rlm@0: Learning to Fly Chapter Five
rlm@0: by 
rlm@0: The Amazoness Duo 
rlm@0: and
rlm@0: G.P. 
rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: pearsong1954@yahoo.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Just go with him, Meiling. He's the heir. We need someone to keep
rlm@0: an eye on him so he doesn't do something completely stupid while he's
rlm@0: in Japan. You're the only one he trusts."Walking down the crowded
rlm@0: street, gazing at the merchandise for sale on all sides, Meiling's
rlm@0: amber eyes narrowed. "Why the hell should I? If he wants to go across
rlm@0: the sea to screw his girlfriend, that's his business. I don't see how
rlm@0: that has anything to do with me." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A moment of silence came from Fanren. Syaoran's older sister was
rlm@0: trying to approach the subject as diplomatically as possible.
rlm@0: Unfortunately, Meiling was not always a logical being. It didn't help
rlm@0: that the subject of Syaoran was rapidly becoming a minefield for her.
rlm@0: Fanren couldn't remember the last time she'd pissed someone off
rlm@0: simply by kissing them. In fact, her results were generally quite the
rlm@0: opposite. She would have to give Syaoran some pointers. Her little
rlm@0: brother must be doing something wrong. "Because he's about to become
rlm@0: the head of the Li Clan and he's not always... as tactful as he could
rlm@0: be."Meiling snorted. "That's for sure.""Anyway," Fanren continued,
rlm@0: "Syaoran is a stubborn young man and if he's off in Japan visiting
rlm@0: his girlfriend, he might do something stupid. Like if Sakura
rlm@0: convinces him to stay in Japan so they can live together there.
rlm@0: Mother doesn't mind if he marries the Cardmistress, but Syaoran is
rlm@0: the next heir and we need him back home in Hong Kong to lead the
rlm@0: family."Shrugging, Meiling feigned interest in some caged birds in
rlm@0: the marketplace, brushing a pigtail over her shoulder. "Then send
rlm@0: someone else to play your watchdog. I've spent enough time keeping an
rlm@0: eye on him."An exasperated sigh escaped Fanren. "But you're the only
rlm@0: one he'll listen to. If Sakura manages to convince him to stay, do
rlm@0: you really think he'd listen to me? Or Shiefa? Maybe mother, but
rlm@0: she's far too busy to go with him to Japan. But he listens to you,
rlm@0: Meiling. He trusts you. You're the only one outside of mother who can
rlm@0: actually make him do anything. You can make sure he comes back home
rlm@0: when his little trip is over."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Fists clenched as Meiling stood up, her back to Fanren. "We all make
rlm@0: our choices. And we all have to live with him. I can't make up
rlm@0: Syaoran's mind for him. He'll make his choices whether or not I'm
rlm@0: there."Fanren was quiet for a long moment as she watched her younger
rlm@0: cousin. Was Meiling crying? She couldn't quite tell. "Meiling..." Her
rlm@0: hand rested lightly on Meiling's shoulder, but the raven haired girl
rlm@0: quickly pulled away."Syaoran's already made his choices. You give me
rlm@0: way too much credit. In the end, he's already made his choices. We
rlm@0: just need to wait and see what they are. I can't change them. I spent
rlm@0: way too much of my life hoping I could." Syaoran's one time fiancee
rlm@0: straighted as she began to walk again. "I'll go with him if it will
rlm@0: make your mother feel better. But Syaoran's not as weak as you think
rlm@0: he is. In the end, he'll decide his own destiny." "Thanks, Meiling.
rlm@0: I'm sorry that..."Meiling cut her off, shaking her head. "Don't be.
rlm@0: We all make choices. Maybe I made the wrong ones. But we all have to
rlm@0: live with them." A few steps pulled her away from Fanren. "I'm going
rlm@0: to pack for the trip. Tell Syaoran I'll see him then." And with that,
rlm@0: the raven haired girl left.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	Naked and confused, Sakura decided to fix the only one of her two
rlm@0: problems she currently had any control over. Slipping out of bed, the
rlm@0: brunette padded over to her closet and hurriedly got dressed. Her
rlm@0: head still ached, but the tea Tomoyo had sent with Kero had helped.
rlm@0: The earthquake between her ears had settled into a dull throb.
rlm@0: Finding this an acceptable if annoying state to start the day in,
rlm@0: Sakura exited her room. After all, there were potentially much more
rlm@0: important afteraffects of the last night than a hangover. 
rlm@0: 	Dressed in yet another beautiful dress, hair in pigtails, and in
rlm@0: the middle of constructing a delicious smelling breakfast, Tomoyo
rlm@0: seemed like the perfect wife. Is that what Sakura's father had woken
rlm@0: up to for so many years? Was this what it felt like for him every
rlm@0: morning, breath catching at the gorgeous sight before him? Mind
rlm@0: rolling through those questions, Sakura stood in the doorway to the
rlm@0: kitchen, her own breath catching as she watched her fair skinned
rlm@0: roommate move gracefully about the kitchen. If she'd been a boy,
rlm@0: would she have had any reservations at all of being with Tomoyo?
rlm@0: Would there be anything stopping her from sweeping Tomoyo up in her
rlm@0: strong, boyish arms and holding her forever?
rlm@0: 	"Good morning, Sakura," Tomoyo greeted brightly without looking up
rlm@0: from her current task of pouring batter onto a pan. "How did you
rlm@0: sleep?" 
rlm@0: 	As usual, being able to tell what had happened the night before
rlm@0: from Tomoyo's behavior was impossibe. The dark haired girl betrayed
rlm@0: no clue of exactly what may have happened between them the night
rlm@0: before. Puzzling this over, the Cardmistress dropped into a chair and
rlm@0: watched her friend putting the finishing touches on breakfast. Had
rlm@0: they slept together? The feeling of Tomoyo's lips pressing against
rlm@0: her own brought a dark blush to her cheeks. Whatever had happened,
rlm@0: that memory was still vividly clear. Brief images and feelings of
rlm@0: hands sliding underneath clothing flittered through Sakura's mind,
rlm@0: but they fled when she tried to grasp at them. 
rlm@0: 	It seemed like the only thing Sakura really knew at this point was
rlm@0: that Tomoyo was a very different kisser than Syaoran. Much softer,
rlm@0: much more receptive. Fists balled up and pressed against her thighs
rlm@0: through her shorts in frustration and emarrassment. Why was the last
rlm@0: night such a blur? Why wasn't Tomoyo saying anything? If Tomoyo had
rlm@0: been naked in the kitchen, then that would've been a big enough clue
rlm@0: that Sakura could appreciate. Sakura sat in silence for a long
rlm@0: moment, listening to her friend sing softly as she prodded herself to
rlm@0: ask Tomoyo what had happened. What if they had? What would happen
rlm@0: after that? Infinity seemed to stretch out in front of the
rlm@0: Cardmistress, boggling her mind. 	Pressing her knuckles into her
rlm@0: thighs painfully, Sakura forced herself to speak. Unfortunately, her
rlm@0: mind still wasn't responding entirely. She was still hesitant to ask.
rlm@0: "Tomoyo, did... Umm... Last night, after.... Well, did you... I mean,
rlm@0: we... Tomoyo, if I were a boy, I'd marry you," Sakura finished
rlm@0: dumbly, her cheeks reddened. It wasn't exactly what she'd meant to
rlm@0: say, but she'd wanted to say it anyway.	"Would you?" Tomoyo countered
rlm@0: softly, travelling to the table with their plates. "If you were a
rlm@0: boy, lets say that Syaoran was a girl. Or he could still be a boy.
