Author's Notes: Welcome to another installment of my fic. So, Sakura kidnapped Tomoyo? O.o I can't believe it either! ~gasps~ (Okay, okay, I can. I wrote it after all.) And why is Tomoyo acting...well, the way she's acting? Don't worry, mysteries will be explained as the fic goes on. Of course. Have I let you down yet?
Oh yes, about Naoko and Yamazaki...I'm mixing up couples left and right now! ~giggles~ I just thought it would be an interesting change. And...it could happen. Chiharu is overseas. Yes, yes, I know it opens me up to another story in the saga. Maybe I'll be lucky and it will express itself in a oneshot. ~weary sigh~
AtomBunny, Kira, Askani Blue, L-chan, Nouchi, Alba, Yuri Fan, Ice Angel Dark Moon, Peacewish, Natsu, and Snowykittenz...THANK YOU!!! It's a departure from my norm, I know. I'm happy that I'm getting reviews for it though! Yay! Life is good....
On with the show.
Now What?
When Tomoyo woke up she didn't know where she was. Sunlight streamed in and hit her in the face through white lace curtains. It diffused the harsh nature of the light slightly, but the brightness was still enough to call her from the magic-induced sleep.
I can't believe she did this to me.
Tomoyo just couldn't seem to wrap her mind around the concept that her sweet and innocent best friend had just kidnapped her, abusing her magic to get her way. It just wasn't like her.
She stood wearily, rubbing absently at her eyes. As she looked around she realized she was in Sakura's room. It had just been redecorated since the last time she was here, but the windows and the slant of the ceiling gave it away.
"Why? Why would Sakura-chan, of all people, do something like this?"
She wasn't surprised when Kero poked his head out of the desk drawer. "Well, you see, I kinda mentioned that she should if you didn't want to listen. How was I supposed to know she'd take me seriously this time, of all times?"
"Kero-chan, this isn't funny. I'm a very busy woman these days."
"Will the world end if you don't finish your day at work today?"
"Don't be so melodramatic. The fate of the world does not depend on me talking to Sakura-chan."
He floated closer, folding his arms across his chest and piercing her with the small black eyes he had in his false form. Those eyes were like obsidian buttons, glittering in the light, and for the first time ever Tomoyo found that somewhat ominous. "Tomoyo, you know that Sakura is a very powerful sorceress. You never know when the fate of the world will come into question if you cross someone that powerful."
Tomoyo just laughed. "This is Sakura-chan we're talking about! She would never harm a soul! She is too kind, and too happy."
"I'm sure you thought that before today she would never abuse her magic to hold someone against their will, no matter who suggested it."
Tomoyo immediately shut up. He had a very good point.
~~~~~@~~~~~
Sakura was downstairs, wondering what on earth she would say to her best friend. It had hit her half way home what she had actually done. She had been flying at the time still, and nearly dropped Tomoyo when the thought had occurred to her that she had used magic to force her friend to do something against her will. Sakura was shivering with reaction as she tried to think of a way to make it all right.
"I can't believe I did this," she said out loud to the empty living room. It was supposed to be a playful gesture. It was supposed to be something to give Tomoyo an excuse to do what she actually wanted, not some nefarious scheme where her own will was more important than anyone else.
She had to admit now though, it had gotten out of hand. It had become a contest of wills, and for some reason Sakura had felt the need to prove herself. She would not admit defeat, not against someone who--
Someone who--
Someone who treated her as if she was less than she was.
Tears slipped down Sakura's face. Was it really so important that she have someone to talk to?
No, nothing was worth this. With leaden feet Sakura began the long walk up the stairs and to her room, the same room she'd lived in for as long as she could remember. She dismissed the Lock card absently, opening the door with a heavy heart. She didn't even look up as she held the door open, knowing that Tomoyo would be awake now.
"I'm sorry, Tomoyo-chan. I should never have done this. You're free to go, and I'll understand if you never want to see me again." The words were said in a hushed voice, low and heavy with tears. She held in sobs with all of her willpower as she waited, watching the floor so she would know when Tomoyo finally walked past.
Her heart nearly stopped when Tomoyo's high-heeled feet didn't continue past, but stopped before her. Her best friend's arms were suddenly holding her close, and Sakura found herself sobbing into Tomoyo's shoulder. Both were murmuring words of apology and reassurance to each other, clinging tight as if they'd never let go.
~~~~~@~~~~~
Once they both calmed down, Tomoyo was left looking at Sakura with another pain in her heart. Still, she smiled and stayed for the day, realizing that Sakura would never have done something like this without reason. "Sakura-chan, why did you do this?" she asked gently.
"It all just got out of hand. I needed someone to talk to, and I've just been so lonely, I've felt so alone lately."
"Yes, but what was so important that you need to talk about?"
Sakura looked startled for a moment. "I can't believe I almost forgot what started all of this in the first place. Syaoran is coming back. Soon."
"I'm so happy for you! It's been months this time, hasn't it?"
"Almost an entire year," Sakura said softly, shaking her head. "We've been calling each other and writing letters a lot, but--" She shrugged, unsure what to say.
"What's wrong?"
"I think he's going to propose."
Tomoyo started to smile, pulling herself up to exclaim her congratulations, but she stopped herself. "Sakura-chan, aren't you happy about that?"
"I don't know. Ten years ago I couldn't wait for this moment. I knew that when we were ready, we would make this our happily ever after, and I would be with him forever. I should be happy. This should be the greatest moment of my life. He's been talking about the future and how he'll take care of everything for me, and all I can think of is 'what if I don't want to be taken care of?'"
Tomoyo patted her friend on the shoulder carefully, but Sakura still felt like she might break. "There, there. It's okay. It's natural to get cold feet."
"But...Tomoyo-chan...what if I don't love him anymore? We've been together so long, I don't know what I'd do without him, but what if I look at him when he comes back, and all I can think of is I love him the same way I do Onii-chan now?" She didn't dare admit that she was throwing these what ifs out because that's how she had felt the last time Syaoran was here. Sakura had simply been too scared to say anything about it to anyone.
"I've heard that it's common to get nervous before something like this. You should wait and see. I'm sure, once he gets here, you'll have that same spark between the two of you as when he left."
Even Tomoyo didn't understand. Sakura tried to smile, tried to be hopeful, but her heart was breaking. She couldn't hold it in for long though, and tears began to slide down her face again. "What if you're wrong?"
Sakura found herself wrapped again in Tomoyo's embrace. She found it easier to cry with her face pressed against Tomoyo's shoulder. The tears began to flow faster and harder, until a gentle hand began to gently rub her back. The touch sent shivers down her spine; soothing the ach her doubts had begun.
"If you see him, and that's how you feel, we'll deal with it then. I'll be there for you no matter what, okay?"
The sincerity in Tomoyo's voice was absolute. It didn't even cross her mind to question her friend after the trouble she had gone through earlier in the day. At that moment Sakura would have believed anything that Tomoyo said though...as long as she could stay in her best friend's arms. Nothing had ever felt more right.
