you came to help me! I'm so sorry, Tomoyo-
rlm@0: chan".
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo, distressed by Sakura's reaction, squeezed the girl’s hand,
rlm@0: "No, no, it's all right, really, That's not it, I'll have it all
rlm@0: finished in time...." Her voice trailed off in silence.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura looked closely at her friend, and again sensed something
rlm@0: troubling her. Smiling, she said, "If that's not it, Tomoyo, what is?
rlm@0: Something is bothering you, isn't it?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo looked up into the shimmering emerald eyes and felt her heart
rlm@0: flutter. Since Sakura had first confessed her love almost a year ago,
rlm@0: the two had grown ever closer. An unexpected result of this was that
rlm@0: Tomoyo could hide less and less from her increasingly perceptive
rlm@0: friend. For years, Tomoyo locked her love away, safe and secret as
rlm@0: the little eraser in the box in her room. Unaware of Tomoyo's
rlm@0: passionate affection (as well as her silent pain), Sakura had
rlm@0: directed her singular concentration towards the capture of the Clow
rlm@0: Cards. Now that attention was focused laser-like on Tomoyo, and the
rlm@0: dark-haired girl found it increasingly difficult to conceal the
rlm@0: things she feared would hurt her friend. Haltingly, groping for the
rlm@0: right words, Tomoyo whispered,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Sakura-chan, I'm just...worried that I won't be a very good Prince
rlm@0: for you." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She looked away lest the tears take her. Ever since the first
rlm@0: rehearsal she had worried about being an adequate Prince for Sakura's
rlm@0: Princess. That concern was oddly like the anxiety that had stalked
rlm@0: her for the past year: how could she ever be worthy of Sakura's love?
rlm@0: Her adoration for the girl was boundless, but had boxed her in. She
rlm@0: was torn with worry that she could not be all her friend deserved. On
rlm@0: stage with the choir, and even as a soloist, Tomoyo performed with
rlm@0: confident ease. But now, the possibility of dropping her sword or her
rlm@0: lines terrified her, for that would bring unbearable dishonor to
rlm@0: Sakura. She had even gone to Mizuki-sensei, to suggest that another
rlm@0: student, perhaps Li-kun, might make a better Prince. But the
rlm@0: teacher's strange smile flustered her and left her speechless.
rlm@0: Suddenly she felt arms around her, and turned to see Sakura hugging
rlm@0: her tightly.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Tomoyo-chan, that's so silly! I wouldn't want anybody besides you
rlm@0: as my Prince. I know you'll be wonderful!" 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As she smiled and hugged back, Tomoyo knew Sakura would love her no
rlm@0: matter what.  But at the thought of having to be "wonderful" in the
rlm@0: play her body tensed, and Sakura sensed it. Tomoyo was usually so
rlm@0: good at things like this, and Sakura had been too absorbed in the
rlm@0: role of the Princess to even notice her friend's anxiety. But what
rlm@0: could she possibly do? Tomoyo knew her lines; that wasn't the
rlm@0: problem. Thinking about it, Tomoyo fit all the ideals of a fairy tale
rlm@0: prince: she was gracious, self-sacrificing, confident, brave, kind,
rlm@0: and... beautiful. Sakura blushed. But physically, Tomoyo seemed
rlm@0: strangely ill at ease with the part. Sakura realized that with
rlm@0: cheerleading club, and gymnastics, and the exertions of capturing the
rlm@0: Clow Cards, the physical activity of the Prince’s role had been
rlm@0: second nature to her. But Tomoyo was different. How could she
rlm@0: possibly help her friend to look and move and sound like a prince?