rlm@0: Touya doesn't seem to mind that about Yukito. Then you two would
rlm@0: still have ended up together because I would have noticed how much he
rlm@0: or she liked you and helped you two end up together."	"But you'd make
rlm@0: a perfect girlfriend. If I were a boy, I'd notice that and we'd..."
rlm@0: Sakura put her hands together, motioning, "be a couple. Or something
rlm@0: like that." She looked down embarrassedly at the smile that brought
rlm@0: to Tomoyo's lips. Those soft lips... Sakura tried to force the
rlm@0: thought out of her head. 	"You're so sweet, Sakura. But I don't think
rlm@0: you didn't notice me because you're a girl. When I was younger, I
rlm@0: thought that was it, but I think it's more than that now. I've been
rlm@0: your best friend since we were ten years old. I've been in love with
rlm@0: you from the moment I saw you, and it's gotten stronger for me ever
rlm@0: since. But to you, I've always been your best friend. That's how you
rlm@0: see me. It's hard for you to see me as anything else. If you were a
rlm@0: boy, we still would have been best friends. And you'd still think of
rlm@0: me as that while other girls got your attention. Even if you think I
rlm@0: would make a perfect girlfriend and even if you were a boy, I think
rlm@0: you wouldn't see me as a possible lover because you'd still see me as
rlm@0: your best friend. I love filling that role for you, but it would make
rlm@0: it hard for you to see me as anything more than that."	"But... But
rlm@0: what if I could see through that? What if I could push past that and
rlm@0: see that you could be more than my best friend?" Sakura argued.
rlm@0: Tomoyo made sense, but Sakura didn't want to give up yet. It didn't
rlm@0: seem fair that she could totally miss Tomoyo even if she were a boy.
rlm@0: 	A smile spread over Tomoyo's pink lips. "Then it wouldn't matter if
rlm@0: you were a boy or a girl."	Blushing, Sakura's chestnut hair hid her
rlm@0: face as she looked down, studying her hands intently. Were her
rlm@0: feelings for Tomoyo really so unaffected by what body she had? If
rlm@0: that was the case, what did she feel? Because she thought she'd want
rlm@0: to be with Tomoyo if she were a boy. Did that mean she'd want to be
rlm@0: with her now, as a girl?
rlm@0: 	Looking up suddenly, an intense fire lit Sakura's eyes.
rlm@0: Determination had finally overtaken her. She didn't want to squirm
rlm@0: away from this again. Tomoyo was too important to her to just leave
rlm@0: everything to the winds. "Did we sleep together?" Though the thought
rlm@0: thoroughly embarrassed her, she wasn't afraid of it. The thought of
rlm@0: sleeping with Tomoyo wasn't at all disturbing, which Sakura found a
rlm@0: bit odd. It had been embarrassing the first time she'd slept with
rlm@0: Syaoran as well. Despite the fact that she had previously slept with
rlm@0: a boy, the thought of sleeping with a girl really didn't bother
rlm@0: Sakura. She was much more concerned with what exactly it meant if she
rlm@0: had. 	"Do you want us to have slept together?" Tomoyo asked, tilting
rlm@0: her head to the side. One pigtail slid past her shoulder as her
rlm@0: lavender eyes held onto Sakura's emerald gaze. She'd been curious
rlm@0: about whether or not Sakura would ask about the night before. Sakura
rlm@0: was curious, but she didn't always push things to their conclusion
rlm@0: when she was embarrassed about them. She was surprised to see Sakura
rlm@0: trying so hard to rationalize the events of the night before. If she
rlm@0: weren't so intimately involved, it would be easier for her to help
rlm@0: Sakura get things into perpective. But maybe Sakura wouldn't need her
rlm@0: for this after all. It thrilled Tomoyo to see Sakura so determined
rlm@0: about figuring things out. When Sakura was determined, nothing could
rlm@0: stop her. Though she understood Sakura's feelings better than anyone,
rlm@0: she couldn't untangle the web in Sakura's heart. Only Sakura could do
rlm@0: that. 	Tomoyo's question hung in the air, stopping Sakura cold. Her
rlm@0: own question had been about fishing for facts. It was a simple yes or
rlm@0: no. But Tomoyo's question complicated things exponentially. The
rlm@0: brunette's feelings didn't factor into whether or not they had slept
rlm@0: together so she hadn't really thought about it. That seemed like a
rlm@0: minor problem anyway. But the way Tomoyo spoke made her feelings
rlm@0: sound like the single most important aspect of if they did or not.
rlm@0: "I..." Sakura began. 
rlm@0: 	'Rrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiinnnnnnngggg....' the phone trilled. 	Watching
rlm@0: Sakura for a long second, the dark haired girl slipped gently from
rlm@0: the table to answer the phone. Sakura sat in confused silence until
rlm@0: Tomoyo returned.	"It's Syaoran. He said he'll be arriving in Tomoeda
rlm@0: late tonight," Tomoyo explained, holding the phone out to
rlm@0: Sakura.	"Hoe..." Sakura's head fell to the table with a thump loud
rlm@0: enough to make Tomoyo wonder if she should get the first aid kit.
rlm@0: Sakura sighed despite the pain. Great. As if things weren't
rlm@0: complicated enough. Now she'd have her boyfriend and her best friend
rlm@0: that she may or may not have slept with all in the same place.
rlm@0: Sometimes she wasn't so sure that Clow was done testing
rlm@0: her.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	Bags passed round and round, a carousel of black, of handles and
rlm@0: wheels, of bags backed to the brim with necessary and worthless
rlm@0: supplies for countless trips. Lifeless ponies, endlessly cirlcling in
rlm@0: the hopes that someone would eventually take an interest and bring
rlm@0: them home. Tired eyes from wary travellers dully watched the cycle as
rlm@0: if in a trance. Now and then someone would yank one of the bags away
rlm@0: and a new one would slide down the chute to replace it. People's eyes
rlm@0: would briefly light up in hope that their bag had arrived, but they
rlm@0: quickly became disenchanted.	Hefting her bags up, Meiling pulled
rlm@0: ahead of her cousin and one-time fiancee as he struggled to find a
rlm@0: proper way to balance the weight of his own supplies. Ignoring his
rlm@0: efforts to carry something for her, Meiling impatiently began making
rlm@0: her way through the airport, Syaoran hurrying to keep up with her. "I
rlm@0: don't know why you brought so much stuff. Sakura will probably have
rlm@0: everything you need at her place."	A moment of silence followed
rlm@0: Meiling as Syaoran took a moment to interpret this. Feelings were not
rlm@0: his strong point. And the feelings of overemotional girls had the
rlm@0: same affect on him as a complex mathematical formula he couldn't hope
rlm@0: to follow. On the one hand, at least Meiling was talking to him
rlm@0: again. This was a relief in and of itself because she had been
rlm@0: avoiding him since he had kissed her at the party some time before.
rlm@0: But he still wasn't entirely sure how she felt about things. And this
rlm@0: concerned him. Because if he had learned anything over the years, it
rlm@0: was that Meiling could be frightfully scary when she was angry. His
rlm@0: cousin must have gotten that from his mother's side of the family.
rlm@0: How Meiling felt about being back in Japan with him, about to meet
rlm@0: Sakura again, was a mystery to him. For the most part, Meiling seemed
rlm@0: to be her normal self. Stubborn, irrational, and incredibly vocal
rlm@0: about things. He decided that she must be fine and that he'd leave it
rlm@0: at that. Trying to delve into Meiling's emotional state otherwise
rlm@0: would be about as frustrating and problematic as figuring out
rlm@0: Sakura's. He had enough of a headache from the plane ride that he
rlm@0: figured it would be best to avoid aggravating it if at all possible.
rlm@0: If Meiling's sudden mood swings had any predictible pattern, it was
rlm@0: so complex that Syaoran was certain only mathematical theoreticians
rlm@0: could understand it.
