rlm@0:  Stepping Stones to the Future   
rlm@0:                        
rlm@0:                      
rlm@0: This is a fanfic about Tomoyo and
rlm@0: Sakura . It is a darker story than my previous 
rlm@0: ones and it made me cry as I was writing it on 
rlm@0: paper. I know that all of you are more 
rlm@0: knowledgeable about CCS than I am, but I hope 
rlm@0: you will like the story anyway. There are some 
rlm@0: female to female interactions but no hentai , 
rlm@0: and as always please send your comments to me at
rlm@0: rphjas@lycos.com. This is the reason I have begun 
rlm@0: writing again since 1975. I get to hear from you
rlm@0: and please, comments good or bad are always 
rlm@0: welcome can't get better without them because
rlm@0: I still want to put my dreams into words for 
rlm@0: you. Humbly yours Joe Saunders rphjas-san at
rlm@0: rphjas@lycos.com .
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: At the Daidouji Estate:	
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo was satisfied with her preparations. 
rlm@0: Everyone in the mansion was sound asleep and 
rlm@0: her bedroom door was locked. She had laid out 
rlm@0: several of her most precious treasures of Sakura
rlm@0: on her large four poster bed. She had 
rlm@0: painstakingly placed the camcorder and tripod in
rlm@0: the right location. The light in the gigantic 
rlm@0: room was at the perfect intensity. A soft 
rlm@0: melancholic melody could be heard in the 
rlm@0: background as Tomoyo worked in the room. Lying 
rlm@0: on the bureau next to her sewing bag, the 
rlm@0: manilla envelope waited to receive the soon to 
rlm@0: be completed videotape.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Gazing into her mirror, Tomoyo made some adjustments to
rlm@0: her long lavender hair-tweaking a ribbon here or a bow there.
rlm@0: She judged her appearance before the mirror. She 
rlm@0: looked like an expert doll maker's masterpiece.
rlm@0: Beautiful lavender hair fell on her shoulders and
rlm@0: behind her back. Luminous lavender eyes 
rlm@0: sparkled in her seemingly porcelain-like face. 
rlm@0: Her long dress was a beautiful egg-shell blue 
rlm@0: covered with red lace, bows, and trim. Tomoyo 
rlm@0: sadly smiled at her reflection, but she could 
rlm@0: not cry because all of the tears had been shed 
rlm@0: during previous nights. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I must look my best for my Sakura-chan.” thought Tomoyo as she 
rlm@0: steeled up her willpower. Picking up a small 
rlm@0: rubber eraser from the bureau top, she clasped 
rlm@0: both hands around it and brought them to her 
rlm@0: chest as if she were praying. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Now for you, my Sakura-chan.”whispered Tomoyo.
rlm@0: “My one last gift to you...“
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: At the Kinomoto home: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura picked at her food even though she was 
rlm@0: hungry. She had been uneasy throughout supper.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Touya's teasing bounced off her ears and went
rlm@0: unnoticed. Her loving father's questions about 
rlm@0: her
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: day were lethargically answered. At the end
rlm@0: of supper, she lazily waved at her father and 
rlm@0: elder
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: brother as they went to their respective 
rlm@0: jobs. After finishing her chores, she listlessly
rlm@0: climbed the
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: stairs and walked into her room.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Welcome home, Sakura.”said Kero while he was
rlm@0: playing one of his favorite video games. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “OhHi , Kero.”said Sakura as she went to
rlm@0: her desk to start her homework.           
rlm@0:            
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                    
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:                      
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kero flew up to the desk, licking his lips in 
rlm@0: anticipation of the evening dessert. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Hey, 
rlm@0: Sakura where's my dessert?!”exclaimed Kero as
rlm@0: he angrily plopped down on her
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: desktop.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura looked at Kero with a dazed expression
rlm@0: and said,“Sorry, Kero-chan. Let me go back
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: downstairs to the kitchen and bring you my share.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: With heartfelt concern, Kero said, “Don't 
rlm@0: worry about it, Sakura. You don't seem like your
rlm@0: usual
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: self today. What's wrong?”He flexed his 
rlm@0: tiny biceps and continued, “Is that Li kid making
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: trouble for you? If so, I'll change into my 
rlm@0: true form and bat him around like a soccer ball!
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura shook her head and answered,“No, 
rlm@0: Kero-chan - He's been treating me ok. It's just 
rlm@0: that
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: my heart has been feeling like a tick's 
rlm@0: been sucking the blood out of it until only a 
rlm@0: withered husk
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: will remain. Oh Kero-chan, I can't
rlm@0: put it into words!”concluded Sakura with a 
rlm@0: sigh.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kero thought for a moment with his hand
rlm@0: balled under his chin. He asked, “When did this 
rlm@0: feeling
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: start, Sakura?”
rlm@0: It started sometime
rlm@0: after school and continued as I skated along with
rlm@0: Tomoyo-chan. It has
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: gotten worse since I got 
rlm@0: home and I can't figure out what it is!”
rlm@0: answered Sakura in a frustrated
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: voice. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kero responded,“Calm down, Sakura. Banging 
rlm@0: your head against a wall won't solve anything.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kero mused,'Since all of the Cards have been 
rlm@0: sealed and Eriol has left, I don't think it is
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: anything serious. Maybe you just left your 
rlm@0: recorder at school!”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura angrily swatted 
rlm@0: at Kero who nimbly dodged her hand. “It's not 
rlm@0: that simple, Kero!”yelled
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura. “I think 
rlm@0: this is a premonition, but I just don't know what
rlm@0: it is about!”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kero guiltily looked at Sakura. “I'm sorry for 
rlm@0: trifling with you, Sakura. I wish
rlm@0: that I could help
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: you better with this problem.
rlm@0: Hey maybe a nice hot bath and a good night's 
rlm@0: sleep will help you
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: clear everything up in the 
rlm@0: morning!”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You're probably right, Kero-chan.”said 
rlm@0: Sakura. “And I am sorry I tried to hit you. I 
rlm@0: know you
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: were only trying to cheer me up.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kero puffed out his little chest and said , 
rlm@0: “Apologies accepted, Sakura. Trust the great and
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: powerful Guardian Beast! All will be well by 
rlm@0: morning and I'll even forgive you for not 
rlm@0: bringing
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: me any dessert!
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura weakly 
rlm@0: laughed at Kero's posturing and remarks. ”You're
rlm@0: probably right, Kero-chan and I
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: am way too out 
rlm@0: of it to do anything constructive tonight.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:          
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: At The Daidouji Estate:      
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:         
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                       
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo had about five minutes before the 
rlm@0: camcorder and tape player turned on 
rlm@0: simultaneously.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She had been secretly rehearsing
rlm@0: and preparing for this evening's performance for
rlm@0: over a week.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: While completing some minor 
rlm@0: adjustments to her hair and dress, Tomoyo did 
rlm@0: another quick run-
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: thru of where she would stand
rlm@0: and the words she would sing from the lyrics she
rlm@0: had
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: painstakingly written and memorized. She 
rlm@0: still clung onto the little eraser that Sakura 
rlm@0: had given
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: to her at their first encounter. She 
rlm@0: thought, “Now I can say the words to Sakura that
rlm@0: I never dared
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: to say. I can use my camcorder,
rlm@0: melody, and lyrics that I wrote from my innermost
rlm@0: heart and
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: reveal my true feelings this one and 
rlm@0: only time.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'I must perform perfectly.'mused
rlm@0: Tomoyo as she walked to the small tapedx
rlm@0: placed on the
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: floor which divided her bed into 
rlm@0: symmetrical halves.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “For my beloved Sakura-
rlm@0: chan,“whispered Tomoyo. She inhaled deeply and 
rlm@0: then slowly exhaled
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: - blowing away the facial 
rlm@0: masks that she used in her everyday life.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Now
rlm@0: my soul is bare for Sakura-chan to see.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The 
rlm@0: camcorder and tape player clicked on and Tomoyo 
rlm@0: began ...
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: At the Kinomoto home:
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tossing and turning in her bed, Sakura tightly 
rlm@0: hugged the CardCaptor Sakuradoll that
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo-
rlm@0: chan had given her long ago.Beads of perspiration
rlm@0: rolled down her face and soaked her
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: pajamas. Her
rlm@0: features were contorted into looks of pain , 
rlm@0: distress, and denial. Gasping for air,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura 
rlm@0: bolted upright in her bed. She opened her eyes 
rlm@0: and frantically tried to quiet her racing
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: heart.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Hoe! what was that all about?”cried 
rlm@0: Sakura. But like wisps of smoke or fluffy clouds,
rlm@0: the
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: nightmare refused to be captured. Trembling,
rlm@0: Sakura got out of bed and went to her desk. She
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: somehow knew that she had to open the drawer 
rlm@0: where the Book of the Star Cards was kept.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: After
rlm@0: opening the drawer, Sakura noticed a white light
rlm@0: coming from the deck. She urgently
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: pickedthrough
rlm@0: the pile of Star Cards until she found the source
rlm@0: of the light. It emanated from the
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: lastCardthat
rlm@0: appeared when she had overcome Eriols final 
rlm@0: challenge. The light was pulsing as
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: if it were 
rlm@0: a heart beating. Suddenly, an arrow of light shot
rlm@0: out of the Card and passed through the
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: window 
rlm@0: into the darkness engulfing Tomoeda . The Card 
rlm@0: flew behind the arrow of light. As the
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: startled
rlm@0: Sakura watched these events, her hand 
rlm@0: accidentally touched the Light and Dark Card. 
