The last chapter of this really hurt. It left me drained by the end, more than once I had to pause as I was writing it just to step back and breathe. As I said in the outro of the last chapter, I didn't want it to feel cheap or rushed, and I hope I managed to properly convey that. I had to take a break for a bit, and I apologize for that.

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Strawberry Surprises Chapter 14 – Light in the Darkness

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It was late afternoon, the evening sun creeping though the window of Tomoyo's room, before Tomoyo herself started to stir. She didn't remember falling as asleep, or even coming to her room. I remember dinner and mom,still not sure how to deal with that, and then coming upstairs...!

"Sakura!" She sat straight up in bed looking around her room before meeting eyes with her mother at her bedside. "Where is she?" Her mother dropped the book she had been reading and rushed to hug her daughter.

"TOMOYO, you're finally awake!" She seemed relived and it was clear she had been crying. "I was worried you might never wake up. The Doctor's all said you were fine, but..." She paused, looking into her daughter's eyes. "Tomoyo... It's been three days since the night we talked."

"What? What's going on? Where is Sakura?"

"She is resting, same as you were." Sonomi paused, "We heard you scream and a loud bang, the bodyguards rushed upstairs to find you both unconscious with blood all over the floor, and a bloody knife, but neither of you had a scratch on you..." She began to cry again, "But neither of you would wake up... I thought I had lost you Tomoyo! What happened?"

Tomoyo's head hurt. The memory of that night was blurry, she remembered screaming and the glint of metal and...Sakura..! Sakura... My poor Sakura, I couldn't protect you after all. Tomoyo started to cry softly herself, causing Sonomi to wrap her in a hug.

"Sakura... She... tried... Mom!..." She cried in full now leaning into her mother's arms.

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It was nearly an hour before Tomoyo stopped crying, when she finally calmed down enough to talk coherently again, she began to slowly force out what she remembered of that night. When she finally finished Sonomi was quiet for a very long time. Finally.

"None of that explains how neither of you had a scratch. It explains all of the blood," Tomoyo paled slightly, "But like I said neither of you had a scratch."

"I don't know Mother, The last thing I remember is screaming for Sakura and.." A sharp pain stabbed into her head. She shook it softly. "And that's it. The next thing I remember is waking up."

"It's another mystery I guess at this point." Sonomi sighed, "We moved Sakura to one of the guest rooms, down in the east wing." Sonomi said, watching her daughter carefully, "Given her bedroom was covered in blood, we certainly couldn't let her stay in there. We'll have it all cleaned up soon, good as new. What do you intend to do now Tomoyo?"

"I don't know. I can't protect her from... From that..." Tomoyo shuddered, "I couldn't even protect myself from that..." as Tomoyo began to cry again, Sonomi gave her daughter a gentle look and hugged her tightly again.

"My dear Tomoyo, you are so much stronger than you ever give yourself credit for. You fought past your own past and found your future, I know all the suffering you went through. All that pain, yet you found your light and let it keep you warm in your darkest, coldest nights." Tomoyo looked up at her mother through tears. "Sakura needs that light now more than anything, but she thinks she can't hold on to it for fear of snuffing it out." Sonomi sighed.

"Under normal circumstances, I'd suggest getting more professional help. It made a difference for you..." She paused, looking gently at her daughter again before continuing. "Though I don't suppose with Sakura that is an option. I kind of think any medical professional treating mental illness would see Magic as a sign of psychosis. Tomoyo. Sakura only has you right now. I would assume she will wake soon, and when she does, you will have to be careful with her. She will need time to come to terms with everything, and it.. will not be easy for her."

"Mother..." Tomoyo wiped her tears away, shaking her head. NO, Sakura needs me now. I... I have to protect her now. She stood carefully, gave her mother a hug and went towards the door. She made it three steps before her stomach let out a growl.

"I think you should get something to eat first dear." Tomoyo blushed. "A nice bath wouldn't be a bad idea either. It has been three days." Well, Sakura is still asleep, and I do still have to eat.

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Not Hopeless, Never hopeless. A distant voice echoed in Sakura's mind. Not this weak. She's better than that.

Sakura's eyes slowly flittered open and she almost immediately slammed them shut once again. It's so bright, Slowly, she opened her eyes. Sitting up, she realized she was sitting in a seemingly endless field of flowers. Standing, in every direction she looked, there was nothing but flowers and a clear open sky.

Where am I? Sakura felt tired,like she'd had been awake all day for all she'd just woken up. I don't understand. She thought hard, searching to remember where she had been before she fell asleep, but nothing came. Slowly only one image formed in her head. Where is Tomoyo?

"She is safe Sakura." from behind her a soft voice replied to her unspoken thought. Turning, Sakura came face to face with the gentle eyes of her long deceased mother, Nadeshiko Kinomoto.

"Mom? But you're..?" In her mind a dark night flashed, and Sakura staggered. I..What happened.

"Dead? Yes dear, I am." Nadeshiko said softly, her voice soft but firm as she steadied Sakura, wrapping her in a gently hug. "You however my dear child, are not. Not quite at least." She looked at Sakura thoughtfully.

"Were are we?" Sakura asked looking up at her mother. Surely this isn't some fever dream.

"It is not. Sakura. We are on the edge of life and death and you can't stay here for long or you will never return. And You MUST return." Nadeshiko said, pushing her daughter back slightly.

"How did I get here? What's going on mom?" Nadeshiko sighed heavily, ghostly tears forming on the edge of her eyes.