rlm@0: 	"Sakura doesn't have everything I need. If I'm staying a while, I
rlm@0: need to make sure I have everything with me," Syaoran replied matter-
rlm@0: of-factly. 
rlm@0: 	"Like what? You want a manlier shampoo than whatever she uses?
rlm@0: You'd be fine just borrowing her stuff." Arching an eyebrow, Meiling
rlm@0: glanced over at her stoic cousin. "You probably didn't even need to
rlm@0: bring clothes. She wears boyish enough outfits half the time that you
rlm@0: could just borrow some of those." Smiling inwardly, she added, "You'd
rlm@0: get used to the panties before too long." The flustered look that
rlm@0: crossed Syaoran's face was worth it. He failed to respond and she
rlm@0: continued forward. 
rlm@0: 	"Syaoran! Meiling-chan!" a familiar voice called out. 
rlm@0: 	Pulling to a halt, Syaoran began to scan the crowd for the voice's
rlm@0: source. His amber eyes finally settled on his brightly smiling
rlm@0: girlfriend and her seemingly everpresent friend. For a moment, the
rlm@0: concern drained from Syaoran. Everything was fine now that he was
rlm@0: with Sakura again. He was far away from family politics and back with
rlm@0: the girl he loved.  
rlm@0: 	Sighing inwardly, Meiling readjusted her bags and continued in step
rlm@0: with Syaoran to their welcoming party. It wasn't that she didn't like
rlm@0: Sakura as a person. Someone as compassionate and goofy as Sakura was
rlm@0: hard to hate. But Sakura as Syaoran's girlfriend was a different
rlm@0: story. Meiling tried to adopt a resigned disposition to the whole
rlm@0: thing. After all, she'd lost Syaoran to Sakura when they were only
rlm@0: eleven. Logically, it made sense to just drop it. Unfortunately,
rlm@0: Meiling was not a logical person. She hated knowing that Sakura was
rlm@0: with Syaoran in the way she had wanted to be ever since she was a
rlm@0: child. Since she wasn't the type to spend a lot of time lying about
rlm@0: polite niceities, she simply waited alongside Syaoran rather than say
rlm@0: something she might regret if she were going to be staying with
rlm@0: Sakura for their stay in Japan.
rlm@0: 	Before Syaoran could think of what to say to his girlfriend now
rlm@0: that he was finally face to face with her once again, the brunette
rlm@0: practically pounced on him. Her arms wrapped tightly around him,
rlm@0: pulling him close. Holding onto her boyfriend warmly, Syaoran was
rlm@0: surprised at how strong Sakura had become over the years. She had
rlm@0: always been athletic, but it showed even more now. It took him a
rlm@0: moment to disengage himself enough to return the hug. Holding Sakura
rlm@0: felt nice. She was like an anchor to the way things were supposed to
rlm@0: be. Safe and warm. "It's good to see you again, Sakura," he said at
rlm@0: last. He felt like he should say more, but he was too stunned to be
rlm@0: with the Cardmistress once more to think clearly. Memories from a
rlm@0: lifetime ago exploded through his mind, of magic and school and
rlm@0: romance. 
rlm@0: 	Moving to pick up one of the bags Syaoran had set down, Tomoyo
rlm@0: smiled and motioned for them to follow. "My mother let me take the
rlm@0: limo to pick you up. It'll be much easier to get you home that way." 
rlm@0: 	The pale girl looked small and fragile holding the bag in front of
rlm@0: her, prompting Sakura to quickly take it from her, falling in step
rlm@0: alongside the heiress. Turning to face Syaoran, Sakura smiled
rlm@0: sheepishly. "I would have picked you up myself, but I don't think
rlm@0: we'd all fit on my bicycle."
rlm@0: 	For a moment, Sakura almost came out of focus in Syaoran's mind.
rlm@0: This goofy, energetic Japanese girl seemed so normal at first glance.
rlm@0: And yet she was the most powerful magic user on the planet. The
rlm@0: dissonance was astounding. Sakura had the power to rebuild the world
rlm@0: in her image, and yet she got from place to place on a plain bicycle.
rlm@0: It was hard to imagine that she was the correct successor to the
rlm@0: great Clow Reed. Syaoran was head of the powerful Li Clan and yet he
rlm@0: had been passed up for such a simple girl. He slowly managed to place
rlm@0: Sakura's twin identities of ordinary girl and extraordinary magician
rlm@0: back together. It could be a bit jarring at times. He hoped Clow
rlm@0: found the irony amusing. His eyes narrowed as he changed his mind.
rlm@0: Clow seemed to find everything immensely amusing. 
rlm@0: 	Women dressed smartly in black opened the doors to the limo as the
rlm@0: group approached. One took the bags and began to place them in back.
rlm@0: Climbing into the vehicle, Tomoyo moved to one side to give Sakura
rlm@0: and Syaoran room together in the middle. Sitting quietly for a long
rlm@0: moment, Syaoran stared straight ahead. He wasn't a little boy
rlm@0: anymore, so why was he feeling so nervous? He hated feeling shy and
rlm@0: nervous about things. Hadn't he gotten over that by now? Wrestling
rlm@0: his nervous mind back under control, he reached out and took Sakura's
rlm@0: hand. A small gesture, but he was happy for the victory. He didn't
rlm@0: want to let his nervousness control him. Sakura squeezed his hand and
rlm@0: smiled at him. Her offered a small, shy smile in return. It
rlm@0: disappeared as she rested her head on his shoulder for the car ride.
rlm@0: Good. Things hadn't changed after all. Everything was just fine. He
rlm@0: wrapped an arm around the athletic girl and let his chaotic mind come
rlm@0: to a rest. 	Gazing out the window, Meiling wished she had fought with
rlm@0: Fanren more strenuously about coming to Japan. Who was she kidding?
rlm@0: She wasn't strong enough to handle this. She still loved Syaoran. How
rlm@0: was she supposed to sit and watch him love someone else? She should
rlm@0: have stayed home, far away from this pain. Closing her amber eyes,
rlm@0: she tried to pretend that the warm, wet drops sliding down her cheeks
rlm@0: were the cleansing rain. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	As Tomoyo led the way up to the appartment they shared, Sakura
rlm@0: helped Syaoran carry the bags. Meiling refused to let anyone help her
rlm@0: with her own, instead following closely behind the heiress. In many
rlm@0: ways, it was worse when Sakura was so kind and helpful to her. That
rlm@0: always robbed Meiling of a target for her anger, leaving all those
rlm@0: terrible feelings with nowhere to escape. They boiled away inside,
rlm@0: eating her alive. She felt sick to her stomach as Sakura's bubbly
rlm@0: voice mingled with Syaoran's behind her about all the things they
rlm@0: could do. God, did they really have to spend so long in Tomoeda? Her
rlm@0: mind idly wondered if she could get on a plane back to Hong Kong
rlm@0: first thing in the morning. It might even be worth looking weak and
rlm@0: shameful in front of Fanren just to get away from the pain that
rlm@0: surrounded her in Japan.
rlm@0: 	Entering the cutely decorated appartment, the Chinese cousins were
rlm@0: suitably impressed. Sonomi had made sure that the two girls were well
rlm@0: taken care of. Their eyes wandered over the appartment as they
rlm@0: entered, exhanging their shoes with the assortment of slippers by the
rlm@0: door. The surroundings were an interesting mix of Sakura's taste in
rlm@0: cute stuffed animals and decorations along with Tomoyo's more
rlm@0: eccentric tastes in clothing and design and electronics. Suffice it
rlm@0: to say, milky pink seemed the predominant color in the appartment.
rlm@0: 	"Hey, it's the brat! How ya doin'?" 