rlm@0: In
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: an instant, the two spirits of Light and Dark
rlm@0: materialized and stood before their Mistress.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As always, they were holding each other and 
rlm@0: looked regal beyond human comprehension.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: In a
rlm@0: feathery voice, Dark whispered,“Your soul mate's
rlm@0: heart is at it'sfinal breaking tonight and
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: will
rlm@0: soon beat no more in this world. This heart cries
rlm@0: for mending but is willing to remain
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: shattered 
rlm@0: for all time to insure your future happiness.” 
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:             
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                   
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: In a similar voice, Light began to speak.“The
rlm@0: path to that heart is revealed by the arrow of 
rlm@0: the
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: last Star Card. Follow the light quickly if
rlm@0: you wish to mend the Heart which my love Dark 
rlm@0: doth
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: speak”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Before Sakura could inquire about
rlm@0: their cryptic remarks, Dark and Light disappeared
rlm@0: into their
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Card.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura frantically grabbed 
rlm@0: the Key resting between her breasts and spoke 
rlm@0: the Words of Power to
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: release it. With cheetah's
rlm@0: speed, she summoned Fly. White wings burst 
rlm@0: through her pajama top.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Without changing her
rlm@0: garments, Sakura opened the window and raced 
rlm@0: after the last Star Card in
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: the dark night of 
rlm@0: Tomoeda. Sakura's heart beat rapidly and she 
rlm@0: willed her magic to fly as fast as
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: the winds. 
rlm@0: “I must find this person!”Sakura thought. “But
rlm@0: I wonder whom it could be? Is it
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Syaoran?“
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: At the Daidouji estate:
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo had viewed the completed videotapeseveral
rlm@0: times. Tears trickled from her lavender
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: eyes and
rlm@0: wetted the dress. Lovingly, she enclosed the tape
rlm@0: and sealed the envelope. In her
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: beautiful 
rlm@0: handwriting, the envelope proclaimed'To My 
rlm@0: Special Someone 'My Only Love -
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura-chan'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She sealed the envelope and lifted her sewing
rlm@0: bag revealing a pair of newly sharpened
rlm@0: scissors.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: With one hand still holding the 
rlm@0: eraser, Tomoyo firmly grabbed the scissors and 
rlm@0: walked to her
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: bed. She laid down and arranged 
rlm@0: some of her favorite hand-sewn costumes that 
rlm@0: Sakura had worn
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: when she was capturing the Clow
rlm@0: Cards.'But, unfortunately those days are over', 
rlm@0: thought
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo. 'Only in my heart do such 
rlm@0: moments still dwell. Sakura has chosen Syaoran 
rlm@0: and I never
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: had the courage to open the gate 
rlm@0: allowing me entrance into Sakura's heart. He got
rlm@0: there first.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: whispered Tomoyo as she stared at
rlm@0: an enlarged photo of Sakura on the ceiling. The 
rlm@0: picture had
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: been difficult to place there 
rlm@0: tonight, but it was worth it. Her tears flowed 
rlm@0: more freely as she
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: looked at the picture of 
rlm@0: Sakura - branding every feature in her heart and
rlm@0: soul while her right hand
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: came upwards to her 
rlm@0: soft pale neck.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Suddenly a light appeared in Tomoyo's 
rlm@0: darkened room and she quickly sat up from her 
rlm@0: macabre
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: position. A surprised Tomoyo saw a 
rlm@0: Sakura Card spinning in mid-air at the foot of 
rlm@0: her bed.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Faster and faster it twirled -bathing 
rlm@0: the whole huge room with a heavenly light and 
rlm@0: making
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo feel faint and dizzy even though 
rlm@0: she was sitting on her bed.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Then the sound of breaking glass filled the
rlm@0: room as Sakura flew headfirst into Tomoyo's
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: bedroom.“Tomoyo-chan - Tomoyo-chan, what are you
rlm@0: trying to do?”cried Sakura -bleeding
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: from 
rlm@0: several cuts on her arms, hands, and face. With 
rlm@0: her natural athleticism, Sakura leapt from
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: the 
rlm@0: floor and grabbed Tomoyo's wristforcing the 
rlm@0: steely jaws of the scissors away from her soft
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: neck.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: For the first time, the shocked Tomoyo 
rlm@0: wore none of her everyday masks and had no 
rlm@0: cheerful
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: answers for Sakura's question. Her 
rlm@0: delicate gasping mouth opened and closed like a 
rlm@0: land-bound
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: fish seeking water. Before Tomoyo 
rlm@0: knew it, the scissors were in Sakura's trembling
rlm@0: hands. The
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: emotions of anger, fear, and concern
rlm@0: warred over the landscape that was 
rlm@0: Sakura's face
rlm@0: and
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: eyes. However, concern with a touch of fear
rlm@0: and desperation won the battle on Sakura's face.
