After writing two 'heavy' chaps, I decided to try my hand at something a little lighter yet different: a song fic. This is my first attempt at this however ^^; To why I chose the song, I wanted to go with a theme: 1st chap was obviously romance, 2nd was angst/sorrow, so I decided the third should be about friendship ^_^ It is highly recommended you listen to the song while you read. Don't worry, my fic pales in comparison to the song (i.e. THE SONG DOESN'T STINK!)
Light E+T implied here. I can't help it-just finished reading a real purrdy E+T fic. Though, we can't immediately forget Tomoyo's feelings for *cough*cough* but right now I'd like to regard them as plain friends, k? The best of friends to be sure. This is from Tomoyo's POV (I tend to write better from 1st person POV. Dunno why though ^^;).
Disclaimers: The song 'Friends': Lyrics and Song by Yonekura Chihiro; translated by Shinobi Chirlind-Byouko; from Houshin Engi OST. I edited it a bit. You should know the rest.
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Eriol shook his head as he made his way down the corridor. That Xiao Lang… he should be more careful the next time he uses the word 'anything' again. Imagine! Calling him over the phone at 2 in the morning to scream about something to do with card captors, angst, death, angst, songbirds… did he mention angst?! He sighed and thought about what he was to do this afternoon. He could go and visit his only relative's house and annoy him `till dusk singing snips of kabuki songs having to do with cherry blossoms… or go straight home and see what havoc Nakuru managed to cook up with Suppi-chan screaming, err--meowing for help… or see what mischief Yamazaki was up to with Chiharu being busy with cheerleading practice and all…
None of the choices seemed to quench his appetite. Besides, he had that play to work on. The thought called for a heavier sigh. There was a faint yet distinct sound of someone attempting to play the piano from the back, and abandoned, music room. Attempt was too polite of a word. He decided to go see who it was and remedy himself of the noise. The door was half-opened so he took a peep and to his surprise, found a longhaired girl banging her fists all too gracefully on an piano, obviously overworked about something.
"Ack. If Sakura-chan were here she would have helped me with this song I'm working on." Tomoyo thought aloud to herself, still banging her fists on the piano keys. Eriol found this odd since Tomoyo usually kept her head. But the next line explained it, "If it wasn't for the chorus I could have gone and filmed Sakura's cheerleading routine! Ack." Eriol shed a sweatdrop. He composed himself and placed a placid, innocent smile on his face.
"Hello, Miss Tomoyo." He greeted, as if he had just come in not knowing what Tomoyo was doing. "You seem to be in a dilemma, might I be of assistance?" Tomoyo returned his greeting with a warm smile and he felt his stomach make a small lurch. Tomoyo stood up and motioned towards the piano. "I need to practice for a song for our choral group, but we haven't been able to get anyone to play the piano part of the piece. *sigh* Could you play it for me? The piece is already on the piano but I can't play and sing at the same time."
Eriol answered with a gentlemanly bow and swept himself off to the piano bench. He started on the overture while Tomoyo was still ranting about 'how Sakura-chan would have been so happy' trying to ignore the wave of jealousy nagging at the back of his mind. As she began to sing the first few lines, his mind wandered off to the play again. Maybe we'll just do a musical…
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Chapter 3: ~Friends~
I've always searched those same eyes those same dreams my friend
I couldn't understand it. Always, and I mean ALWAYS, I knew what was wrong with Sakura. If she was feeling down, my cheering-up routine would get her to smile. When she was flabbergasted about a clow card, I always thought of going to Eriol for help first. When she and Kero-chan were arguing, I would always take either of them in. So, why? Why do I feel so helpless now? Why is she still on that eerie white bed, so lifeless and unmoving?
We made a promise to one another. We would be the best of friends forever. She would never leave me and I would do the same. I still cherish the pink bunny eraser she had lent me. Her generosity… her love… she didn't deserve this. What had she done to deserve this? Of course she and her brother argued, they were siblings! But that was no reason for her to be punished like this. Was this the inferior counterpart of the happiness she receives? Well, it was dumb. She returns that happiness. She showers everyone around her with unasked love. And isn't it bad enough already that she has to live her life bounded to a mission she had nothing to do with in the first place? It.Was.An.Accident. Nadeshiko was clumsy. You can expect Sakura to be the same.