rlm@0: 	Wincing at the thickly accented voice, Syaoran was unsurprised to
rlm@0: find that he hadn't missed the Seal Beast in the slightest.	"Better
rlm@0: than you, I'd suppose. Syaoran's been growing over the past few
rlm@0: years. You're still bite sized, as always," Meiling remarked. Old
rlm@0: habits died hard. Kero had always supported Sakura and she had always
rlm@0: supported Syaoran, quite exuberantly so. The Chinese girl and the
rlm@0: Guardian of the Cards bickered like children over their chosen
rlm@0: champions. The fact that Kero had never liked Syaoran didn't really
rlm@0: help, either. 
rlm@0: 	Kero's mind went abuzz with Meiling's coment. They certainly
rlm@0: sounded like fighting words and he was more than up for the
rlm@0: challenge. Lifting up into the air, he smirked as a slurry of
rlm@0: remarks, each more stinging than the last, began to take shape.
rlm@0: Meiling shouldn't have opened the floodgate. She would regret
rlm@0: challanging him, the great and all powerful Seal Beast. He would
rlm@0: destroy her in this exchange. His mouth moved to launch his opening
rlm@0: salvo. "MMmmmhmmhhmmghhhh..." he mumbled around Sakura's
rlm@0: hand.	Laughing nervously, Sakura dragged Kero back towards her room.
rlm@0: "Go ahead and have a seat. Make yourselves comfortable," she offered.
rlm@0: Pushing her door open, she tossed Syaoran's bags on her bed and
rlm@0: pushed Kero in. "Not tonight, Kero-chan," Sakura pleaded. Before Kero
rlm@0: could answer, the door shut quickly behind him. The Seal Beast
rlm@0: harumphed indignantly.
rlm@0: 	Clapping her hands together in completion, Sakura smiled at the
rlm@0: small group already sitting on her couch. At least that was out of
rlm@0: the way. If Syaoran and Meiling were staying with them, the last
rlm@0: thing she needed was Kero and Meiling arguing the whole time. At
rlm@0: least Tomoyo had handled things swiftly. The dark haired girl always
rlm@0: made a great hostess. Tomoyo already had Meiling and Syaoran well
rlm@0: taken care of and entertained. Syaoran's eyes were glued to the
rlm@0: screen. Curiosity nagged at Sakura as she approached the couch. What
rlm@0: were they watching? The sound hit her before she could see the
rlm@0: screen. That sounded suspiciously like her own voice. Plopping down
rlm@0: on the couch next to Syaoran, she was rewarded with images of herself
rlm@0: streaming on the television. "Tomoyo-chan..." she whimpered
rlm@0: embarrassedly. 
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo merely smiled sweetly at her and went back to watching the
rlm@0: video she'd made of Sakura. "I compiled this earlier today. Since you
rlm@0: haven't seen Sakura in so long, I thought you'd want to see what
rlm@0: types of things she's been up to," Tomoyo explained. A nod came as
rlm@0: the only reply from Syaoran as images of Sakura riding her bike and
rlm@0: wearing costumes and running track all played for them. The brunette
rlm@0: had gotten exceptionally fast since Syaoran had last seen her. She
rlm@0: moved like a blur across the screen. For all the magic she had, her
rlm@0: running was purely Sakura, her determination burning within her as
rlm@0: she threw herself forward like a shot.
rlm@0: 	Sighing to herself, Meiling busied herself with being bored. Bored
rlm@0: was better than lonely and bitter and hateful. Resting her chin in
rlm@0: her hands, she wondered what the big deal was with watching Sakura do
rlm@0: anything.
rlm@0: 	The screen switched to Sakura wearing a fairy costume in an
rlm@0: elevator. She shifted back and forth on her feet as she waited for
rlm@0: her stop. The camera swept over Sakura's body, highlighting all the
rlm@0: beautiful curves and lines that composed the Cardmistress. "Sakura-
rlm@0: chan has a great figure doesn't she, Li-kun?" Tomoyo asked playfully.
rlm@0: Sakura blushed hotly, followed shortly thereafter by Syaoran as he
rlm@0: mumbled an affirmative. Sakura was gorgeous. Her body had developed
rlm@0: nicely over the years. Her athletic frame was sleek and strong. Her
rlm@0: small breasts curved gently under her dress. Her hair was somewhat
rlm@0: longer than it had been as a child, hanging lower and framing her
rlm@0: beautiful face with it's shining emerald eyes. 
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo sighed dreamily as she watched the part of Sakura she would
rlm@0: always have. Her images would always be hers, even if Sakura couldn't
rlm@0: be. They were only a small fraction of Sakura, but they were pieces
rlm@0: that were hers and hers alone. It was okay if Syaoran had the real
rlm@0: Sakura. She would always have those glittering shards of her one and
rlm@0: only. So she collected as many as she could. Disc after disc of
rlm@0: Sakura. Every single moment she could capture went on those discs. So
rlm@0: even after Sakura was gone and married, even when everything had
rlm@0: changed, she would still have those moments forever cast in video. 
rlm@0: 	"Tomoyo-chan... Do you really need to show all this?" Sakura asked
rlm@0: hesitantly. She was still blushing in embarrassment. Her blush grew
rlm@0: deeper when she saw how intently Syaoran was watching the screen.
rlm@0: "Hoe..."	"Of course! You're the prettiest thing we could be watching.
rlm@0: And there's so much to see. It's been a busy year. I need to make
rlm@0: sure I catalogue all the important things in your life. Speaking of
rlm@0: which..." The darked haired girl fished around in her bag, pulling
rlm@0: out her camcorder. "Now that Li-kun is here, I should be catching all
rlm@0: of the exciting moments the two of you have. Just pretend I'm not
rlm@0: even here." The pale girl grinned as she got the two of them in the
rlm@0: picture. "I don't have many images of Sakura-chan's passionate
rlm@0: romance. I don't think I even have any good scenes of you two
rlm@0: kissing." 
rlm@0: 	The couple lit up red as the heiress filmed them. Tomoyo always had
rlm@0: been quirky, but she seemed even more so than she had been as a
rlm@0: child. Syaoran had once told Sakura that Tomoyo would videotape them
rlm@0: sleeping together if she had the chance. Sakura had been unable to
rlm@0: argue against that. It wouldn't surprise her at all. There didn't
rlm@0: seem to be anything that the dark haired girl didn't like recording
rlm@0: about her. And sometimes Tomoyo seemed more excited about Sakura's
rlm@0: relationship than Sakura was. 	"We were... umm... gonna talk. So...
rlm@0: We'll see you later." Syaoran knew his excuse was lame, but it was
rlm@0: the best he could do. Despite the fact that Sakura was obviously
rlm@0: embarrassed, he knew from experience that Sakura would never send
rlm@0: Tomoyo away from videotaping them. The heiress had videotaped most of
rlm@0: their date the last time he was in Japan. He had been halfway through
rlm@0: unbuttoning Sakura's shirt when he realized Tomoyo was still there
rlm@0: videotaping them. He had been shocked that Sakura hadn't sent Tomoyo
rlm@0: away after that, merely blushing and waiting. Sakura might not mind
rlm@0: for whatever reason, but Syaoran wasn't about to make out with Sakura
rlm@0: on videotape. So it looked like it was up to him to get Sakura and
rlm@0: leave so they could get some time to themselves. He wished Sakura
rlm@0: would want more privacy for the two of them, but she never seemed to
rlm@0: mind the Daidouji girl's presence.