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:  Long after Tomoyo had left to go sew, Sakura sat awake in her room,
rlm@0: determined to do something. She couldn't count all the times that
rlm@0: Tomoyo had helped her. When she was down, or afraid, or uncertain,
rlm@0: her friend was always ready to listen, to talk, or just to be there.
rlm@0: Now those roles were reversed, and she had to find a way to help.
rlm@0: Finally, long after midnight, she took out the Clow Cards and studied
rlm@0: them. Slowly going through the cards, each with her name engraved
rlm@0: upon it, she waited for inspiration. Finally, one leapt to her
rlm@0: attention as the obvious solution. She held it up, dancing out of
rlm@0: bed, heart bursting with the certainty that now everything would be
rlm@0: all right.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: III.
rlm@0: As the audience expectantly greeted the rising curtain, Tomoyo
rlm@0: helped Sakura into the elaborate Princess’ costume off-stage. A
rlm@0: circle of girls surrounded them, oo-ing and ah-ing at the magnificent
rlm@0: design. Sonomi had pitched in with sewing the night before, and even
rlm@0: then the two had been up till dawn. Stifling a yawn, Tomoyo felt it
rlm@0: all worthwhile as she made the final adjustments, sewing a loose bow
rlm@0: on the hem. She only hoped her own part in the play would not prove
rlm@0: too embarrassing for her friend. After worrying the matter to the
rlm@0: point of tears, she had finally resolved to just do her best.
rlm@0: Finished at last, she stepped back for a final appraisal, and stood
rlm@0: in awe.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The design was inspired by the dress of the Italian Renaissance in
rlm@0: the early 15th Century. A moiré of dark green brocade served as the
rlm@0: gown. Decorated with golden moons and suns, the lush fabric was
rlm@0: outlined in a thick, gold trim. The gown was slashed in front,
rlm@0: revealing a crimson velvet petticoat embroidered with silver stars.
rlm@0: The sleeves were puffed and slashed, tied together with blood-red
rlm@0: ribbons, a delicate pink chemise peeking out from underneath. The
rlm@0: ends of the sleeves flared out and hung down, lined in spring green
rlm@0: silk. Pearls encircled Sakura’s delicate neck, and trimmed the
rlm@0: squared neckline of the gown. Typical of the time, she wore a wig of
rlm@0: blonde hair made of two long braids, entwined with long, pink
rlm@0: ribbons. Finally, a single teardrop emerald graced her forehead like
rlm@0: a third eye, hanging in place on a golden chain that encircled her
rlm@0: head like a tiara. She remembered her mother's words when she
rlm@0: borrowed the gemstone, "Please be careful, it's very precious to me.
rlm@0: It was Nadesico's"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo could only stand and stare in the presence of a Princess from
rlm@0: long ago. But if the costume so lovingly crafted by Tomoyo's heart
rlm@0: and hands had brought the Princess magically to life, the real
rlm@0: miracle was Sakura herself. Most girls would look awkward and out of
rlm@0: place in the costume, overwhelmed by the rich, luxurious fabrics. But
rlm@0: she wore them with a natural grace, as if she'd been raised as
rlm@0: royalty from birth. The real glory was Sakura's, and the dress merely
rlm@0: an obedient compliment to her innate beauty. Utterly enraptured,
rlm@0: Tomoyo was only dimly aware of the girl's anxious voice,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Tomoyo-chan, does it look all right? Tomoyo-chan?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As though awakened from a dream, Tomoyo blinked and stood
rlm@0: speechless. A male voice from behind whispered,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "It looks wonderful. Kinomoto, you're on next, come with me.
rlm@0: Daidouji, you'd better get your own costume on soon".  Terada-sensei
rlm@0: had stopped short when he first saw her in the costume. Like a fairy-
rlm@0: tale come to life, Kinomoto made a radiant princess. As she went on-
rlm@0: stage for the first time, he heard the audience gasp, then applaud.
rlm@0: He smiled and thought, maybe this will work out, after all.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As Tomoyo finished buttoning her costume, she went over her lines
rlm@0: one last time. She was nervous and sad and resigned all at once. With
rlm@0: a sigh, she stood on the edge of the stage as Yamazaki, this year's
rlm@0: narrator, intoned, 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "To the country came a Prince".
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Terada-sensei nodded, while Mizuki-sensei, standing at his side,
rlm@0: watched her with curious eyes. With a sinking heart, Tomoyo scuttled
rlm@0: on stage, faced the bright floodlights, and spoke in her usual sweet
rlm@0: voice,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "They say this is a mysterious castle".
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She saw the three fairy godmothers, and heard Rika-chan's
rlm@0: encouraging voice, "We've been waiting for you".
