rlm@0: Hello. Here is another short fic that I wrote when I should have been doing other things. There's not much to it. Its just
rlm@0: a vignette of sorts about Tomoyo's birthday. The characters are all older. I don't know how much older... let's say
rlm@0: that Tomoyo is 17. That sounds about right to me. Comments are very much appreciated! PLEASE comment! If I don't
rlm@0: hear anything, I don't know if anybody liked it. Thanks. I hope you enjoy it.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me and are the property of their respective owners (CLAMP etc.).
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                                            ONE WISH
rlm@0:                                           By samuraiheart
rlm@0:                              kokoro_no_samurai@yahoo.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Thanks, Naoku-chan. I'll see you in a little while." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Just one more person to call," Sakura thought to herself as she picked up the receiver again and dialed Tomoyo's number. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Daidouji Residence, Tomoyo speaking." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Tomoyo-chan?" Sakura said hesitantly. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Sakura-chan! Do you need something?" Tomoyo said happy for the distraction. Her mother was away on a business trip and
rlm@0: there wasn't much to do in the house except watch videos. The real thing was always better. She blushed a little as she thought
rlm@0: about the outfit she had just finished making for Sakura and how great she would look in it. Maybe she could convince Sakura
rlm@0: to wear it soon. Even though she didn't capture cards anymore, Tomoyo could always find something interesting to videotape
rlm@0: about Sakura. She glanced over at her most recent accomplishments and smiled. "Sakura making a cake", "Sakura going to
rlm@0: school", "Sakura at cheerleading practice"... 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Ano... Can you come over? Uhhh... I want to show you something." She clutched the phone tightly and twisted the cord
rlm@0: around her fingers as she waited for her response. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Sure. I'll be right there." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura hung up the phone and took a deep breath. She frowned at what she had said. "I want to show you something?" She
rlm@0: had been planning this for weeks and she couldn't come up with anything better than that? Oh well. She was sure that the rest
rlm@0: of the night would go better. At least, she hoped it would. Sakura hurried to prepare the decorations and smiled in anticipation. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A large assortment of classmates and close friends had gathered at the Kinomoto house by the time that they all heard Tomoyo
rlm@0: coming up to the house. Sakura peeked out the window and turned toward the group of people. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Shhhh! Here she comes!" she whispered excitedly as the doorbell rang. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: When the door opened, Tomoyo was greeted by a loud "SURPRISE!" and a colorful array of birthday decorations. Bright
rlm@0: streamers were draped around the doorways and bright balloons and banners were placed throughout the house. Her eyes
rlm@0: went wide with surprise and she beamed at Sakura as friends came up to her one by one and wished her a happy birthday. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Do you like it?" Sakura said leaning close to Tomoyo as she offered her some punch. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Hai. Arigatou." Tomoyo said breathlessly. "How did you know?" 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura smiled and looked at her best friend in amazement. "Did you really think I would forget your birthday? Besides, I knew
rlm@0: your mom was out of town and I didn't want you to be all alone." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo put her hand on Sakura's shoulder and looked over at her sincerely. "Arigatou." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura smiled and led Tomoyo to the head of the table where the guests had begun to gather with their gifts. Just before she
rlm@0: could start unwrapping the presents, Naoku and Chiharu came out of the kitchen carrying a beautiful birthday cake. It was
rlm@0: chocolate with lots of pretty roses and candles on it. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Happy Birthday, Tomoyo!" Everyone shouted at once. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo put her hands up to her face and smiled brightly. She didn't know what to say. The light from the candles flickered and
rlm@0: danced across the faces of her friends. The room grew quiet and still as the group waited. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Blow out the candles!" Meiling shouted enthusiastically unable to wait any longer. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Don't forget to make a wish." Sakura whispered softly as Tomoyo bent closer to the cake. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. "I wish... I wish..." she shook her head and came to a decision. "I wish
rlm@0: for Sakura to be happy." She thought silently. Then she blew out the candles and for a moment the room went dark. Tomoyo
rlm@0: opened her eyes and stared at her best friend as her everyone cheered and someone rushed to turn on the lights. She tried to