rlm@0: 	"We were?" Sakura asked, blinking, turning to Syaoran. A
rlm@0: disappointed look crossed her face. She was glad Syaoran was here,
rlm@0: but she didn't want to leave yet. Tomoyo could be a bit embarrassing,
rlm@0: but in a sweet way. It made her feel more important. She was happy to
rlm@0: have Tomoyo there, even when she was with Syaoran. It made her feel
rlm@0: stronger and more confident, like she could handle anything. She was
rlm@0: shy about everything going on video, but if Tomoyo really wanted to
rlm@0: catch it all, she didn't mind. In a way, it made it something she and
rlm@0: Tomoyo could share. She couldn't really talk to Syaoran about
rlm@0: everything, but she could with Tomoyo. And when Tomoyo was an eye in
rlm@0: Sakura's life, videotaping it, it was like they shared the
rlm@0: experience. She could talk to Tomoyo about any of it and Tomoyo would
rlm@0: understand it all. 
rlm@0: 	"Yes," Syaoran nodded, leading Sakura to the door. "Have a nice
rlm@0: night." He bowed quickly. "Don't wait up for us." He hoped they'd
rlm@0: listen and he could come home with Sakura to a quiet appartment that
rlm@0: they could be semi-alone in. But he knew Tomoyo would be there,
rlm@0: waiting for them as always. Sighing, he slid his slippers off. His
rlm@0: eyes caught on Meiling, who was making a concentrated effort not to
rlm@0: look his way. For a moment, he balked about leaving the house and
rlm@0: leaving her alone. Guilt crept up from the pit of his stomach. Gazing
rlm@0: over, he wished she would look up so he could meet her eyes, to show
rlm@0: her he was sorry about this, but she refused to look in his
rlm@0: direction. It was too late now. Sakura already had her shoes and was
rlm@0: unlocking the door. Syaoran looked apologetically at Meiling, but she
rlm@0: never saw it. 	The door closed behind them, leaving the room in
rlm@0: silence. The television turned off a moment later. 	"You knew they'd
rlm@0: leave if you started videotaping them getting frisky," Meiling
rlm@0: stated, finally turning to look at the heiress who was heading to the
rlm@0: small kitchen seperated from the living room by a half-wall. 
rlm@0: 	Nodding thoughtfully, Tomoyo stood on her tiptoes, pulling down
rlm@0: some wine glasses. "I knew it was a distinct possibility." Turning in
rlm@0: place, she wandered to the back of the kitchen.	Resting her arms on
rlm@0: the back of the couch, Meiling watched the heiress hurrying about the
rlm@0: kitchen. "Thanks," she said simply. Life was miserable enough without
rlm@0: having to sit next to the lovestruck couple. Being close enough to
rlm@0: get elbowed by the one you love while he makes out with another
rlm@0: wouldn't have done any favors for her state of mind. 
rlm@0: 	Reentering the room, Tomoyo offered her a soft smile. Her graceful
rlm@0: form moved swiftly to the table, setting down the two wine glasses
rlm@0: and the bottle of wine she had retrieved from the kitchen. "My mother
rlm@0: left this for me. I think she was hoping it would help facilitate
rlm@0: some romantic moments with Sakura," she explained, filling up the two
rlm@0: glasses.
rlm@0: 	A bitter smile crossed Meiling's face. "Instead it gets to wash
rlm@0: away the lonely night while she's galavanting around with her
rlm@0: boyfriend. Not exactly the same thing." Reaching out, she took a long
rlm@0: gulp of the wine. It burned as it went down, but she didn't care. Her
rlm@0: eyes watered, but she blinked away the tears quickly. "How do you
rlm@0: deal with it? You love her, don't you? So how can you just sit there
rlm@0: and smile while she loves someone else?"	"Of course I love her."
rlm@0: Tomoyo sat next to Meiling, sipping at her wine. "But if she loves
rlm@0: someone else, then what else can I do? I want her to be happy. If
rlm@0: Sakura would be happier with someone else, then that's what I want
rlm@0: for her. I want to see her happy and loved and cared for. I want to
rlm@0: be able to watch Sakura's wonderful life as it unfolds her
rlm@0: her."	Meiling shook her head. "You hide behind that damn camcorder
rlm@0: too much. You figure as long as you're behind the camera, you're not
rlm@0: here. You're not a part of Sakura's life, so you can try to
rlm@0: orchestrate it so the girl you love will have a happy ending. Then
rlm@0: your movie will be perfect. You can just watch it all end happily and
rlm@0: not actually have to be part of it. But you aren't the director. This
rlm@0: isn't a movie. You -are- here. You are part of her life. You do love
rlm@0: her. And she's running off playing grab ass with my goddamn fiancee."
rlm@0: Slumping back against the couch, the raven haired woman pulled her
rlm@0: legs up like a sullen child. 
rlm@0: 	Gazing at the large television that filled the front of the room,
rlm@0: Tomoyo sat in silence for a moment. "It's simpler that way, isn't it?
rlm@0: Sakura is my best friend. I love her. I want things to work out for
rlm@0: her. If I can make her life turn out happily, then that makes me
rlm@0: happy. I can watch my videos and I'll see her smile and it lights up
rlm@0: my heart. Because I know she'll be fine. I know her story will have
rlm@0: turned out perfectly. I can be her guardian angel. I can be a helping
rlm@0: hand. I can try to be the director to make sure that her life is
rlm@0: happy. She'll be happy the way my mother never was. Sakura deserves
rlm@0: her own fairytale and I want to watch it happen. I want to make it
rlm@0: happen," Tomoyo answered wistfully. Looking into her drink, she took
rlm@0: another sip. 	"But what's wrong with you being the one to make her
rlm@0: happy? You think Syaoran can make her happier, right? But what's
rlm@0: wrong if you can't make her as happy as he can? You'd try your
rlm@0: hardest to make her happy. And I know you'd do a good job. Then not
rlm@0: only would she be happy, but so would you." Meiling sighed. "Maybe
rlm@0: Sakura can make Syaoran happier than I could. But I love him, damn
rlm@0: it. And I know I'd do everything I could to make him happy. So maybe
rlm@0: I wouldn't be as good. But not as good does not mean not good enough.
rlm@0: I wouldn't just give up because he has a thing for Japanese tomboys."
rlm@0: Amber eyes followed the slender heiress in the dimly lit living room.
rlm@0: She could tell that Tomoyo was hesitant, as if she were unsure of
rlm@0: herself. This was an awkward sight for Meiling. Tomoyo had always
rlm@0: seemed so calm and controlled, no matter what the situation. She only
rlm@0: ever seemed out of sorts if Sakura was in danger.
rlm@0: 	Taking a longer drink of her wine, Tomoyo paused before answering.
rlm@0: "I want Sakura to be happy. And I would love to make her happy if I
rlm@0: could. But I've given up my chance with her. I gave it up years ago.
rlm@0: I was the one who tried to get Syaoran to tell her how he felt. I
rlm@0: tried to convince Sakura that she loved him. I was the one who pushed
rlm@0: them together. So I forfeited my chance with her a long time ago. I
rlm@0: can't interfere now. They're happy together. I can't threaten that."
rlm@0: 	"You were a little girl when you did that! You can't blame yourself
rlm@0: for something stupid you did years ago. Things have changed. Sakura
rlm@0: knows you love her now. She wouldn't have understood that back then."
rlm@0: Meiling waved her hands emphatically nearly spilling her half empty
rlm@0: drink. "Just because you played a hand in them getting together
rlm@0: doesn't mean you owe it to them to stay out of it. Life is not a
rlm@0: movie. It doesn't work out perfectly. You can't just sit back and
rlm@0: watch things play out for them. You need to live your own life."