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Lying on her bier in the dark, behind the scenery of castle and rose
rlm@0: briars, Sakura fumbled about, looking for the Key. She had hidden it
rlm@0: and the card all too well in the costume's many layers. Finally she
rlm@0: found it, and quickly whispered the words, bathing the backstage in a
rlm@0: flash of golden light. A startled stagehand, wondering if a bulb had
rlm@0: suddenly blown, thought he heard a whispering voice,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "...and be a proper servant for Tomoyo's princely heart."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Relieved of an anxiety for her friend that had kept her up all
rlm@0: night, Sakura smiled to herself, and drifted off to a deep,
rlm@0: mysterious sleep.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As Tomoyo drew the little prop sword, shortened by Terada-sensei to
rlm@0: keep her from dropping it, everything changed. When the sword emerged
rlm@0: it was longer, sharper, and more menacing than a mere prop.
rlm@0: Simultaneously, she changed, feeling a flood of confidence and power
rlm@0: surging through her arm, flooding her body. In a calm, measured, but
rlm@0: commanding voice, she demanded,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Who's there?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As the normally placid girl flourished the sword high above her
rlm@0: head, the children playing the fairies stepped back in fear. Though
rlm@0: stunned by the sudden transformation, Rika had the presence of mind
rlm@0: to continue with her lines. After warning the Prince of the sorceress
rlm@0: within, Tomoyo declaimed,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: " I have my sword, and my courage. I swear that I will break the
rlm@0: Princess' curse." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As the fairies bowed low and stepped aside, Tomoyo strode towards
rlm@0: the thick briars encircling the castle. But before the boys could
rlm@0: move back the props, the Prince slashed away, scattering them off-
rlm@0: stage. The sword cut through the two-by-fours in a shivering blow,
rlm@0: scattering fragments of props and wood across the stage. The audience
rlm@0: cheered the heroic assault, but Terada stared from off stage in
rlm@0: disbelief. He turned to Mizuki, only to be greeted by the ever-
rlm@0: present smile as she spoke,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I thought Daidouji might make an interesting Prince."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: He swallowed hard, and watched as the little girl advanced on the
rlm@0: evil Sorceress and her minions.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As soon as he saw the sword, he knew. Peering through swirls of
rlm@0: black silk, Sayoran watched the girl in Prince's clothes advance
rlm@0: towards him. There was no doubt that she wielded the Clow Card,
rlm@0: Sword. Or rather, that the sword wielded her. Only a strong will
rlm@0: could master it, and the Daidouji girl lacked even Kinomot's meager
rlm@0: strength. How had she ever gotten a hold of such a thing? Well, no
rlm@0: matter, he would strip her of it and end this farce. He drew his own
rlm@0: sword, the indomitable legacy of the honored House of Li. He
rlm@0: whispered to his minions to get off the stage, and in a mad scramble
rlm@0: they happily obeyed. He took a fighting stance as a hush fell over
rlm@0: the audience.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Terada, mumbling that none of this was in the script, made ready to
rlm@0: go on stage and stop the play. But Mizuki held his sleeve, and calmly
rlm@0: whispered,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: " It's all right. I made a few changes in the script so it wouldn't
rlm@0: be the same as last year".
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: He stopped and watched aghast as Li lunged at the girl with a
rlm@0: glistening sword.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo deftly parried the heavy blow and slipped aside as Sayoran
rlm@0: charged. His surprise quickly changed to anger, and he slashed about
rlm@0: wildly. But each time she turned his blade, lightly dancing away. The
rlm@0: massive plume bobbed on her hat, but her body was calm and still
rlm@0: amidst the furious action. The audience gasped, then roared its
rlm@0: delight as the black sorceress hacked in vain at the plucky Prince,
rlm@0: who time and again dodged the deadly seeming blows. Panting, Sayoran
rlm@0: was engulfed in a rage of humiliation as the girl avoided his every
rlm@0: stroke with mocking ease. His mind clouded with anger, he failed to
rlm@0: remember that the Card's power was proportional to the will of its
rlm@0: user. Staring at the girl he felt true hate, and spat out the words,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "You can never have her. She's mine!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Suddenly Tomoyo caught a glimpse of the figure on the bier, shrouded
rlm@0: in the dark and fast asleep. Her heart burst with longing for the
rlm@0: Beauty that lay within. Her voice rang out, clear and strong,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Witch! I'll finish you."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She sprang like a panther, sword sweeping the air in a great
rlm@0: shinning arc. The blow knocked the sword from Sayoran's hands, and it
rlm@0: fell clattering to the floor. Another swing, and the sword stopped
rlm@0: short, inches from his neck. He stared into the icy blue eyes and
rlm@0: felt his courage drain away. In a commanding whisper she ordered,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Fall!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: And he obeyed, dropping like a sack of potatoes, fast asleep.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The audience clapped and yelled, swept away by the fantastic
rlm@0: spectacle. But Tomoyo stood oblivious, quietly sheathing the sword as
rlm@0: the castle gates opened and revealed Princess Aurora on her darkened
rlm@0: bier. Tomoyo now spoke not in the regal tones of the Prince, but with
rlm@0: her own earnest voice, which touched the hearts of all who heard her. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "The fairies spoke truly, for here is beauty beyond the world's rim.
