A New Semester of Love
I really appreciate everyone who has reviewed. I hope you enjoy this next chapter…it's kind of lacking in action, but it should still be a little interesting hehe. ^_^
Thank you for reading!
Chapter 4: A Desire
Eriol and Tomoyo returned about 10 minutes later, still together, to a table now occupied by not only Sakura and Syaoran, but Rika and Naoko as well. Rika and Naoko looked happily at them both; neither had seen Tomoyo during the summer since she had been on vacation and neither had seen Eriol since he had visited last semester.
"It's been so long since we've seen you both," Rika exclaimed, smiling at Tomoyo and Eriol as they put down their trays and sat down. "I'm so glad that you decided to transfer here, Hiiragizawa-kun."
Eriol smiled at her. "I am too. And how have you both been?" he asked, looking from Rika to Naoko and back.
"We've been doing quite well," Naoko replied. "I'm already loving the classes I have this semester."
"Yeah me too," Rika added. "I'm glad to be back."
"How has everyone's first day been?" Eriol asked glancing around the table, his gaze lingering on Tomoyo whose cheeks became slightly pink under his eye.
"Mine's been pretty good," Tomoyo replied quickly, looking away from Eriol.
Sakura smiled as she watched Tomoyo. "My day hasn't been too bad either," she answered. Syaoran nodded his head in agreement while Naoko and Rika began to talk excitedly about some of the classes they were taking.
The group talked excitedly for the next hour, even after every one had finished eating, they just continued to chat, talking about not only the new semester, but also the summer.
While Tomoyo had been gone on vacation most of the summer, Eriol had been busy with the paperwork concerning his transfer, Syaoran and Sakura had just enjoyed the summer resting and growing closer to one another, and both Naoko and Rika had found part-time jobs that they had enjoyed; Naoko working at the library and Rika working as an assistant at a summer school alongside Terada-sensei. Rika blushed as she told the others about her job. The rest of the girls smiled, the guys totally clueless about any connection between Rika and their old teacher.
They finally all decided to head back to their dorms when they noticed the dining center had almost completely emptied and the workers had begun to start cleaning. Rika and Naoko waved and called out a cheerful goodnight as they made their way in the direction of an all-girls' dorm in the opposite direction of the rest of the group's dorm. Sakura and Syaoran led the way back with Tomoyo and Eriol following close behind.
Tomoyo quickly brought out her camera once more as she noticed Syaoran had again taken hold of Sakura's hand, squeezing it gently. Eriol smiled at her as he watched her happily filming her best friend who, he noticed, was much happier than he had last seen her the time he had visited before. I'm glad things are all better now. It had been so suprising what happened…so absolutely horrible.
He continued to watch the girl walking beside him, his eyes shining almost imperceptibly at the dark haired beauty walking with camera seemingly glued to her eye. It's nice seeing Tomoyo so happy as well...she looks so pretty now…
He blushed at his own thoughts and looked away from the young girl. His gaze now fixed on the couple ahead of him, he smiled amused as he watched Syaoran gently lift Sakura's hands to his lips. He looked down at the ground in front of him, his smile weakening.
Bringing his own hands out in front of him, he looked at them, holding back a sigh as he remembered all his life watching couples forming around him, smiling so happily, so filled with joy. He had always wanted that kind of happiness, but had never known it. For a time, his thoughts had been full of a teacher they had all come to love, Kaho Mizuki, but his admiration for her talents and her beauty hadn't been what he or she had wanted, and so his hands had remained empty of another's warmth.
He was, he knew, jealous of his descendant, who had been able to overcome his own pride and realize his own feelings for those around him, especially his love for his beautiful card mistress. But he was happy for both of them; both had successfully worked in capturing and changing the cards and making everyone around them love them very much. He knew they belonged together. But there was still a kind of pain for him as he watched Syaoran kiss Sakura's hand, as they looked at each other, their eyes so full of their love for each other that it was impossible for anyone who could see them together to not realize it. I just really want one day to be able to have someone like Sakura and Syaoran have each other…I want to be able to hold the hand of the one I love…
He looked at Tomoyo again, her camera still focused on the couple ahead. She's so beautiful…
***
Tomoyo watched as Sakura and Syaoran separated from them as they returned to the dorm. Instead of going in, they had decided they would go swing a little at a tiny park close to the dorm. The rain had seemed to be taking a break, so they thought they would take advantage of the situation and go off a little on their own. Eriol had said a quick goodnight to them all and had gone into the dorm, so now Tomoyo was left alone in front of the dorm, not yet wanting to go inside.
She looked up at the dark night sky. It was only a little after 8, but it had grown quite dark already, and the clouds made the night look even darker, completely blocking her view of the stars and the moon she so much wanted to see. Sighing, she started walking away from the dorm in the direction of the park, not really wanting to bother the couple she knew wanted to be alone, but still wanting to watch them, to see them together. Watching them always made her happy, she had always wanted to see Sakura happy more than anything, and now that she was, she wanted to watch her with the man that made her so happy.
She walked silently, coming within sight of the park in only a couple minutes. Upon reaching the edges of the tiny park, she hid behind a tree, just watching the cute couple swinging slowly in the swing set, their hands still clasped together, shy smiles on both of their faces. Tomoyo sighed. It's so wonderful to see them so happy…but it's kind of sad too…knowing that I don't have someone like that…that I don't even know how it feels to be with someone you love like that…even the feeling of loving someone is something I don't know…
Memories of the past rushed into her mind as she watched them, of the time she first became friends with Sakura, of the eraser that Sakura gave her that she still kept, of the times that she had seen Sakura in danger when capturing the Clow Cards and then changing them into Sakura Cards…and not being able to help. She remembered always how Syaoran had been there…at first in a hostile competition with Sakura, but later just watching over her, protecting her…something that she could never do for her best friend. She knew she had been jealous of Syaoran, may still be jealous of him, for being able to be someone Sakura depended on so much…that Sakura loved, but yet she was happy for him because Sakura loved him so much. She would always accept anything Sakura loved no matter what.
Her own feelings for Sakura she hadn't ever really understood till she saw her love for Syaoran. She had thought that she loved Sakura more than anyone else, that she loved her as a friend, that she loved her as even more than a friend. But when she saw the kind of love that existed between Sakura and Syaoran, she realized that her love for Sakura wasn't exactly what she thought…it wasn't the same as the love they had for each other. And she came to realize that she loved Sakura as if she were her sister…she wanted to see her happy, she wanted Sakura to be able to depend on her…and she was even jealous of Sakura's happiness although she knew that she wanted Sakura to be happy.
Tomoyo looked away from the happy couple after seeing Syaoran lean over and softly kiss Sakura, and she leaned heavily against the tree she remained unseen behind. I just really wish I could find that someone for me…
***
End of Chapter 4