rlm@0: Tomoyo and the Visitor
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: I.
rlm@0: Tomoyo first heard it while reading in the garden: a faint shuffling
rlm@0: noise by the big beech tree. She rose and walked over, looking for
rlm@0: the source of the sound. Then it moved, a small feathery body
rlm@0: flopping in the short grass. Leaning over, she saw a little orange-
rlm@0: brown bird with black wings, not quite a fledgling, cheeping in
rlm@0: fright. She looked up into the leafy branches of the tree, shading
rlm@0: her lavender eyes from the midday sun, but could see no nest.
rlm@0: Kneeling, Tomoyo undid the blue ribbon of her straw bonnet and used
rlm@0: it to deftly scoop up the tiny creature. It was noisy, active, and
rlm@0: did not seem to be hurt. Gazing at the lost little bird, she felt an
rlm@0: odd kinship. Smiling, she whispered,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You almost look ready to fly. I’ll ask Mother if you can stay until
rlm@0: you’re ready.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Cradling the bonnet, she walked to the house and opened the massive
rlm@0: front door. Her footsteps echoed as she walked the long hallway to
rlm@0: the stairs. Bounding into her room, she placed bird and bonnet on her
rlm@0: dresser and pulled up a chair. As she contemplated the tiny creature,
rlm@0: it regarded at her with large, watchful eyes. Then it began to chirp,
rlm@0: moving about in the bonnet, eyes fixed on Tomoyo, who said to herself,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You’re hungry, aren’t you? First let me see just what you are, and
rlm@0: then we’ll see what you want to eat”.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: With a smile she rushed downstairs to the library, and rushed back
rlm@0: clutching her Firudo Gaido Nihon no Yacho, A Field Guide to the Birds
rlm@0: of Japan. Looking at the bird, half expecting it to be gone, she
rlm@0: scanned the colored plates to try and identify it
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "It's a hawfinch, cocothraustes cocothraustes, of the Fringillidae
rlm@0: family". Tomoyo carefully sounded out the difficult Latin words.
rlm@0: "Your name is bigger than you are", Tomoyo giggled to herself. She
rlm@0: read on, "‘they are shy birds, spending most of their time hidden in
rlm@0: the treetops eating seeds and caterpillars'. I guess grubs would be
rlm@0: OK for you. I'll be right back!" She flew downstairs, to beg one of
rlm@0: the guards to take her to the pet shop. Already, she was in love with
rlm@0: it.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: II.
rlm@0: The next day Tomoyo, practically beaming, asked Sakura during lunch,
rlm@0: "Would you like to come to my house after school? There's something I
rlm@0: wanted to show you". 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura, intrigued, nodded her head and replied, "Sure. Let me call
rlm@0: my Father to see if it's OK. I don't have any chores today".
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: After homeroom was dismissed, Sakura walked out with her friend and
rlm@0: saw a single, darkly garbed bodyguard standing by the black Cadillac.
rlm@0: The guard opened the back door, bowing low, her long, brown hair
rlm@0: hanging straight down. When Sakura clambered in, she was surprised by
rlm@0: the roominess of the car's interior. As the car sped away, she turned
rlm@0: to Tomoyo and said,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "What did you want to show me?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo smiled broadly, "You'll see"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo glanced at her friend, delighted by her intense curiosity.
rlm@0: Tomoyo loved surprises, and the sweet anticipation they caused. She
rlm@0: snuggled into the plush seat, thought about Sakura, and the hawfinch,
rlm@0: and felt a wonderful glow.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: III.
rlm@0: Sakura gazed at the little bird, hopping merrily in its large,
rlm@0: silver cage. Her eyes widened as she exclaimed,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Kawaii! Tomoyo-chan, it is sooooo cute!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo tilted her head and smiled brightly as Sakura asked, "Did you
rlm@0: give it a name yet?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo shook her head no, and in a conspiratorial whisper, as if the
rlm@0: young bird would be embarrassed to hear such a thing, answered, 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I don't know if it's a boy or a girl".