rlm@0: Not sun, nor stars, nor shimmering moon compare with thee, oh fairest
rlm@0: of the fair. All victories are fleeting, my conquests brought to
rlm@0: naught, for this heart is mine no more. Awaken, Princess, and claim
rlm@0: thy thrall".
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Riffling through the script, Terada exclaimed, "I don't remember
rlm@0: those lines." glancing up at Mizuki, he stammered, "Did you.....?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: But she only smiled, watching the play. Trancelike, the fairies spoke,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "The Princess can be awakened with a kiss of true love"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo swept off her hat, hair falling down in a black cascade. She
rlm@0: knelt over the still, silent Princess, leaning closer and closer.
rlm@0: Their lips brushed lightly, then locked together in a passionate,
rlm@0: consuming kiss. Sakura's lashes fluttered as she awoke, a pulsating
rlm@0: warmth throbbing through her very being. She flushed crimson with an
rlm@0: aching desire, and instinctively wrapped her arms around the figure
rlm@0: above her. The world spun dizzily as she slowly came to. Waves of
rlm@0: longing washed over her as she rose from the bier, embracing the
rlm@0: sweet, pale figure in her arms. She held her ardent lover tightly,
rlm@0: their kiss a red ribbon binding their hearts together, forever. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Terada's frantic signaling failed to catch the attention of the
rlm@0: stunned stagehands working the lights. But Mizuki hid her giggle
rlm@0: behind one hand as she tinkled and dimmed the lights with the other.
rlm@0: As the stage went to black the Prince and Princess disappeared, and
rlm@0: the audience rose to their feet in a thunderous ovation. When Terada
rlm@0: saw the Principal rushing towards him, he quailed, and prepared for
rlm@0: his humiliation. As the applause continued and the actors made their
rlm@0: bows, the Principal rumbled,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Excellent job, you two. Best play I ever saw at Tomoeda. Better
rlm@0: special effects than the movies, I'd say!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Thank you, Sir!" Terada spluttered as he and Mizuki bowed low.
rlm@0: Looking out the corner of his eye, he saw her smiling that odd, Mona
rlm@0: Lisa smile. Next year, he thought to himself, we'll do a damn variety
rlm@0: show. I couldn't survive another one of these.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The next day, Sakura and Tomoyo sat on the grass after lunch. Sakura
rlm@0: had slowly come to realize just what had happened the previous night,
rlm@0: and blushed with every memory of it. Tomoyo couldn't stop talking
rlm@0: about how wonderful she looked in the Princess costume. Finally,
rlm@0: Sakura asked in a halting voice,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Ummm, Tomoyo-chan, ummm, why did you, ummm, kiss me....like that?
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo tilted her head and smiled holding her friend's hand
rlm@0: delicately in hers,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "But Sakura-chan, how else would a Prince kiss his Princess? I
rlm@0: wanted to do the best job I could in the part."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A soft, lilting voice came from behind, and they both turned to see
rlm@0: Mizuki-sensei  standing by them,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "She's quite right, Kinomoto. Besides, if you were the Prince and
rlm@0: Daidouji the Princess, wouldn’t you have done exactly the same?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo gazed at her friend. Sakura stared at the ground, blushing
rlm@0: fiercely. There was nothing to say. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As always, Mizuki-sensei was exactly right.  
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: