rlm@2: Always and Eternal
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: By MH Hughes
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rlm@2: Notes and the like: Ok, these characters do not belong to me….*phew* Got that off my chest!
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rlm@2: The fic is slightly AU-ish in the first part….the second will be more present day. Maybe….basically whatever I am in the mood for ^^
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rlm@2: And in being AU, expect possible OOC behavior. But you’ll like it, I swear ^^
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rlm@2: I will also begin this with a song, which I also do not own….it is by Cibo Matto, a Japanese group…I suggest you get one of their CD’s. They rock!!! Alright, I can babble at the end of the first part….^_~
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rlm@2: She’s got a living stone and rain in her mind
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rlm@2: She doesn’t have an umbrella to cover herself
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rlm@2: She’s got a living stone and pain in her hand
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rlm@2: All I can do is sing for her and myself
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rlm@2: I wish I can take it away to three thousand light years away
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rlm@2: Don’t be afraid, I’ll be next to you.
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rlm@2: Sakura fell into bed, feeling exhausted and spent. She had no reason to feel this way…school, cheerleading practice, coming home and doing chores……
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rlm@2: Even Kero was sleeping when she got in and not playing that video game of his.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: Why am I so tired?
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rlm@2: She closed her eyes, grateful for the darkness. But sleep wouldn’t come easily at first.
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rlm@2: Instead, Sakura laid there and stared out the window, her eyes seemingly searching….
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rlm@2: For what?
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rlm@2: A Clow card? No….I don’t sense anything out of the ordinary.
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rlm@2: Except myself. I don’t feel ordinary. Hoe…..
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rlm@2: She felt a headache coming on. Sakura massaged her temples and tried to come up with the explanation for her odd feeling.
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rlm@2: It started today….early this morning….before dawn…..
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rlm@2: Sakura paused in her ministrations. A dream.
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rlm@2: She awoke with from a dream, the effects of it still cloying at her, heavy like humid air….
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rlm@2: Sakura couldn’t shake the feeling all day.
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rlm@2: I just want to sleep….Sakura turned on her side and forced her mind to stop thinking about it, it wasn’t a vision…at least it didn’t feel like it.
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rlm@2: Good, Sakura decided.
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rlm@2: No problems, time to relax…..to sleep…..She yawned, letting her eyelids grow heavy, until her breathing calmed…..her headache left….her muscles uncurled…..
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rlm@2: And for a moment, almost too brief to be noticed, a flutter went through her body.
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rlm@2: It clinched at her heart.
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rlm@2: But Sakura didn’t catch it. She slipped into slumber.
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rlm@2: Again, that dream…..
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rlm@2: Sakura barely tasted her food at breakfast. Even Touya commented on her lack of enthusiasm. 
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rlm@2: She didn’t understand it herself.
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rlm@2: The dream was so vivid……
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rlm@2: Sakura was sipping from a cup, bitter tea…very bitter…..salty?
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rlm@2: No, that was tears….tears pouring from her face and into the tea. Why am I crying so?
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rlm@2: Sakura then looked up and saw Tomoyo, the girl looking beautiful in a robe….so many colors…
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rlm@2: Red, blue, orange, yellow…..
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rlm@2: “Don’t you remember?” Tomoyo kept asking. Sakura could only cry.
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rlm@2: “How could you leave me?” Was all Sakura could say…over and over…..her sobbing only becoming worse.
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rlm@2: Sakura shuddered at the thought of it now.
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rlm@2: Is something going to happen to me? Or to Tomoyo?
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rlm@2: It was hot. Too hot. Sakura roller bladed down the street slowly, Tomoyo walking beside her, talking about her newest fashion creation…..
rlm@2: “Sound good, Sakura-chan?” Tomoyo asked, shaking Sakura out of her overheated haze.
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rlm@2: “Uh…yes, very nice…”
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rlm@2: “Sakura, it is rude not to listen when someone is talking to you…” Tomoyo giggled, showing that it really didn’t bother her at all that Sakura seemed a million miles away.
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rlm@2: Sakura smiled weakly, the dream presenting itself once again…should I tell Tomoyo?
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rlm@2: But Tomoyo’s house loomed ahead and Sakura sighed dejectedly.
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rlm@2: Guess not…..
