Chapter 2: On being a lady

Tomoyo sighed in relief when she saw that the house was empty. Good, she thought to herself, I don't want anyone fussing about me. Her flight arrived in Tokyo a couple of hours ago and she just wants to sleep her jetlag off.

Opening the large oak doors was like opening a well of memories. Tomoyo staggered back, her right hand resting on her chest, feeling the erratic beating of her heart. It had been eight years but she can still feel the dull ache in her heart. One mistake. One rebellion. And everything was…

Giving herself a mental shake, she climbed the stairs leading to her room. Everything may be the same in this house, in this place, but she refuses to give in. It had been eight years and she had paid her dues. No point in living in the past. Reaching her bedroom, she sat at the edge of her bed and took out her mobile. The bed looks very inviting, but she has to call Sakura before succumbing to sleep. After a couple of rings, Sakura picked up,

"Hello, Sakura Kinomoto."

"Sakura, it's –" she started but Sakura immediately recognized her voice and was practically screaming at her ears.

"Tomo! Oh my gosh, are you in Tokyo now? When did you arrive? When will I see you? How was your flight? Did you bring my gown?"

"Whoa, pipe down Sakura, you're going to break my eardrums, I swear." she said with a laugh, "I just arrived like 2 hours ago and it was a very long flight, but I have your gown and I can give it to you tomorrow. How's that?

Sakura scoffed, "Thorough, aren't we? And there goes your eardrums again."

She couldn't help but laugh, "Well sorry for caring about my eardrums, love."

Sakura gave what sounded like a snort, "Yeah right. So, I'll be going to the florist with Meiling tomorrow. Can we meet after that? Around 10 or so?"

"Sure. I'd love to see Meiling too. I'll drop by your flat?"

"No, I was thinking–" Sakura hesitated for a while. "I was thinking of having lunch at home. He just came home yesterday and he invited us for lunch."

Tomoyo felt the blood drain from her face. Sakura didn't have to explain who he was. Forcing her voice not to falter, she said that only thing that she can think of, "Oh. That's, that's nice. Some other time then?"

"No. No, I think he wouldn't mind if you came along. He hasn't seen you in ages. No, I don't think he'd mind at all. Unless you're not okay with it."

"It's okay," she said, mentally kicking herself. Of course Sakura knew her. Her voice may not have given any hint of how she felt, but she knew her. She doesn't want her to worry, she should be more careful with keeping her emotions in check. "I'll see you tomorrow then," she said, trying to sound cheerful, "At least there's going to be a guy there who'd be able to scrutinize my work, because obviously Syaoran can't see the gown."

"Tomo, after all these years? No one needs to scrutinize your work anymore. We all know that you're amazing."

"Thanks, I really needed that kind of blind adoration," she said with a laugh. "So, I think I'll turn in early. Don't want to be late for tomorrow."

"Okay. See you!" And with that the line went dead.

She sat there, staring at her mobile. What have I gotten myself into? She sighed. Much as she hates to admit it, the prospect of seeing him, after all the years is daunting. After all this time… She felt tears starting to fill her eyes. No. I have promised to be strong. I am the only one I have. And with that she stood up to get ready for bed.

The staff was their usual fussy self when she came down for breakfast the following day. Minako was chastising herself and the rest of Tomoyo's bodyguards about their mistress arriving and spending the night in the mansion with no one knowing. Tomoyo just smiled calmly at them and tried, as best as she could, to explain that she couldn't have handled this much attention yesterday, when she was too tired from her flight. But they didn't seem to hear her. Shaking her head, she just told Minako that she'd be out for the day to deliver Sakura's gown, and when the bodyguard insisted to drive her to her destination, she refused, simply saying that she still knows her way around Tomoeda.

The truth is she thinks the commute will help clear her mind. She had a restless night, thinking of what could happen, and how best to react to each possibility. But when morning came and she had worried herself senseless, she decided to do what she's been doing best for eight years. Be a lady.