rlm@0: Her
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: wings fluttered weakly and Sakura panted. 
rlm@0: The cuts from the broken glass burned her nerves.
rlm@0: She
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: felt like she would collapse on the floor. 
rlm@0: Instead, she willed herself to sit by 
rlm@0: Tomoyo's 
rlm@0: side and
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: violently threw the scissors across the
rlm@0: room.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Tomoyo-chan Why?”asked Sakura as the
rlm@0: evening's pent-up emotions in her heart 
rlm@0: erupted in
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: full force. The tears flooded from her 
rlm@0: emerald-green eyes and stung her cuts. She looked
rlm@0: at
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo's sad face as if to find the answer 
rlm@0: there. Tomoyo bent her head to her chest, 
rlm@0: whispering
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: softly between sobs the manilla 
rlm@0: envelope-a videotape-on my bureau...Puzzled, 
rlm@0: Sakura
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: squeezed Tomoyo's hands. With one eye on
rlm@0: Tomoyo, Sakura found the manilla envelope and
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: read Tomoyo's notation
rlm@0: admiring the lovely 
rlm@0: handwriting. Tomoyo looked up and saw Sakura's
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: cheek turn fiery red. Sadly, Tomoyo realized that
rlm@0: all of her plans for Sakura had failed. She was
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: supposed to be dead. She had not anticipated her
rlm@0: beloved Sakura's dramatic arrival. But instead
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: of dropping the envelope in revulsion, Sakura 
rlm@0: reverently opened the envelope and tenderly
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: plucked out the videotape. She walked to the VCR,
rlm@0: turned on the TV, and walked over to
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo's 
rlm@0: bed.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “May I sit next to you, Tomoyo-chan?”asked
rlm@0: Sakura. Tomoyo looked with awe at her beloved
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: and nodded. The empty Card stopped spinning and 
rlm@0: it's light dimmed enough for the two girls to
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: watch the screen. Sakura held Tomoyo's hand with
rlm@0: all of her might as the tape started.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: On the
rlm@0: TV screen, Tomoyo appeared.'She looks like an 
rlm@0: angel.'thought Sakura. Tomoyo was
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: bathed in 
rlm@0: light and her beautiful voice could be heard.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Sakura-chanIwanted to give you one final
rlm@0: gift. It is a song I wrote for you and only you.
rlm@0: I
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: know you are crying right now because of my 
rlm@0: death. I willed for my Mother to give you this
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: video after my private funeral. But please my 
rlm@0: Sakura-chan. Do not cry for me! My time in this
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: world is done. Your quest for the Clow Cards is 
rlm@0: complete. Your need for me is over. I only desire
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: your eternal happiness and a joyful future with
rlm@0: Syaoran. Like your Mother, I will be in Heaven- a
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Guardian Angel only for you. And when your 
rlm@0: life's journey is done, I will be waiting for 
rlm@0: you
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: with open arms to hug you and loving hands 
rlm@0: to guide you into Heaven. Maybe there you and I
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: can be in love together because on Earth our Love
rlm@0: can never be.”,Tomoyo paused- closed her
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: eyes,
rlm@0: and clasped her hands to her chest. She inhaled,
rlm@0: opened her delicate mouth, and began to
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: sing...