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Puzzled, Sakura blurted out, 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "How can you tell?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo blushed and looked at the floor, whispering,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I...I don't really know"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura, realizing what she was asking, blushed, hid the nervous
rlm@0: giggle behind her hand and whispered,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "S..sorry"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo looked up, all smiles, took her hand, and asked.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Would you like some tea?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: And the two girls raced down together to the massive kitchen.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: IV.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Over the next week, Tomoyo spent hours with the little bird. She
rlm@0: sketched it, painted it, carefully weighed and measured it's food,
rlm@0: cleaned the cage, and overall attended it with more care than the
rlm@0: most doting of mothers. Most of all, she loved to just sit and watch
rlm@0: as the hawfinch explored it's cage, played with the little golden
rlm@0: bell she bought, and gamely tested its wings in a flurry of flapping.
rlm@0: She knew it would be ready to fly soon, and though she would miss her
rlm@0: companion, she grew excited at the thought of the fledging soaring
rlm@0: into the vast, open sky. After a nearly-rushed dinner, she excused
rlm@0: herself to go to bed, ran upstairs, and burst through the bedroom
rlm@0: door. There, she found the bird dead.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: At first, she thought it asleep, though in an odd, twisted posture.
rlm@0: But looking closely, she realized it had suddenly, inexplicably died.
rlm@0: Staring, she put her hand to her heart and felt her legs weakening.
rlm@0: It couldn't be...it had been gaily hopping and chirping just before
rlm@0: dinner. With a shaking hand she opened the door to the cage and, with
rlm@0: a slender finger, lightly nudged the warm, stiff lump, which slid
rlm@0: slightly on the bottom of the cage. She turned away, stunned,
rlm@0: sickened, her eyesight graying on the periphery, as she felt queasy
rlm@0: and faint. Just then, the phone rang.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She reeled backwards, mechanically reaching for the pink cell phone
rlm@0: and holding it to her ear.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura stood puzzled when the phone was picked up with no greeting.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Hello? Tomoyo-chan?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Silence.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Tomoyo-chan, are you there? Are you all right?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Trembling, Tomoyo exclaimed in a rush,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Sakura-chan it's dead I...I… oh Sakura-chan I'm sorry it's all
rlm@0: right don't worry it's all right it's..."
rlm@0: Tomoyo broke off in a fit of sobbing.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Tomoyo-chan, what's the matter, are you all right?" Sakura shouted
rlm@0: out as the phone went dead.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo sat on her bed; fists clenched into tight little balls,
rlm@0: weeping hysterically. It was so young, just ready to fly. Why? Why
rlm@0: did it die now? Why, with a whole life ahead of it, why did it have
rlm@0: to die? Before it could even fly it was dead. The overwhelming
rlm@0: unfairness of it all staggered her. She sat crying, unheard in the
rlm@0: vast, empty house. Unable to move or see through her tears, she only
rlm@0: barely heard the frantic pounding on her window. Turning, she saw
rlm@0: Sakura perched on the ledge outside her room, wings disappearing from
rlm@0: her staff as she prepared to break through the glass. The sight of
rlm@0: the auburn-haired girl threw Tomoyo into a blind panic. She rushed to
rlm@0: the window and opened it carefully, taking Sakura by the hand as she
rlm@0: stepped into the room. By habit she smiled brightly, but the words
rlm@0: wouldn't come, and the tears wouldn't stop.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura beheld her friend in fear and wonder. Never, ever had she
rlm@0: seen Tomoyo like this. Always cheerful, always composed and never,
rlm@0: ever sad, the dark-haired girl looked shattered as her smile
rlm@0: dissolved in a renewed flood of tears. She turned away from Sakura,
rlm@0: arms flailing as if to ward her off. Hysterically she begged,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Sakura-chan go away please go away I'm sorry please please please!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo shut her eyes tightly as a tempest of emotions raged inside
rlm@0: her. The sudden death of the little bird still tore at her in a raw,
rlm@0: uncontrollable grief. But for Sakura to see her like this was even
rlm@0: worse. Never, ever had she allowed Sakura even a glimpse of her
rlm@0: private sorrow, or of the passionate love that lay unrequited for so
rlm@0: long. She had dedicated herself to her beautiful friend, and vowed
rlm@0: never to burden her beloved with her own sadness or longing. And if
rlm@0: most of the time her joy at just being with Sakura was genuine, it
rlm@0: was sometimes a mask to hide her own hurt, and protect the precious
rlm@0: happiness of her one, true love. But now, she had hurt Sakura through
rlm@0: her grief for the bird. Struggle as she might, the little creature's
rlm@0: death was a pain she could not still, a bitter cup that overflowed
rlm@0: and spilled over. Her mask shattered, she felt naked and ashamed and
rlm@0: alone. Better she were dead than this.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura stood with her arms at her side, utterly helpless as Tomoyo
rlm@0: huddled in the corner. The sight was wrenching, and Sakura was at a
rlm@0: loss. Glancing about the room, she saw the door of the silver
rlm@0: birdcage open, and the motionless, feathered form within. Looking at
rlm@0: her still sobbing friend she understood, and felt her own heart break
rlm@0: for Tomoyo's loss. And if she did not comprehend all of Tomoyo's
rlm@0: grief, or it's secret cause (which was Sakura herself), she knew
rlm@0: enough to run to her love and enfold her in her arms.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I'm so sorry, Tomoyo-chan. I'm so sorry it had to die."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo felt the warm presence wrapped around her, melting the icy
rlm@0: pain in a passionate, loving hug. On her cheek the warm wet of her
rlm@0: tears mingled with Sakura's own as her friend held her tightly.