Fujitaka was still on his place on the other side of the bed, almost as still as his daughter. It was no time for laughs, but he couldn't weep either. Instead he just sat there all day with a half-smile, half-frown on his face, fearing that Sakura's fate would be the same as her mother's.
Those tears of the past, and laughter that will come, I wish to take them all in
Why couldn't it have been me? How come its not me on that bed, a sickly shade of green reflecting my illness? Why? WHY?!
The door burst open and in came Syaoran, to his knees and panting like a wild dog. My guess is he had ran all the way from the airport to the 3rd floor of this hospital. Touya had been an understanding brother and had made an overseas call to Hong Kong where Li was spending his summer vacation. Some vacation it turned out to be. It had actually taken some good convincing from Tsukishiro-san for Touya to make the call, but I was quite sure he was glad he did it.
The footsteps Syaoran made as he made his way to the bed were as heavy as the sweat pouring thunderously from his forehead. "How…is…she…?" he asked to no one in particular, trying to catch his breath.
Under normal circumstances I would have answered him, though it might be slightly rude. He was Sakura-chan's friend after all. Correction: He was Sakura-chan's lover after all. The thought made my stomach wobble as my mind whirled of memoirs of the three of us. He had caused Sakura so much misery when they first met. There were the constant evil glares which made her uncomfortable, the spat of discouraging words, and the competition for her first infatuation. I was by her side all that time, trying to comfort her as she ranted about how horrible school was becoming because of him. And it was also me who was partly responsible in setting them up.
That was the Clan Head of the past, this was the Li-kun of the present. Overflowing with Sakura-chan's love for now, with happiness in store for her in the future. I had put all of Sakura-chan's life to film, and now the movie might end with a cliffhanger.
"She's not well, but she's ok." Fujitaka spoke, for the first time today, in an almost inaudible voice that made Syaoran's dramatic entrance seem like a battle cry. This seemed to make sense to Syaoran as he slumped at the foot of Sakura-chan's bed.
Fear nothing Not even the rainy mornings nor the long darkness of night
After a few hours of watching people like Chiharu, Yamazaki, Naoko and Rika come in to pay Sakura-chan due respects, a nurse came in bidding Syaoran and me that visiting hours were over. At this, Fujitaka pulled the curtain open to welcome the stars for the night. Sakura-chan will need all the strength she can get. After Syaoran assisted him in preparing a cot at his daughter's bedside, Syaoran walked me home.
We were just a few steps from the hospital when a heavy rain started to pour. We ran to the nearest café, our clothes soaking wet and rain leaking from our shoes. We must have been drained of common sense as well as our tears to forget bringing an umbrella. Without talking we knew we wanted the table by the window, which had a view of the upper floors of the hospital. As Syaoran ordered a cocoa-covered cherries dish (which was supposed to be a desert, insisted the waiter), I felt myself shiver against my own will. He offered me his jacket which I accepted graciously. Maybe I'll make a jacket like this in Sakura-chan's size tonight…
"Are you still cold?" Syaoran asked me politely. I shook my head, knowing it wasn't the freezing feeling in my toes that made me shiver.
I want to become the wings that shall protect you, like the sky I shall soar far beyond eras and the future that begins now- I shall give to you I'll face the winds, stamp on the earth and live forever with you
That night I sat there with my sewing materials in front of me. Syaoran's jacket was hung dry to my left, and will serve as the basis of Sakura-chan's get-well present. But I couldn't even get my fingers to reach for a pair of scissors. I made up my mind and reached for the remote control instead. As expected, Sakura-chan's videos were already popped inside the VCR, waiting to be played.
After I pleased myself with reliving Sakura-chan's first check-up with a real doctor (and not her pediatrician), my mother came in with a docile yet forced smile on her face, revealing her expensively whitened teeth. "My baby, the maids have told me you haven't eaten yet. Are you really that upset?"
I stubbornly shook my head, but I guess stubbornness wasn't a trait I inherited from Sonomi-kaasan. She perched herself heavily on my bed and for some odd reason I found myself lost and craved my Sonomi-kaasan's embrace. She gasped in alarm when she felt my tears wetting her shirt, but her maternal instinct kicked in and she hugged me closer.