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura stared at the TV - mesmerized by 
rlm@0: Tomoyo's lavender eyes and angelic beauty. A 
rlm@0: blush
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: bloomed on her cheeks. Her tears freely 
rlm@0: flowed and a warmth filled her heart and soul. 
rlm@0: After
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: finishing the beautiful song, Tomoyo said,
rlm@0: “I will always be with you My Beloved Sakura-
rlm@0: chan. I
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: have loved you since I first saw you in
rlm@0: Tomoeda Elementary and this eraser has been the 
rlm@0: most
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: precious gift I have ever received because
rlm@0: it came from you”Tomoyo whispered as she
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: lowered her praying hands and opened one 
rlm@0: revealing the plain rubber eraser. This is only a
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: temporary separation, My Love. I am just going
rlm@0: ahead of you to my destiny.Tomoyo's armsspread
rlm@0: wide as if to engulf Sakura. A smile appeared on
rlm@0: her face. However, her lavender eyes
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: seemed to 
rlm@0: lose their color.“Sayonara Sakura-chan I will
rlm@0: watch over you and Love you
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: forever.”Tomoyo 
rlm@0: knelt on the carpet as if to pray slowly the 
rlm@0: picture blurred and faded away
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: into oblivion.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura's heart bled more freely than any 
rlm@0: lacerations from the broken window could do. 
rlm@0: Crying,
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: thought,'I've hurt Tomoyo-chan
rlm@0: so deeply.'Though her heart was bleeding from 
rlm@0: sadness and
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: regret, Sakura felt the seed of love
rlm@0: that she had always had for Tomoyo sprout and 
rlm@0: grow
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: watered and sunned by Tomoyo'srevelation.
rlm@0: “So Dark and Light were talking about Tomoyo-
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: chan!”thought Sakura. “She has been suffering 
rlm@0: all of this time because her love for me was
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: never returned by me for her. I -I am responsible
rlm@0: for breaking her heart again and again - until it
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: shattered and made her want to end her life..“
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura turned to face Tomoyo. Tomoyo had not
rlm@0: moved since Sakura had come to her bed. Her
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: hand
rlm@0: limply rested in Sakura's grip. Her head was 
rlm@0: still lowered and tears dripped from her
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: cheeks.
rlm@0: Sakure gently removed her hand from Tomoyo'sand
rlm@0: reached for Tomoyo's face.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo cringed at 
rlm@0: Sakura's tender touch - anticipating a face 
rlm@0: filled with revulsion and anger.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura cupped 
rlm@0: Tomoyo's cheeks and slowly lifted her head so 
rlm@0: she could look deep into
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo's lavender eyes.
rlm@0: Tomoyo looked at Sakura's face and was stunned by
rlm@0: the love and
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: tenderness that gleamed from the 
rlm@0: emerald green eyes.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 		
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Sakura-chan...?“
rlm@0: whispered Tomoyo. With loving motion, Sakura 
rlm@0: pulled Tomoyo's face to her
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: own and gave Tomoyo
rlm@0: a passionate kiss. Tomoyo's fragile body wilted 
rlm@0: under the kiss. Her arms
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: reached around Sakura's
rlm@0: waist and hugged her tightlylike a drowning 
rlm@0: sailor would to a life-line.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura's hands 
rlm@0: stroked Tomoyo's cheeks and fingered her glossy 
rlm@0: lavender hair. Her slender body
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: pressed against
rlm@0: Tomoyo's and eased her body to a prone position.
rlm@0: Tomoyo's eyes fluttered and
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: she realized that 
rlm@0: sometime during this magical waking dream her 
rlm@0: dress had disappeared from her
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: pale body. “Have
rlm@0: I died and reached my ideal vision of Heaven?” 
rlm@0: thought Tomoyo.“My Sakura-
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: chan is in my armskissing me, loving me...Healing me!”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Suddenly
rlm@0: Tomoyo's lavender eyes opened and drank up the 
rlm@0: sight of her Beloved Sakura pressing
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: against 
rlm@0: her. The Card Mistress was smiling at Tomoyo. Her
rlm@0: naked body glistened from her
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: exertions to 
rlm@0: reach out and mend Tomoyo's heart with the Glue 
rlm@0: of Love.“Tomoyo-chan...I'm
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: sorry for all of 
rlm@0: your pain and suffering.”whispered Sakura. 
rlm@0: “It's all my fault!”cried Sakura as
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: tears mixed
rlm@0: with the bloody cuts on her face.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: With 
rlm@0: surprising strength, the porcelain-skinned Tomoyo
rlm@0: forced Sakura to sit upright on the large
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: bed. 
rlm@0: “My Beloved Sakura-chan!”cried Tomoyo “You came
rlm@0: to save me, but you've injured
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: yourself! Please
rlm@0: let me treat your cuts!