rlm@0: Sakura's love cut through the haze of guilt and shame like a fiery
rlm@0: sword. Tomoyo turned and shifted, laying her head on Sakura's
rlm@0: shoulder, hugging her tightly. How strange it was that she felt such
rlm@0: comfort here in the arms of her love, when seconds ago the mere
rlm@0: presence of the girl had thrown her into a horrified frenzy. Her iron
rlm@0: guard for once lowered, she gave herself up to the sadness, and
rlm@0: softly wept for the little bird. As the shadows of night covered them
rlm@0: they lay in a bittersweet embrace, hearts beating together till sleep
rlm@0: stole their pain away.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo awoke to the twittering of birds, and bright sunlight
rlm@0: streaming through the open window. She smiled to find Sakura in her
rlm@0: arms, still asleep. She remembered the hurt of the bird's death, and
rlm@0: felt the echo of grief deep inside. But Sakura's magic was not only
rlm@0: in the Cards, for she had blessed Tomoyo with the solace of her love.
rlm@0: As the dark lashes fluttered, Tomoyo kissed her tenderly on the
rlm@0: forehead. Waking, she smiled, and then looked at Tomoyo with sudden
rlm@0: concern. But Tomoyo smiled back and whispered,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I'm OK now. Thank you, Sakura-chan. Thank you so much."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura gazed into the deep blue eyes and then smiled again. Slowly
rlm@0: the two rose, slightly stiff from sleeping on the floor. Sakura
rlm@0: looked at the window, and the sun, and froze.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Hoeee, what if oniichan goes to wake me up for breakfast?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo giggled, and whispered, "You’d better go."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura looked at her uncertainly.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Smiling, Tomoyo said, "I'm all right, really. It's still a little
rlm@0: sad, but I'm all right."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura looked wistfully at her friend and hugged her tightly. She
rlm@0: looked out the window and saw a bank of low clouds that would hide
rlm@0: her flight home. With another hug they parted, and Sakura flew
rlm@0: through the window as Tomoyo watched in awe. Then, turning with a
rlm@0: sigh, she looked at the cage, and wondered what to do.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Her Mother, home for a rare weekend without work, sensibly placed
rlm@0: the hawfinch in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator. Tomoyo
rlm@0: made the preparations, starting with a small pouch. She was unsteady
rlm@0: in needlepoint, but her Mother helped with the more complex stitches.
rlm@0: She talked on the phone with Sakura several times that day,
rlm@0: reassuring her that things were fine. As they worked, Tomoyo asked
rlm@0: her mother in an anguished voice why something so sweet and innocent
rlm@0: had to die before it had even flown. For a long time, Sonomi sat
rlm@0: silent as she worked the needle and thread. Finally, she looked up
rlm@0: and said,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: " I asked that when Nadesico was dying. I asked her. Through all the
rlm@0: pain she smiled at me and said,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'But Sonomi-chan, we're just visitors here. We can't stay forever' “
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The two sat in silence while Sonomi cut and tied the last thread and
rlm@0: held up the finished work.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "There, all done." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: At sunset, Tomoyo gently took the little bird from the bag and
rlm@0: wrapped it in a white silk scarf. Placing the cold, enshrouded body
rlm@0: in the pouch, she took a small shovel from the tool shed and dug a
rlm@0: little hole under the tree. Kneeling, she carefully laid the pouch in
rlm@0: the warm earth and looked one last time at the design, a needlepoint
rlm@0: hawfinch soaring through a cloudless sky. Then she patted the dirt
rlm@0: down and stood with lowered head and folded hands. With eyes closed,
rlm@0: she thanked the little visitor, and begged it to find peace here
rlm@0: under the beech tree. Turning, the little girl left the gathering
rlm@0: dark to go find her mother, and to cry.
rlm@0:  
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rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
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