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rlm@2: “And we’ll still go on that picnic on Saturday?” Tomoyo asked.
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rlm@2: “Of course, Tomoyo-chan.” Sakura said, running a hand through her hair. Tomoyo smiled at her warmly and grabbed Sakura’s shoulder.
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rlm@2: “You can tell me anything, Sakura-chan…..” The girl said softly. Was Sakura that obvious with her plight?
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rlm@2: “Oh, no…I’m fine! See?” Sakura smiled broadly, hoping Tomoyo couldn’t tell she was lying.
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rlm@2: If the black haired girl did know, she didn’t let on.
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rlm@2: Sakura took at bath, trying to refresh herself.
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rlm@2: It did not work very well.
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rlm@2: She walked into her bedroom, looking idly for Kero.
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rlm@2: “Kero-chan?” She questioned. No answer….that’s strange….Unless….
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rlm@2: The cake downstairs…Sakura knew she should go after him, but could not muster the energy to catch him and bring him back.
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rlm@2: If he gets caught, I can come up with something….maybe.
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rlm@2: She glanced at her desk of drawers, seeing the picture of her and Tomoyo, sliding her finger over the glass…..
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rlm@2: What is the dream telling me?
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rlm@2: Sakura suddenly felt very dizzy, her head swimming….light and disconnected with the rest of her body….She dropped to her knees, watching the room spin out of control.
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rlm@2: “Don’t you remember?” Tomoyo’s voice echoed. Sakura tried to focus on the sound of the other girl, to try and find it in this confusion….
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rlm@2: “Don’t you?” The voice pleaded. Sakura grabbed her head….remember? Remember what?
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rlm@2: Then she saw herself, kneeling across from her….watching her.
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rlm@2: Is…is this a card? Sakura’s mind managed to ask.
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rlm@2: Her double smiled at her, reaching out to touch Sakura’s face…..
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rlm@2: “You must try, try to recall the past….” Sakura heard herself say.
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rlm@2: Tears sprang forth from her eyes at those words…..
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rlm@2: Sakura rested her head in her hands.
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rlm@2: “I have tried….I have…..please, show me how….” 
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rlm@2: Then she drifted, pulled by a black current she could not fight….The further she went, the less she could recall her room, her brother or father…all of it was slipping away from her mind’s grasp. What….? A small tendril of light was piercing her vision. Dawn…it feels like morning, Sakura thought, feeling oddly calm and serene.
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rlm@2: Her hands fell to her sides, grazing….is this grass? Yes, grass….Sakura sat up, recognizing the field before her, it’s tall green waving at her…..My field….mine…….
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rlm@2: In the distance, smoke weaved it’s way upward and into the sky…..a house….my house.
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rlm@2: Sakura began to walk.
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rlm@2: This path…I know it, Sakura thought. Each step she took seemed familiar, filling her soul with an unknown happiness.
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rlm@2: I am finally home, Sakura smiled to herself.
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rlm@2: Tomoyo was almost asleep when she heard a small tapping at her bedroom window. She got up and threw the curtains open, almost expecting Sakura to be there….
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rlm@2: “Kero-chan?” Tomoyo whispered, her face falling somewhat. The Seal beast came into her room, all business.
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rlm@2: “A new card has Sakura under it’s magic.” Kero stated. Tomoyo felt her blood run cold.
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rlm@2: “Sakura….” Her voice managed to say, as she grabbed some more suitable clothing, her limbs feeling numb.
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rlm@2: “It is the Memory Card….I have yet to understand all it’s powers…” Kero talked as Tomoyo climbed out of her window.
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rlm@2: “You don’t know what it does?” Tomoyo asked, not wanting to sound worried but unable to conceal it.
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rlm@2: “Let’s go. I’ll show her to you.” Kero answered.
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rlm@2: Sakura entered the house, touching the table with the red cloth, so fine….hanging on the surface.
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rlm@2: She lingered in the kitchen, her fingertips pressing onto the cool marble counter, her nose taking in the scents of a recent meal….cumin or rosemary….her mother’s herb garden, near the stream….
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rlm@2: Sakura went further into the home, to where she knew her room waited for her.
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rlm@2: Her bed, disheveled, her books from school….the little hearts she drew on the thin paper given to her….given by…….
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rlm@2: Sakura felt tears splash onto her cheeks.