"It will be ok, dear." She shushed, stroking my long hair playfully. "As…much as I…hate to admit it, Nadeshiko loves Kinomoto-sensei very much. *sniffle* She would never allow Sakura to leave them…and us." She put a protective hand on my head, and I felt the same hot tears I was shedding falling on my hair.
I wish I could protect Sakura-chan the way my Sonomi-kaasan does me. Sakura-chan has hardly received maternal love for all the years of her life. How come I didn't know that the disease was coming? I knew Sakura-chan, her health, loves, weaknesses, everything. I knew them better than Sakura-chan herself. So…WHY? I hadn't realized that I had said the last line aloud, surprising Sonomi-kaasan. She stiffened, but the warmth in her eyes didn't change. "I know not spirits, yet I know Nadeshiko is here with me…with us. We are still the close friends who never failed each other before Kinomoto-sensei stole her from me. This is why I love Sakura like my own child… because the two of you remind me of Nadeshiko and myself as children. You two, shall be together forever."
I stared at her with utter surprise, and she smacked herself for being so out of character. She stood up with a determined look on her face, "That is of course, unless I *points to self* have anything to do with it. That Kinomoto-sensei will die if anything bad happens to my poor Sakura-chan." She then made comical actions of stabbing someone with a pencil, which was so funny that even I had to stifle a giggle.
The world touched by the warmth of those hands brimming with light Just by staying at your side I grew stronger than anyone
I looked at my bedside clock, it read two am. I had yet to sleep a wink. I just stared at the ceiling, thinking of the injustice the goddess of death was doing upon her people. She.Is.Not.Gonna.Die. I reminded myself. My V8 was on the table, filming Kero-chan as he slept not too soundly. If I couldn't film her, then at least one of her guardians would do. I had not spotted Tsukishiro-san all day though… he was probably off trying to console Touya.
I blinked. The people I mentioned, even those I haven't, are my friends. And with them, I became who I am now. But it was because of Sakura-chan that I grew strong, and so did everybody else. Sakura-chan had reached out and helped these people grow, one way or another. I found myself at marvel of the miracle called Sakura.
This little miracle of our encounter shall someday be a part of history
I was looking at Sakura-chan's pale face again. The night had passed, and yet I still hadn't slept a wink. I must look terrible, but I knew that Sakura-chan was worse. A little color had returned to her cheeks, but it wasn't the tinge of red that appears ever so timely whenever Syaoran is within fifty feet of her field of view. Speaking of him, he had taken Fujitaka's place on the other side of the bed stroking Sakura-chan's hand like one would do a puppy.
Fujitaka was just outside the door, speaking with the doctor. They seemed to be in a heated argument which was quite unusual for Fujitaka. At last, I heard him heave a sigh of defeat. He opened the door and looked at all four of us, including the plushie hiding behind the curtain of my hair, with eyes so sad that I could almost swear what I feared last night might be what he was about to say. Before his lips could open for words, memoirs rushed through my mind, especially of how I met Sakura-chan and our vows to one another. No…never.
"Sakura…" he said, trying not to snuffle, "she…and I…and Touya…"
I heard Syaoran let out a sigh of relief. I felt myself stop breathing heavily. We must have been thinking of the same thing.
"…will move to Europe. They have better medical facilities there. It is highly recommended by the doctor."
"WHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTT???!!!" Syaoran screamed not letting go of Sakura-chan's hand, his fist in the air threatening to strike Fujitaka any moment now. "Are you saying there isn't anything Japan can do?!"
"No…" Fujitaka rationalized, ignoring Syaoran's threat. "but we can't be sure she'll be ok…afterwards…"
He let the last word trail, giving Syaoran and me time to make sense of all that was bound to happen.
Such that I ease your pain and sadness like the way the sea does I shall be the light of the future as we drift across the distant waves
Pink, pale blue, peach, pink. I was packing Sakura-chan's tasteful pastel palette clothes for her. Fujitaka and Touya were doing the same for their own closets. Syaoran, under the supervision of Kero-chan, was with Sakura-chan in the hospital. Normally I would have heard a word of protest from Touya, or a disgusted snap from Kero-chan, but both of them were too overwhelmed with Sakura-chan's situation to argue.