rlm@0: smile, but it was getting harder to keep it up. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Hooray! Its time for cake!" Sakura said, jumping up and down. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Arigatou Sakura-chan. You're a great friend." Tomoyo bit her lip as the words echoed in her thoughts. Friend. That's all. She
rlm@0: tried to hide her sadness as she took the piece of cake that Sakura handed her and sat down to eat. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
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rlm@0: "Sayonara! Thanks for coming!" Sakura shouted to the last guest as she closed the door and turned towards Tomoyo. She
rlm@0: looked around at the party decorations, plates and cups and sighed. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Don't worry. I'll help you clean up." Tomoyo said as she reached down to grab a paper cup that had rolled behind the table. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Thanks, but the party isn't over yet." Sakura said. A hint of nervousness sounding in the last few words as she clasped her
rlm@0: hands behind her back and shifted her feet uncertainly. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo looked at her surprised. "Demo..." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I still haven't given you my present." She said quickly as she turned towards the stairs and dashed off to her room. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo stood there stunned and wondered what her friend could have for her. The party and the cake were more than
rlm@0: enough. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: When Sakura returned, she seemed to have regained some of her composure. She was holding a small white box and an
rlm@0: envelope. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Tomoyo-chan, we've been friends for a long time and.... Well... I knew that there were two things you really wanted for your
rlm@0: birthday and it was hard for me to decide which one I should give you." She paused to open up the box. " I know you really
rlm@0: wanted some more labels for your videotapes..." She pulled the stickers out of the box and held them out to Tomoyo. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo smiled gently and looked into Sakura's eyes. "There wonderful." She said sincerely. "Anything that Sakura-chan gives
rlm@0: me is wonderful." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura smiled at the kind words, but pulled the box and stickers away when Tomoyo reached out for them. "But I decided not
rlm@0: to give you that present." Sakura closed the lid and threw the box behind her and onto the couch. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo stared after it disappointed and then returned her gaze to her friend who was now fidgeting with the envelope in her
rlm@0: hands. Tomoyo opened her mouth to say something, but found no words to express the confusion she felt. Sakura put a hand
rlm@0: on Tomoyo's shoulder and handed her the small white envelope. "I think this is what you really want." Sakura added closing
rlm@0: her eyes in anticipation. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo took it with shaking hands and looked up at Sakura uncertainly before she opened it. Inside she found a bright pink
rlm@0: card with beautiful hearts and stars drawn on it. She smiled at the trouble her friend had gone too and then noticed the message.
rlm@0: Printed in careful black letters were the words "I love you". Tomoyo shook her head and looked down at the floor. She could
rlm@0: feel Sakura's gaze on her and she didn't know what she should say. She finally looked up and smiled slightly, but it was hard to
rlm@0: hide the tears in her eyes. Tomoyo was happy with the present, but Sakura couldn't possibly mean it in the way Tomoyo
rlm@0: hoped. They were very good friends and that was all. Sakura was just being kind and trying to tell her how much the friendship
rlm@0: meant to her. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: That must be it, Tomoyo thought as she met Sakura's gaze and whispered "Arigatou." 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura frowned as she saw the tears in Tomoyo's eyes. "You really don't understand do you?" Sakura said quietly as she
rlm@0: leaned closer to her friend. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo's doubts were erased by the feel of Sakura's soft lips pressed against her own. She leaned into the embrace, not
rlm@0: really sure what was going on. Sakura reached out and stroked Tomoyo's hair with her hands as her lips moved across
rlm@0: Tomoyo's mouth. Tomoyo closed her eyes and welcomed the taste of Sakura's gentle kiss. She held her friend closely and
rlm@0: was almost afraid to let go. It all seemed so perfect and so right. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Suddenly, Tomoyo pulled away and gasped. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "What's wrong?" Sakura said with concern. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I forgot to videotape this and you should be wearing the costume I made!" Tomoyo clasped her hands in front of her chest
rlm@0: and laughed uncertainly. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura blushed, but looked up at her friend sincerely, "I don't mind trying it again if you want to set things up." She said timidly
rlm@0: as Tomoyo rushed over to her bag to retrieve the camera. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Hoe!" Sakura said under her breath as she looked over at her friend and the significance of the evening became clear. Nothing
rlm@0: would ever be the same again... and she couldn't be happier. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: THE END