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo laughed softly. "Sakura's life is much more interesting to
rlm@0: me. I'd rather just watch how it works out. But yes, I do need to
rlm@0: live my own life, too. And I do. My life is just very centered around
rlm@0: Sakura."
rlm@0: 	Sighing, Meiling finished off her glass, staring forward and
rlm@0: hugging her legs with one arm. "I never really did get why everyone's
rlm@0: so obsessed with her. I'm just as athletic. I'm outgoing, too. I'm
rlm@0: sure as hell prettier. And I'm a better singer," she finished
rlm@0: counting down. "So why always her? Why does everyone like her instead
rlm@0: of me?"
rlm@0: 	"Sometimes we're too close to things to see them clearly. Maybe
rlm@0: Syaoran was always too close to you to tell what he had right in
rlm@0: front of him." Tomoyo said gently, rubbing Meiling's shoulder.
rlm@0: 	Amber eyes suddenly looked up, locking Tomoyo's stormy blue orbs in
rlm@0: place. "And what about you?" Her voice had lost it's earlier
rlm@0: conviction. The Chinese martial artist sounded weak and desolate.
rlm@0: 	Sipping at her wine, Tomoyo swallowed slowly, tasting the tart
rlm@0: grapes washing over her tastebuds. For a long moment, she was unsure
rlm@0: of how to reply. Meiling's eyes shined wetly at her in the dim room.
rlm@0: "I fell in love with Sakura the first day I met her. And those
rlm@0: feelings have grown everyday since. It's hard for me to see anyone
rlm@0: else like that because my heart has belonged to her for so long,"
rlm@0: Tomoyo explained. 	Meiling nodded weakly, fat, hot tears rolling
rlm@0: slowly down her cheeks. The room disappeared in front of her,
rlm@0: replaced with a wet blur. "Yeah... I've loved Syaoran since I was a
rlm@0: little girl... I always..." She sniffled before continuing.
rlm@0: "...always just wanted to be with him... I just... just wanted to be
rlm@0: good enough...." Her chest heaved as she tried in vain to catch her
rlm@0: breath. She angrily held her legs tighter, angry at herself for being
rlm@0: so weak, for breaking down so completely. She bit the inside of her
rlm@0: cheek to keep her lips from trembling, the blood warm and coppery in
rlm@0: her mouth.
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo's soft arms wrapped around the shuddering girl, holding
rlm@0: Meiling close as she began to cry softly. Her nimble hands ran up and
rlm@0: down the raven haired girl's back comfortingly. They were the
rlm@0: casualties of love, those who were left on the wayside in the
rlm@0: process, forgotten and alone. It seemed a terrible price to pay.
rlm@0: Whereas Tomoyo had always been ready to sacrifice herself for
rlm@0: Sakura's happiness and love with another, Meiling had never consented
rlm@0: to that. Life had made that decision for her. Now both of their loves
rlm@0: were in the arms of each other while they sat in a dark appartment
rlm@0: drinking wine and reminiscing about their lost loves.
rlm@0: 	Shaking lightly as sobs tried to break free of her chest, Meiling's
rlm@0: chin rested on Tomoyo's shoulder. Her warm, wet tears slid down her
rlm@0: cheeks, soaking through the dress to Tomoyo's pale skin underneath.
rlm@0: "Sakura's an idiot for not being able to see what she could have had
rlm@0: in you," Meiling whispered softly, her voice weighed down by tears.
rlm@0: The arms that encircled Meiling were warm and sympathetic, cradling
rlm@0: her close. They held a pained understanding of the wounds in
rlm@0: Meiling's heart and just how deep they went. The heiress was soft and
rlm@0: comfortable, her gentle caresses soothing the Chinese girl's weary
rlm@0: spirits. Tomoyo understood her in ways that no one else could. They
rlm@0: were the same, after all. Always loving, but never loved. Always
rlm@0: supporting, but left with nothing to lean on when they were in need.
rlm@0: Maybe Meiling couldn't just wait to be loved. Maybe she had to find
rlm@0: it.
rlm@0: 	Hands resting on Tomoyo's shoulder to support herself, Meiling
rlm@0: slowly managed to sit up to look back at Tomoyo. Tear streaked amber
rlm@0: eyes pleaded with their stormy blue counterparts. Tomoyo's gaze
rlm@0: remained fixed on Meiling, compassionate and understanding and...
rlm@0: unsure. That was enough for Meiling. Leaning forward, her trembling
rlm@0: lips brushed Tomoyo's inexpertly, her fingers holding Tomoyo's
rlm@0: slender shoulders sharply as if she were afraid the heiress would
rlm@0: disappear if she let go. She'd never kissed a girl before. It felt
rlm@0: strange, but exhilerating. Freeing. All this time she had chased
rlm@0: after Syaoran and he had resisted. Tomoyo's petal soft lips felt
rlm@0: receptive, accepting of the quick, hesitant kisses she placed on
rlm@0: them. She grew more adventurous, her pain and loneliness eased by the
rlm@0: understanding inside of the heiress, the flames eating away inside of
rlm@0: her cooled by Tomoyo's gentle presence. Her kisses met Tomoyo's lips
rlm@0: for longer and longer, loving the way they gave against hers, how
rlm@0: they melded to her own lips. Her hands pulled the lavender haired
rlm@0: girl closer desperately, their dark hair mingling as the kisses
rlm@0: continued. 
rlm@0: 	Meiling kissed her more hungrily as Tomoyo's fingers continued to
rlm@0: caress up and down her strong back. The Chinese girl's body was so
rlm@0: similar to Sakura's. So strong and lean and athletic. The way
rlm@0: Meiling's muscles felt under her hands reminded her of Sakura's. Even
rlm@0: Meiling's small breasts felt similar to Sakura's when they would hug.
rlm@0: If she couldn't have Sakura, then wasn't this the next best thing?
rlm@0: Tomoyo's mind wavered at the thought. It was so very tempting. She
rlm@0: wouldn't have to worry about ruining Sakura's relationship. And
rlm@0: Meiling felt so insistent. She felt a connection to the other girl
rlm@0: that could only be born of the flames of their shared suffering.
rlm@0: Meiling's tongue was playing inside of her mouth. It took Tomoyo a
rlm@0: moment to realize that her own tongue was responding. Her fingers
rlm@0: played through Meiling's silky pigtails, feeling herself held tightly
rlm@0: to Meiling's body. Meiling's tongue playing across her own, their
rlm@0: bodies pressed together, Tomoyo understood just how far the raven
rlm@0: haired girl was willing to go. Meiling never did like to do anything
rlm@0: halfway. But would that be so bad? To forget about Sakura for one
rlm@0: night... To lose herself in Meiling... Meiling obviously wanted that.
rlm@0: And she wanted to give that to her. But....
rlm@0: 	But she still loved Sakura. And Meiling still loved Syaoran. Tomoyo
rlm@0: slowly pulled away, Meiling's breath hot against her lips.
rlm@0: "Meiling..." the heiress whispered softly. 
rlm@0: 	It felt as if Meiling had awoken from a trance as Tomoyo put an end
rlm@0: to the moment. Shame crashed down across Meiling. Here she was in
rlm@0: Sakura's appartment, making out with the girl's best friend. Her
rlm@0: weakness had been so open, so obvious. She had succumbed to it, right
rlm@0: in front of Tomoyo. She'd been so desperate for companionship, for
rlm@0: understanding, that she had been willing, no, eager, to kiss another
rlm@0: girl. No, even more than that. She would have gladly given her body
rlm@0: to Tomoyo, she knew. Her face burned and her anger with herself
rlm@0: returned. What the hell was wrong with her?  Just how weak was she? 
rlm@0: 	Sliding off the couch, Meiling bowed slightly as she excused
rlm@0: herself. "I need to get to sleep," she said curtly and turned to
rlm@0: leave. Her bags were in Tomoyo's room, she remembered with a pang.
rlm@0: She hoped she could fall asleep before she had to face the other girl
rlm@0: again. 	"Meiling, please..." Tomoyo pleaded. But if the Chinese girl
rlm@0: heard her, she made no sign, simply retreating to the back room.
