I opened my outline guide for this story in preparation for writing this chapter and realized I had basically written out the plot points of at least another ten chapters of content. That it never has seen light saddens me.

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Strawberry Surprises Chapter 10 – Shattered

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"I'm serious Sakura, NOTHING happened between me and Seiko." Tomoyo was a far redder shade than her normally pale skin allowed, and Sakura knew she was hiding something major, but really it didn't matter compared to what needed to be done.

They had returned inside and taken a seat at a table, Seiko was on break it appeared, and the barkeeper had said she would tell Seiko they wanted to see her when she got back.

"It's fine Tomoyo, I believe you,"Kinda. "It's really not important anymore anyways. I have you now and that's that." Tomoyo blushed even harder and smiled at her.

"That is true Sakura, though if that's the case, why do you need to talk to Seiko?"

"Think about it Tomoyo, doesn't Seiko look a bit too much like me? Like so much so she could nearly be a copy, or even Mirror maybe?" Sakura had a point Tomoyo had to admit, but something was off.

"Except she doesn't act anything like you. She looks similar, but that's where the similarities end." Tomoyo was still inwardly worried that talking to Seiko would get more involved than she wanted Sakura to be with Seiko.

"That would make sense, especially if Mirror were to be trying to be less obvious, or if something had happened." Sakura looked like she might cry again, but before Tomoyo could respond…

"What's this about mirrors? Did you guys need me for something?" Seiko had walked up to them while they were distracted, and her words made Sakura jump. How would I even go about trying to explain to Seiko what I'm getting at? I mean if she isn't actually Mirror in disguise, I'll sound like an absolute lunatic.

"Um… Seiko, we…"

"We need to talk to you about Sakura and some cards." Tomoyo said calmly. For her part Seiko responded just as nonchalant, but her eyes seemed to tighten just a little.

"That sounds intriguing, though I don't get off work until four, did you want to come over to my place again and talk about it Tomoyo-chan?" Tomoyo wished Seiko had never been brought into this at all.

"What do you mean again Seiko?" Sakura asked dangerously. It wasn't the dark voice from before, but in some ways, Tomoyo thought it was worse.

"I assume she hasn't told you then?" Seiko said gently before smiling.

"Years ago, Tomoyo needed someone to comfort her, to help get her through a very rough part of her life, and I was the person to do that. I wasn't what she really wanted or needed, but I was enough at the time." Sakura wished she hadn't asked. I really don't know anything about what Tomoyo has gone through because of me…I've hurt so many people… Seeing that Sakura was about to tear up again, Tomoyo responded to Seiko.

"We'll be there around six then, that will give you enough time to get ready for company?" Seiko nodded and walked away, her face a torn mask.

"Sakura? Are you alright?" Tomoyo asked softly, "I am ok Sakura, my past is just that, my past, all that matters now is that we have each other. Well that and sorting this whole mess out with the cards." Sakura's face stiffened for a second before she let out a huge sigh. She smiled again.

"You're right Tomoyo, we should be focused on the Cards, they need us right now." She lowered her voice to a whisper, "Though I do hope I can mend you as well. I do love you Tomoyo. Even with everything that's going on, that keeps coming to the forefront of my mind." Tomoyo's heart skipped a few beats, as she turned red. Will I ever grow used to hearing that from her?

"I love you too Sakura."

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"I really don't give a crap about their "feelings" for each other, all that matters is making sure this whole Sakura Card mess is over with. Sakura is obviously being manipulated by someone or something, and we need to fix it." Li was disgusted; he would rather be doing anything else than be on a plane flying to Germany with Sakura's brother and Yuki.

"That is true, but there is nothing we can do about that until we land, your attitude towards my sister and Tomoyo on the other hand." Toya still looked like he wanted to punch Li, but at least he hadn't since the Karaoke Club.

"What about my attitude? Tomoyo is a pervert who has taken advantage of Sakura when she is most vulnerable. I'm still not certain she isn't involved in all of this anyways." Toya's fists clenched but Li continued, "I mean it really is strange that after all this transpired, Sakura immediately left Hong Kong and returned not home to you and her father, but straight to Tomoyo's house. Doesn't that seem odd to you?"

"Not really, she needed a friend, and Tomoyo was all she had left, thanks to you."

"I had literally nothing to do with what happened to her Toya, she may have been careless, but I would never harm her. I…I loved her…" Li looked torn and upset and Toya relaxed his fists.

"I am sure you did, perhaps you even still do, but Sakura needed someone to protect her, from herself as much as any outside force, and you failed at both all because you couldn't get past her biggest character trait." Toya disliked Li's point of view, but he understood the boy's feeling at least.

"I… I am sorry Toya. I still do not think Sakura and Tomoyo's newfound romance is natural or even that it is within Sakura's character, but I can't deny that I failed her back then."

"That will have to do." Yuki said as came into the part of the cabin they were sitting in. "Enough about the past for now, what can you tell us of Germany and what's being done to track the situation there?"

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"I'm not sure I'm ready for this Tomoyo." Sakura was fidgeting in the car, and she looked nervous at the pulled up to Seiko's apartment complex.

"It will be alright Sakura, I won't let you face this alone."

"Thank you Tomoyo…I am really happy to have you with me." Tomoyo's heart fluttered a little.

"Anything for MY dear Sakura." Anything, everything and more.

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"Come on in." Seiko called out from inside when they knocked. She sounded stressed and disheveled.

"Is everything ok? You look stressed out." Sakura asked as they walked in. Sakura was watching her carefully but honestly she looked tired more than anything.

"I'm fine, it was just a busy day, and then I had to rush home to make sure this place wasn't a wreck." She tossed a towel onto the counter and turned to them sitting in the living room. "So, what did you guys need from me?"

"I'm sorry if we made your day longer Seiko, but we just need to clear something up and you may be the only one who can help." Sakura started.

"Well I mean if you want to know where to put an ice cube I can probably help you," Tomoyo choked visibly. "But I think you guys mentioned something about cards earlier." She looked concerned but curious.

"Yeah, about that… So this is going to sound absolutely crazy but…"

"But you're here to talk about the Sakura Cards aren't you?" Seiko's voice had changed, it was still hers, but it was far sadder and more resigned than Tomoyo had ever heard it.

"I…how did you know? Are you actually Mirror Seiko?"

"I am not." She said simply she paused visibly and struggled with herself before continuing. "I can not say more without warning you, if I go any further without changing everything."

"What exactly is that suppose to mean, Seiko?" Tomoyo asked.

"It means that once I start explaining things, there will be no way to go back to the way Sakura is now, nor will you yourself be able to look at her the same way again."

Sakura and Tomoyo looked at each other for a minute, they had to know, and this was the first real lead they had found.

"We don't really have a choice Seiko…" Sakura said slowly.

"I know you don't Sakura, I truly do." Seiko said sadly. "Very well. I was honestly hoping I would live the rest of my life in peace, but somehow I knew it wouldn't come to be." She sat down and began slowly.

"No Sakura, I am not Mirror, or at least I am not ONLY Mirror. What I really am is a remnant of what was, and a living scar of your own past. I am a part of you that was cast aside to save you from your own guilt." Tomoyo gasped and Sakura just stared at her. "Why I exist or why you decided to create me in the first place I can not say."

"What happened? What could possibly make Sakura do something like that?

"I can not truly tell you more Tomoyo," She paused again, "And doing so will be the last thing I ever do…In order to restore your memories, I must lose mine."

"I don't want to hurt you…I've hurt so many people…"

"My entire existence is born out of your pain Sakura." Seiko began, "All of your fears, guilt and grief make up the core of what I am. I am the reason you have been able to live the last few years in peace. It is perhaps fitting that it end the same way as it began, in pain and grief." She smiled sadly one last time before saying. "I have always known it couldn't last." She began to glow softly, "I never hated you for what I endured Sakura. Not once." Looking at Tomoyo she added, "I loved every minute we spent together." She disappeared and Sakura began to scream.

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