"I am not surprised you do not remember. Here, in this place, you are whole again. Your mind and heart can be at peace." Nadeshiko sighed again, "But that is not your path, not yet. Not today." She placed her hand softly on Sakura's head and a faint glow filled Sakura's vision as her mind swung open, showing her everything it had locked away. She collapsed to her knees, her mother holding her as she cried.

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What felt both like hours and seconds later, Sakura finally cried herself out and looked up at her mother.

"Mother...What.. I can't...I can't protect any of them... but..." She shook her head. "I don't know what to do..."

"Live Sakura. That's all you can do."

"But what's the point of living if I can't undo whats been done, and I can't even protect any of those I love?"

"Because dying won't save anyone. Not those already gone, nor those still alive. Do you really think Tomoyo would just move on from watching you die?" Sakura could only look at her. "I have watched over both of you for as long as you've been alive."

Nadeshiko smiled knowingly. "I saw from your youth that Tomoyo had so much of her mother in her. For all Sonomi tried to save her from Sonomi's own fate." Sakura's eyes widened slightly. "You think I wasn't aware that my cousin loved me? She was always dear to me, but not in that way. Only your father could claim that."

"What if Tomoyo gets hurt or Killed trying to help me?" Sakura asked her mother weakly. "I am not sure I could live with the guilt of another person I love dying."

"Death...Death isn't the end Sakura. I pray both of you will safely make it through the trials to come, and live a happy future together. But should the worst come? Make her death worth it. Do what your father does for me, and always remember her as she lived, not as she died. Someday you will be together again, and nothing can separate two souls destined together forever."

"Do you think we're supposed to be together?" Sakura asked. Multiple questions hidden behind the one. Nadeshiko smiled knowingly.

"Are you asking do I approve of my daughter being in a lesbian relationship, or if I think you are supposed to be together or if I approve of you dating Tomoyo?" Sakura blushed heavily.

"All three I guess?" she said after a pause.

"You are Tomoyo are a wonderful couple Sakura. You compliment each other in so many ways, including ones you have yet to discover. As for you being a Lesbian?" She chuckled. "You are my daughter and I value your happiness above anything else in that regard. If that is how your heart truly feels, then who am I to stop you?" She pressed a finger to her lips thoughtfully. "As for being fated for each other? I cannot say. Until one of you truly passes on, that is something that can not be known."

"Mom." Tears form at the corners of Sakura's eyes. "What do I do now?"

"Nothing dear. You will soon sleep and return to your body. I am not sure exactly what it is that saved you, perhaps something deep within Tomoyo, but you will recover, for all this very nearly brought you to me for good."

"I mean where do I go from here? I don't think I ca..."

"You are my daughter, Sakura Kinomoto, braver than most and never one to give up, no matter what happens. Don't let them defeat you. Be brave my child. " Sakura's eyes were growing heavier. As she leaned into her mother's arms, she whispered softly.

"Mother...thank you..." As her eyes slipped shut, she felt hope. It was faint, but that gentle flame that was Sakura's spirit had been rekindled.

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It was two days after Tomoyo had awoken. So far, Sakura had shown no signs of waking. Tomoyo had cared for her every waking moment that she could, taking her meals at Sakura's side and resting on a cot brought in for her.

I know she will wake up soon, I have to be here for her. Sakura's complexion when Tomoyo had first woke had been pale, paler that Tomoyo herself, and Dangerously pale for someone like Sakura. Now she almost appeared normal. She could easily just be sleeping like normal now. Tomoyo herself had spent the last couple of days thinking about what to say when Sakura finally woke up. She had gone though dozens of plans, dismissing each one after another. Now? Now she just wanted Sakura to wake up.

Almost as if by request, Sakura let out a sigh as she rolled onto her side, the first time she had moved since the incident. She weakly opened her eyes and met Tomoyo's worried face.

"Tomo-"

"SAKURA!" Tomoyo, having moved to the bedside when Sakura had moved, immediately hugged the girl and began talking incoherently into her hair. "Iamsosorrysakuraishouldhave-"

Sakura gently and reluctantly pushed her away to look into her eyes. "Tomoyo... I... I'm sorry." Tomoyo's faced drained slightly, remembering the last time Sakura had said that. "I..."

"Sakura... I... It's going to be OK. You aren't alone. You don't have to fight this by yourself. Just please... please don't leave me..." Tomoyo began to cry, diving into Sakura's chest. "I can't lose you. Even the thought of it hurts so much I can't bare it. So please..."

"Tomoyo... I'm not going anywhere. I promise." Sakura's voice was steady. In her heart and mind, doubts warred and that darkness threatened to consume all, but she had to fight. For Mom and for Tomoyo. "I'll never try anything like this again. I... It's just so hard...I hurt so many people..." The darkness flared, like a writhing mass, "Li, you, the cards, Kero." Hopeless...

Tomoyo put a finger over Sakura's lips, kissing it lightly between them. "My dear Sakura... I am here. We will win." A spark. "We will make those who are actually to blame pay for all of this. Together. Sakura. I love you." the darkness wavered in Sakura's mind, recoiling. "I have always loved you Sakura. Your strength, your compassion, your selflessness and determination to protect others. I love every little thing about you." She took Sakura's head in her hands gently. "This? This isn't you. My Sakura is stronger than any of this." she softly wrapped Sakura in a hug. "And when she can't find the strength in herself, I will be here to find it for her." Sakura began to cry against Tomoyo. Before long, both were crying.

But the darkness in Sakura's heart had been pushed back, balled into a small corner and locked away. For now, Sakura had hope. It was a small flame, but it burned so bright.

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