We had been so happy two days ago when Sakura-chan opened her eyes again. She couldn't utter a word, nor did she have energy to write what she felt, but by the way her eyes grew large when we told her of the news we knew she didn't approve of the idea. None of us did too, but we all knew it was for the best.
I opened another box for more of Sakura-chan's clothing and was surprised to find a familiar pink bunny suit. It was what Sakura-chan had worn when she first attempted to capture the illusion card, and I laughed at the memory of Sakura-chan gushing when she found out Yukito washed it for her. Ah. Sakura-chan's first infatuation. I hope her relationship with Li-kun isn't another one… I won't be able to stand seeing her so miserable again.
The clothes were piling up, so I decided to do my reminiscing while folding. I could remember quite clearly the first time she had used the Sakura cards without the help of the stars. She grew sick, but all she needed then was rest. Syaoran & I came by that afternoon to check on her. Sakura-chan was pleased with our visit, but I knew that she was rather pleasantly surprised with Syaoran. Sakura & Syaoran…the perfect axiom.
I finished folding up a rather flowery blue dress, and began to think of the two once more. Their relationship had brought Mei Ling to tears, and she had ran to me for comfort. I was full of bliss for her to think that I could ease pain and sadness that easily. She must have thought that was the way I was with Sakura-chan. I'm afraid she was wrong, because it was the other way around. Whenever I felt down it was Sakura-chan's smile that lighted up my mood. I'm happy, as long as she's happy. My famous mantra.
I wish I could return the favor in any way. Be the one to guide and help her for once. If Sakura-chan heard me now she would counter that I already helped too much. Ah, she is quite naïve. Yes, I made clothes, film her adventures, and make excuses for her occasionally… but that isn't really considered help. At least, not in the way she does me.
`Till the end of this long journey I shall live forever with you
The elevator was painfully slow as it ascended its way to the departure flights' floor. Sakura-chan had fallen asleep on the way to the airport, and she was now resting her head on the side of her wheelchair. Syaoran was behind her, playing with her hair if not rocking the chair a bit to try to wake her up. Kero-chan was trying to act like a plushie once more, situating himself between the armrest and Sakura-chan's waist. Touya and Tsukishiro-san would be following us shortly, after checking in all the Kinomotos' luggage.
1…2…3. The door opened and the lady behind the elevator buttons recited, "3rd floor. International Departure Flights." We made our way out through the bustling number of people trying to come in. Most of them had teary eyes. They probably had just bid their loved ones goodbye, like I was supposed to within little time. We waited a while on the corridor for Touya and Tsukishiro-san.
Syaoran nudged Sakura-chan a bit, she answered with a groggy sound that sounded somewhere between a horse's neigh and Touya's snoring (I've spent a night or so in Sakura-chan's house, so I should know). An elevator door opened, but we didn't recognize anyone who came out. "Are we…there yet? *blink*" Sakura-chan yawned, stretching her arms a bit nearly slamming her fist into Syaoran's face.
"Dear, we've been here in the airport for the last couple of hours." Fujitaka answered his daughter, paternally placing his hand on her head. "Hoe?!" Sakura-chan's reaction didn't have the same enthusiasm to it, but it would do. A second elevator door opened. Again, we didn't recognize anyone. "You better say your goodbyes while we have time." Sakura-chan seemed to contemplate this, and she lifted her head to see who was handling her wheelchair. Syaoran turned a shade of tomato red when Sakura-chan caught his gaze, but there was no denying the fact that they were sharing the same pout on their faces. The elevator door opened.
Tsukishiro-san was carrying a bag of food, much to the annoyance of Touya. Fujitaka had pointed questioningly to it so Tsukishiro explained that "Airplane food is terrible. Bring this as a carry-on!" Our small group shed sweatdrops. Sakura-chan insisted that she be the one to carry the food, to the delight of Kero-chan. Syaoran had to push the wheelchair harder because of the added weight.
We made our way to the terminal, the final meeting point before we had to bid goodbye. I kept trying to steal glances from Sakura-chan but she was too intent on checking out the food Tsukishiro-san bought. Her eyes grew particularly large when she brought out a gigantic oatmeal cookie the shape of a crescent moon. The plushie started to drool. I tried to hide my own present behind my back, wondering if Syaoran had some idea to what I planned to give Sakura-chan. It didn't seem to matter, however, when I spied a gift peeking out of his backpack.