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rlm@2: Tomoyo……
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rlm@2: She ran as fast as she could without falling down. Each root was jumped, all puddles of muddy water were traversed with ease……Just over there, just a little bit further……
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rlm@2: Sakura stopped short, not wanting to look desperate and slowed her pace down.
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rlm@2: Then she saw the girl.
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rlm@2: She sat in the garden, letting the flowers be graced by her presence, her soft gray-black hair loose…not in the usual bun her mother insisted on…..
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rlm@2: Sakura felt her heart skip a beat.
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rlm@2: “Tomoyo!” Sakura hollered out, waving a hand. Tomoyo smiled at her…..that smile! I feel as though I have not seen it forever, Sakura thought as she ran over.
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rlm@2: She couldn’t stop herself from embracing Tomoyo. 
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rlm@2: The girl laughed softly.
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rlm@2: “Sakura-chan?” She asked. But Sakura just held her, afraid…..very afraid Tomoyo would disappear if she let go.
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rlm@2: “Is something wrong?” Tomoyo asked, her voice a little concerned.
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rlm@2: “I just missed you.” Sakura answered, knowing it would sound silly. Tomoyo giggled and pushed Sakura off gently.
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rlm@2: “I just saw you at Mitashi-sensei’s, Sakura-chan……”
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rlm@2: “I know.” Sakura blushed, now feeling embarrassed. She fidgeted with her hands until Tomoyo shook her head understandingly.
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rlm@2: “You had that dream again didn’t you?” Tomoyo stated. Sakura nodded, her face lowered.
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rlm@2: “I am not going to leave here…you mustn’t let it bother you. Mother doesn’t believe anyone would marry me anyway…too independent minded she says….And marriage would be the only way I could leave, though it would be nice to see the world….”
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rlm@2: Sakura grabbed the girls delicate hands in her own.
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rlm@2: “You and I can travel, Tomoyo-chan” Sakura said softly, hoping…just hoping….
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rlm@2: “And how would we live? Selling rice cakes by the trading road?” Tomoyo laughed.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: “But…?”
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rlm@2: “Gomen, Sakura-chan, but that is unrealistic. Though, I find it sweet that you would want to spend your days with me….arigatou, Sakura.”
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rlm@2: Tomoyo stood up then, pulling her hands away and walked onto the terrace.
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rlm@2: “Want to stay for dinner, Sakura-chan?” Tomoyo asked, suddenly cheery and light.
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rlm@2: “Nani?” Sakura asked, still trying to feel Tomoyo’s hands in hers.
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rlm@2: “Dinner?”
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rlm@2: “Hai…” Sakura followed her inside…….
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rlm@2: My Tomoyo….don’t leave me….
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rlm@2: Li looks upset, Tomoyo noted. I suppose he really does care for Sakura….I wonder if Sakura feels the same? The two seem so different, but they carry some of the same qualities….
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rlm@2: They hunt the Clow Cards.
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rlm@2: They both had crushes on Yukito-san.
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rlm@2: Maybe…would this be the special person for her Sakura?
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rlm@2: “It is possible…” Kero muttered. Tomoyo knew that Li and Kero had little affection for each other, but she hoped that they could put it all aside for Sakura’s sake.
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rlm@2: “It is the only possibility, but…I do not know how to break the spell.” Li said somberly.
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rlm@2: “Silly pookie baka….” Kero stated, to which Li grumbled. Tomoyo sighed.
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rlm@2: “Sakura needs our help…please fight later.” She pleaded. The two of them backed down.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: “So, it is thought to be Memory’s purpose to what?” She asked Li.
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: “It lulls you to sleep in order for you to recall memories your mind has repressed…..whether in this life or another…”
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rlm@2: “Really?” Tomoyo looked at the sleeping girl, that beautiful auburn hair framing her face…..
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rlm@2: Sakura, what are you remembering? Tomoyo wondered.
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rlm@2: End of Part one
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rlm@2: Notes:
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rlm@2: *sighs* I feel better now! I have wanted to right this forever…..^^ Any questions about plot? Like what the hell is going on? Email me and I will explain all…in great detail, no doubt ^_~
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rlm@2: You can find me residing at SPIRITWOMAN@skybest.ocm
rlm@2: 
rlm@2: MH
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