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Oh Tomoyo-chan My Love,“roclaimed Sakura 
rlm@0: her emerald green eyes sparkling with
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Love and
rlm@0: Happiness. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo quickly kissed her Sakura-
rlm@0: chan and ran to her bathroom.             
rlm@0:                       
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:          
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As she waited for Tomoyo, Sakura gazed at the 
rlm@0: empty Star Card. It had stopped spinning and it's
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: light was pulsing like a human heartbeat. 
rlm@0: Sakura bowed her head to the Star Cardandquietly
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: thanked it as well as Dark and Lightforshowing
rlm@0: her the path to her One True Love.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo returned with a moistened towel, a 
rlm@0: first-aid kit, and two sets of softlinenpajamas.
rlm@0: “Ok
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura-don't move,”said Tomoyo.FirstTomoyo
rlm@0: looked over Sakura's body with piercing
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: lavender
rlm@0: eyes. She nodded and began to lick and kiss 
rlm@0: Sakura's cuts and scrapes. Sakura swooned
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: in 
rlm@0: bliss. Tomoyo gently patted each wound with the 
rlm@0: warm wet towel. She tenderly applied
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: antibiotic
rlm@0: ointment and bandages to each wound - pouring her
rlm@0: love for Sakura into every
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: movement. Satisfied 
rlm@0: that her work was completed to perfection, Tomoyo
rlm@0: said, “I think I treated
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: all of your cuts, My 
rlm@0: Beloved Sakura-chan. But do you hurt anywhere 
rlm@0: that I can't see? Do I need
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: to call foradoctor?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura answered, “No but thank you My 
rlm@0: Tomoyo-chan. I don't need a doctor. But I do need
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: You My LoveMy Tomoyo!“
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo beamed as 
rlm@0: brightly as the empty Star Card. She gently 
rlm@0: embraced Sakura and kissed her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Oh My Beloved 
rlm@0: Sakura-chan!”cried Tomoyo. “How often have I 
rlm@0: dreamed of hearing those
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: words from you and of 
rlm@0: being your Love!“
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sakura hugged Tomoyo and 
rlm@0: kissed her.“If you can ever forgive me Tomoyo-
rlm@0: chan, I will promise
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: you that your daysof
rlm@0: loneliness and suffering will never return 
rlm@0: because you are My Soul Mate-
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: My Beloved-My 
rlm@0: Tomoyo-chan.”confessed Sakura. “I want to be 
rlm@0: yours - Forever.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo cried with tears of
rlm@0: pure happiness. “My Dearest Sakura-chan, you have
rlm@0: made my dearest
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: wish come true!”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: With love 
rlm@0: and happiness, Tomoyo and Sakura embraced once 
rlm@0: more and Magic flared in the
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: bedroom. The broken
rlm@0: window was miraculously restored. The Star Card 
rlm@0: brightened and slowly
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: faded. However, it's face
rlm@0: was no longer empty because it now bore a 
rlm@0: hologram of Sakura and
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tomoyo kissing and 
rlm@0: embracing each other and over their heads 
rlm@0: floated a red Valentine-
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: shaped Heart.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: THE END
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Author's comments:
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: I was hoping to write the 
rlm@0: lyrics of Tomoyo'ssong for you. The words were 
rlm@0: clear in my dream.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: However, Dawn's light faded 
rlm@0: the verses into obscurity. Maybe it's better that
rlm@0: way so you - the
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: reader - can imagine your own 
rlm@0: lyrics to Tomoyo's song of love confessed but 
rlm@0: unrequited on
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Earth, of her plea for Sakura's 
rlm@0: mortal happiness in spite of her suicide, of 
rlm@0: Tomoyo's wish of
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: being Sakura's Guardian Angel 
rlm@0: throughout her mortal days and immortal life, and
rlm@0: of her final
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: words of goodbye to Sakura. I know
rlm@0: I am not a CCS expert like many better writers 
rlm@0: and fans of
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: the anime and manga, but I hope you
rlm@0: will forgive any inconsistencies in this fanfic 
rlm@0: and enjoy it as
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: it is written.           
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:                 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0:                
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:                                 
rlm@0:       
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Humbly yours, Joe Saunders at 
rlm@0: rphjas@lycos.com