Syaoran hadn't bothered to wrap it, but he didn't need to. It was a wooden sculpture in the shape of a bear. In spite of the strong perfumes of the people around us, I could sniff the distinct scent of cherry blossoms. My guess is that the bear was carved from cherry blossom bark. How thoughtful.
We stopped in an area with huge poles carrying banners that read, "Meeting point." With a little subhead, "Passengers only beyond this point." Fujitaka gave Syaoran and me a final look before scooping the two of us in a bear hug whispering, "Thank you for being such good friends to Sakura." He let us go, took the bag of food from Sakura-chan (much to Kero-chan's dismay), and went ahead. Syaoran and I simultaneously turned our attention to the redheaded girl staring at us with hopeful green eyes.
I ran to hug her. She was taken with surprise, but she returned my embrace generously. I heard her sniffle. "Please don't, Sakura-chan." feeling my own eyes starting to water. She shook her head and motioned me to come closer so she could whisper something to my ear. She tucked several strands of hair behind my ear, hesitated, then whispered "I love you, Tomoyo. Please say you'll be my friend forever." I looked at her, trying to hold my laughter in. There was no need for me to tell her. I just gave her my present.
She unwrapped it and gushed with delight. The jacket was exactly like Syaoran's, except it had a pink teddy bear stitched at the back instead of a yin-yang symbol. "Just thought you might get a little cold in your flight." Her eyes were brimming with happiness--which was immediately replaced with panic. She suddenly moved around her chair frustrated. "I…I…" she looked around some more, rummaging through her pockets and purse. "I don't have anything to give you." She looked at me dejectedly like it was the end of the world. I was about to reply that there was no need when she shushed me and pulled something out of her side pocket. "Here." Her hand clasped around mine. "Its not much, but I'll send you something from Europe to make up for it."
She turned her attention to Syaoran who was nervously fingering his backpack. I turned my back to them, deciding to give them some time of their own. I turned my eyes to my hands and saw a pink bunny eraser, much like the one she had lent me when we were younger. I smiled. Sakura-chan had no idea how important her present was to me. I turned around just in time to see Sakura-chan peck Syaoran on his cheek. He turned beet red and started to murmur something about prophecies and fate.
Touya was obviously not as delighted with the action as Syaoran was, but he let it pass anyway. He had already given Tsukishiro-san a fair amount of a goodbye speech, so it was our turn now. He put his hand on my head and said, "Ask your mom if you can come visit us sometime. We'd love to have you come by." He turned his attention to Syaoran, "that doesn't apply to you, bratty priest." And pulled his eye down. Syaoran was still red, but I couldn't tell if it was from Sakura-chan's kiss or annoyance at Touya. How I wish I hadn't intentionally forgotten my V8 at home.
Touya took the chair from Syaoran (after casting evil looks at one another which sparked electricity between them), and started pushing it to the direction their father went. I followed them with my eyes until they were just a little speck among the crowd, but I knew Sakura-chan had turned around to scream one last time,
"Tomoyo, Syaoran & Sakura- friends forever!"
Syaoran & I held our thumbs-up in unison.
I shall live forever with you
~TSUDUKU~
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AUTHOR'S NOTES (Yay! A chance rant & yap!):
§ This chap didn't turn out as I wanted. This was supposed to be one of my happier chaps, but I guess my writing reflects how I feel. *sigh* Read the fic log, I'll explain it to you guys then. But I am sad. =C "Das Werk lobt den Meister" –German. "The work proves the craftsman"
§ Did Tomoyo seem OOC? I don't know much about CCS to know how they would react to these circumstances *sigh* ah well, PLEASE review! Sure, most fic writers think of reviews as ego-boosters but I… well, they do help but so does constructive criticism. So, PLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEE???
§ I can't believe it. I can't believe it! There's actually Saiyuuki here in the Philippines?! Oh, my gosh! I found DVDs of the ovas & REQUIEM even! Wai~ if it wasn't for the fact I was short-budgeted that time… curses…
§ Added new inspiration source: Weiß Kreuz piano solos. It doesn't help much since the piano-playing isn't that 'grand', & that bamboo flute or whatsoever instrument is kind of awkward as vocals, but its fair enough ^^;
§ This song kind of grows on you… the wrong way…-.-'