rlm@0: Sighing heavily, the heiress hugged a pillow and curled up on the
rlm@0: couch. Couldn't she help anyone?
rlm@0: 	
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	Sakura slipped quietly out of bed, careful not to awaken Syaoran's
rlm@0: sleeping form. Her pajama pants lay somewhere on the floor, a
rlm@0: testament to the time the two lovers had spent fooling around
rlm@0: earleir. It had felt so nice, but it had brought too many thoughts
rlm@0: unbidden to Sakura's mind, so she had stopped it short. It had indeed
rlm@0: felt wonderful, but so had her time with Tomoyo. What she could
rlm@0: remember of it, at any rate. As Syaoran's hands had traced patterns
rlm@0: over her bare skin, memories of Tomoyo's hands traveling similar
rlm@0: paths had grown stronger. Now she couldn't even sleep. 
rlm@0: 	Leaving her pants somewhere in the darkness after a moment's
rlm@0: fruitless search, Sakura padded silently out to the living room. She
rlm@0: needed to clear her head. Why was an intimate moment with her
rlm@0: boyfriend competing with memories of being drunk and in the arms of
rlm@0: her best friend? Why was her heart so torn? She liked being with
rlm@0: Syaoran. But those half-remembered moments with Tomoyo refused to
rlm@0: leave her alone. 
rlm@0: 	"You couldn't sleep either?" a soft voice asked through the
rlm@0: darkness. Tomoyo smiled at her startled friend. The heiress took a
rlm@0: moment to appreciate the gorgeous pair of legs she could see in
rlm@0: Sakura's current state of undress. "Would you like some tea? I made
rlm@0: it just a little while ago, so it should still be warm." 
rlm@0: 	Taking a moment to regain her composure, Saura took a seat next to
rlm@0: her pale wraith of a friend. "Thanks, Tomoyo." Accepting the cup, her
rlm@0: thoughts continued their jumbled rounds through her head. Hot tea
rlm@0: washed away her sleepiness, leaving her thoughts crisp and clear in
rlm@0: the night. The tea cup nearly burned her hands, but she held it
rlm@0: tightly. The pain was real and present, not some memory of the past.
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo's love for her had been no secret for years now, but
rlm@0: Sakura's complex feelings for the heiress had always been explained
rlm@0: away as mere friendship. She had been intimate with Syaoran on
rlm@0: several occasions. He was her boyfriend, so that made perfect sense.
rlm@0: But now, she had also been intimate with her best friend. And had
rlm@0: loved it. Was it simply the alcohal mixed with her incredibly close
rlm@0: friendship to Tomoyo? Or was there more to it than that? Did she
rlm@0: honestly like being with Tomoyo in that way? Touya had told her of
rlm@0: plenty of stupid things he had seen people do while drunk. Where her
rlm@0: actions just another stupid, alcohal induced event? Another long sip
rlm@0: of the hot liquid helped burn away her reluctance like sunlight
rlm@0: through the morning fog. She was left with a strong sense of
rlm@0: determination where the confusion had been moments before. A need to
rlm@0: know, to understand if it had just been a mistake or not. Like Tomoyo
rlm@0: had said, did she want them to have slept together? 
rlm@0: 	"What are you doing up?" Sakura asked at last. 
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo's hands moved methodically through the darkness, dancing in
rlm@0: the shadows. The fact that she was sewing had, up till now, entirely
rlm@0: escaped Sakura. " I let Meiling use my room, so I've been out here
rlm@0: all night. I thought I'd get some sewing done while I was at it. I
rlm@0: was in the kitchen when you and Syaoran came in, but you seemed..."
rlm@0: she paused, searching for the right words, "like you would rather not
rlm@0: be disturbed, so I let you go back to your room without any
rlm@0: interruptions."	A blush played across Sakura's cheeks. They had been
rlm@0: somewhat... frisky when they had gotten home. She'd thought no one
rlm@0: was awake when they'd entered the appartment. Her blush disappeared,
rlm@0: replaced with a frown. Tomoyo's tone was perfectly cheerful, but
rlm@0: Sakura had learned over the years that just because Tomoyo sounded
rlm@0: fine didn't always mean that the dark haired girl was. "You shouldn't
rlm@0: be up so late. Between classes, studying and working for your mother,
rlm@0: you need your sleep, Tomoyo. You're so..." The brunette trailed off.
rlm@0: Watching the pale girl in the darkness, she wanted to say frail,
rlm@0: fragile. Tomoyo was a delicate China doll and sometimes Sakura was
rlm@0: frightened that the slightest thing would shatter her best friend. "I
rlm@0: worry about you," she said instead. 
rlm@0: 	A warm smile met Sakura's emerald eyes as Tomoyo placed a slender
rlm@0: hand atop Sakura's. Sakura's hand turned under Tomoyo's to take it
rlm@0: and hold it, to keep it safe and protected in her own. "I'm glad you
rlm@0: would worry about me. I'm happy you'd care so much. But I'll be fine,
rlm@0: Sakura." It always made her ecstatic to know she could be so
rlm@0: important to Sakura, but she didn't want to concern the other girl
rlm@0: too much. Her mother had spent too many sleepless nights worrying
rlm@0: about her, especially whenever she would get sick, and she didn't
rlm@0: want to do the same to Sakura. She would be fine no matter what
rlm@0: happened. She just wanted Sakura and her mother to be happy. Worrying
rlm@0: about her all the time wouldn't help that. 
rlm@0: 	Once again, Sakura was reminded of how what Tomoyo said and how she
rlm@0: felt were not always one and the same. Reaching out tentatively, the
rlm@0: Cardmistress's fingertips began to stroke Tomoyo's soft, dark hair.
rlm@0: It felt so nice and silken against her fingers, sliding under her
rlm@0: touch. Tomoyo rested her head on Sakura's shoulder in response, her
rlm@0: long, lavender hair cascading down Sakura's back. The brunette's
rlm@0: breath caught for a moment, but her fingers continued stroking her
rlm@0: friend's long, curly hair. Tomoyo felt so soft and warm against her
rlm@0: side. It was as if Tomoyo was melting into her. Soft curves met
rlm@0: Sakura's own, the two merging into one.
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo breathed softly, her lavender eyes slipping shut. The night
rlm@0: had been a long, confusing one. She was glad to be with Sakura now,
rlm@0: away from the loneliness and confusion that had played out earlier.
rlm@0: Even if her love was an unrequited one, she was still happiest when
rlm@0: she was close to the girl she loved. She could lie there with
rlm@0: Sakura's fingers gently stroking her hair forever. Something that
rlm@0: felt like Sakura's nose pressed against her hair and her lips curved
rlm@0: in a soft smile. Sakura's warm breath tickled her through her hair.
rlm@0: Snuggling closer against Sakura's side, Tomoyo wished the night
rlm@0: wouldn't end. When the morning light spilt through the windows, this
rlm@0: dream would be forgotten without so much as a video to remember it
rlm@0: by. Syaoran would wake up and Sakura would remember that she loved
rlm@0: him and this would be nothing more than a moment that had slipped
rlm@0: away like a grain of sand. Why was it that the moments she loved most
rlm@0: with Sakura were always the ones she couldn't videotape? Fate was
rlm@0: cruel. Now if only... 
rlm@0: 	Tomoyo's thoughts were quickly forgotten. A soft squeak escaped her
rlm@0: lips, a brief intake of air and a gasp of surpirse from her musical
rlm@0: voice. Sakura's strong, free hand had slid up over her stomach,
rlm@0: cupping one of the heiress's breasts through her nightgown. Sakura's
rlm@0: lips replaced her nose in Tomoyo's hair, kissing her head softly.
rlm@0: Confusion spun a web through the dark haired girl's mind, slowing her
rlm@0: thoughts down to a crawl. She usually understood Sakura better than
rlm@0: anyone, so the Mistress of the Cards' current behavior took her
rlm@0: completely by surprise. She was torn between her instincts to protect
rlm@0: Sakura's relationship with Syaoran and her own need for Sakura. Her
rlm@0: usual calm, collected nature in shambles, Tomoyo remained silent for
rlm@0: the moment, squirming slightly under her friend's questing hands. 
rlm@0: 	Force of will pushed Sakura's embarrassment far away from her mind.
rlm@0: Tomoyo felt so wonderfu, so perfect, both against her and under her
rlm@0: fingertips. She squeezed Tomoyo's breast experimentally, marvelling
rlm@0: at how soft Tomoyo felt and how the skin melded to her palm. She
rlm@0: delighted in the gasp it ellicited from Tomoyo. Tomoyo's excited
rlm@0: gasps were so different from Syaoran's restrained groans. She loved
rlm@0: the way it sounded, how it let her know how much Tomoyo enjoyed what
rlm@0: she was doing to her. Sometimes so was so unsure of whether or not
rlm@0: she was doing the right thing with Syaoran. It was great to know how
rlm@0: Tomoyo felt about her ministrations. Her hand left Tomoyo's somewhat
rlm@0: larger chest and travelled back to the heiress's bare legs. Tomoyo
rlm@0: spread her legs invitingly making room for Sakura's hand. It caressed
rlm@0: up and down Tomoyo's right thigh, feeling the warmth under pale,
rlm@0: silky skin. 
rlm@0: 	It hadn't been the alcohal, Sakura decided. Her heart sang at the
rlm@0: way Tomoyo shuddered when she suckled on her earlobe. She felt so...
rlm@0: alive. Like her body crackled with electricity. Tomoyo always made
rlm@0: her happy and being with her like this was no different. It was still
rlm@0: Tomoyo, but so much closer. So much warmer. So much more... hers. Her
rlm@0: kisses along Tomoyo's jawline caught the other girl's attention and
rlm@0: her best friend's lips quickly met her own. They were warm and wet
rlm@0: and delicious. They licked and kissed at her own passionately and
rlm@0: Sakura could do nothing but give into them. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 	Yawning sleepily, Syaoran wandered through his girlfriend's
rlm@0: apparment half awake. It had been strange to wake up in a place that
rlm@0: was so... cute. He'd been disoriented to wake up to such a heavy dose
rlm@0: of pink around the appartment. He hoped Sakura could refrain from
rlm@0: decking out their home like that when they got married. He couldn't
rlm@0: imagine waking up to milky pink every morning. 
rlm@0: 	The shower was going, but he couldn't figure out who it was.
rlm@0: Probably Sakura, since she hadn't been in bed when he'd woken up. He
rlm@0: considered going in to join her. It had been a long day the day
rlm@0: before and the flight had been exhausting. And a shower with Sakura
rlm@0: would certainly wake him up this morning. A small smile crossed his
rlm@0: lips as he made up his mind. It was nice not to be a country away
rlm@0: from Sakura for the moment. He certainly couldn't be with her like
rlm@0: that from and ocean away. 
rlm@0: 	The bathroom door opened quietly under Syaoran's hand. Beautiful
rlm@0: humming came from the shower, a syren's song drawing him ever closer.
rlm@0: His amber eyes went to the shower as he filled up the doorway.
rlm@0: "Sakura..." His voice trailed off as Tomoyo turned to look at him.
rlm@0: Her pale body was wet and entirely naked. His mind vaguely made note
rlm@0: that her breasts were a bit larger than Sakura's. Her body was soft
rlm@0: and curvy and slender, not like Sakura's athlete's body. Stormy blue
rlm@0: eyes met his and the humming stopped immediately. "I.. uhh..."
rlm@0: Syaoran stammered, his face going a deep shade of crimson. 
rlm@0: 	Oddly enough, Tomoyo seemed hardly embarrassed, simply covering
rlm@0: herself with her hands and offering a sympathetic smile. "Sakura's
rlm@0: not here," she explained helpfully. "She was in the living room when
rlm@0: I came in here." For a moment, she wondered if Syaoran had understood
rlm@0: her. He finally nodded and gave her a mumbled thanks. Wondering idly
rlm@0: what Syaoran would have done if it had been Sakura in the shower,
rlm@0: Tomoyo resumed her humming.
rlm@0: 	Slamming the door quickly, Syaoran took a long moment to compose
rlm@0: himself. It took a while for the blood to drain from his face. Tomoyo
rlm@0: was certainly beautiful... He shook his head quickly to force the
rlm@0: idea out of his mind. Daidouji was the last person he wanted to be
rlm@0: thinking about. She'd always been that crazy friend of Sakura's.
rlm@0: Though she had always been helpful to him. If it hadn't been for her,
rlm@0: he never would have told Sakura how he felt about her. 
rlm@0: 	Deciding it was best to pretend that hadn't happened, Syaoran
rlm@0: continued his search for Sakura. He made his way to the living room,
rlm@0: but Sakura was curiously missing. In her place sat Meiling, sitting
rlm@0: on the couch in front of the large television Tomoyo seemed so fond
rlm@0: of watching her videos on. "Meiling, have you seen Sakura?" he asked.
rlm@0: The murderous look Meiling gave him chilled his blood. He wondered if
rlm@0: perhaps he had said the wrong thing. 
rlm@0: 	"She's in the kitchen. I think she's making breakfast or something.
rlm@0: I would've made something, but I don't know my way around the
rlm@0: kitchen." Her gaze went back to the television. Nothing was on, but
rlm@0: she seemed to be content to focus on it. Her thoughts were busy
rlm@0: elsewhere anyway. She was still ashamed of her actions the night
rlm@0: before. Crossing one leg on top of the other, she rested back on the
rlm@0: couch, trying to appear perfectly content. The affect on Syaoran was
rlm@0: more that he was afraid to bother her again. That worked just as well.
rlm@0: 	Entering the kitchen, Syaoran finally found his girlfriend. She,
rlm@0: too, was humming to herself. Her apron hugged her body cutely. Flour
rlm@0: and batter left her looking like she walked through a small cooking
rlm@0: warzone, but the smell coming from the oven was delicious. Sakura
rlm@0: could be flighty, but when she put her mind to something, she could
rlm@0: do an incredible job. "Good morning, Syaoran," Sakura said happily,
rlm@0: kissing his cheek as he entered the kitchen. She went back to
rlm@0: whisking something in a bowl, keeping an eye on a timer near the
rlm@0: oven. 
rlm@0: 	Deciding that dark haired girls were merely crazy this early in the
rlm@0: morning, Syaoran was glad to see that Sakura was her usual energetic
rlm@0: self. It was good to be away from all the Li Clan business and back
rlm@0: with the girl he loved. He wrapped his arms around her from behind,
rlm@0: holding her body close to his. Kissing the back of her neck under her
rlm@0: short hair, he was glad to feel her snuggling back against him. 
rlm@0: 	Sakura was happy. The confusion that had seemed to consume her life
rlm@0: lately had, for now, abated. She knew how she felt now. She loved
rlm@0: Syaoran. She loved Tomoyo. The night before had helped her to
rlm@0: understand that. She had stayed up with Tomoyo late into the night.
rlm@0: They had held each other and talked until they had finally fallen
rlm@0: asleep in each others arms. Syaoran and Tomoyo both made her happy.
rlm@0: Her feelings were no longer such a mystery to her, making even her
rlm@0: own actions indecipherable. At some time, it would be necessary for
rlm@0: her to figure out what to do about this revelation. But for now, she
rlm@0: was simply happy. And very, very much in love.