~I don't own Cardcaptor Sakura~

Shaoran x Tomoyo

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~~~~~Chapter 25: Azalea Afternoons~~~~~

Tomoyo's POV

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"Mm... Shaoran..."

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~"Shaoran... I love you..."~

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I'm having a lovely dream...

Shaoran and I, in a field full of flowers, on a picnic... me leaning against him, head on his shoulder... that is, until he draws me into his arms to kiss me.

...So it's cliche. But cliches wouldn't be cliches if they didn't happen, would they?

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Even within the dream, I know that I'm dreaming. But that's all right.

I'm with Shaoran, and I love him.

It's a good dream. He loves me.

It almost makes up for the horror of the dream before.

Almost.

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"Uh... yeah?"

"H-huh? Shaoran?!"

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Oh, yeah... almost forgot about that. Not that I'd ever want to.

I'm sleeping in Shaoran's arms...

Forget the dreams about him... this is much better... it's the real thing.

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"Glad to see you finally decided to wake up, sleeping beauty. I was wondering whether or not I'd have to wake you up with a kiss. Not that I'd mind, that is. In fact..."

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A soft kiss brings me to my senses... yes, I *am* awake... this is so much better than any dream could ever be. ...I'm absolutely loving this. What I wouldn't give to wake up to this *every* morning...

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"Good morning, Shao-chan..."

"Good morning, angel."

"Finally decided to wake up, though... just what time is it, anyway?"

"Half past one."

"W-what?! I haven't slept this late in so long...!"

"I know, I know. Me either. But, you know what? I felt too good to move..." With this, I get a wink, and he's got just about the cutest expression ever on his face... a mix of happiness and satisfaction, topped off with that ever-present slight smirk of Shaoran's.

"Oh you did, did you... Guess we oughta do this more often, then?" I can tease, too, you know... Not that I wouldn't love it if we did... but I want to see his reaction. From the way he acted about sharing the same bed last night...

"T-Tomoyo..."

"*giggle* You know, Shaoran..."

"Yeah?"

"I haven't slept this well in ages~! You make an awfully good pillow..."

"Ch! A pillow, am I? That's it?"

"Haha... I never said that was *all* you were, love..."

"...Good. Cause pillows don't do this..."

He gently pressed his lips to mine... a chaste kiss, so sweet and gentle. An 'I'm glad you're here and I love you' type of kiss.

Damn, do I love Shaoran.

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Wow. Getting to sleep in his arms *and* waking up to multiple good-morning kisses?

I could definitely get used to this....

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"Oh, Shao-chan... I love you so much."

"Tomoyo... I love you, too."

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Settling back into his arms, I decide I don't want to move... ever again, if I don't have to. Lying here in Shaoran's arms, loved and protected... I couldn't be happier.

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ring, ring, ring

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"The phone..."

"Do we have to answer it?"

"*giggle* Of course we do, Shao-chan! What if it's something important?"

"But what if it isn't? I'm comfortable..."

"Yeah, I know, I am too... I love being here with you like this."

"You... you do?"

"Of course I do! Why wouldn't I?"

"I-I don't know. I guess I just thought..."

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ring, ring, ring...

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"Thought what, silly? You know, I... Actually... let me answer the phone before I continue that thought."

"Right."

I brush a ghost of a kiss over his lips before getting up... I'm really enjoying this a little too much, aren't I?

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"Hello? Li residence..."

"Tomoyo?!"

"Sakura-chan! What's wrong? Why so surprised?"

"Well, nothing really... It's just that I was calling Shaoran to see if he knew where you were! I've been calling your house all morning! I originally wanted to ask if you wanted to go shopping with me... there's a cute new store opening downtown today! But, then I got a little worried when you weren't home, because your maid said you hadn't returned at all last night... Wait a minute! Does that mean..."

"Oh, I'd love to go with you, Sakura-chan! ...Does that mean what, though?"

"You didn't go home last night... you're at Shaoran's house this morning... Ne, ne! Tomoyo-chan, you didn't...?"

"What? *NO!* Gods, Sakura-chan, you know me better than that, don't you? I fell asleep watching a movie! It was late, so I spent the night!"

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Heat's rising to my cheeks... I can feel myself blushing. Of course I... how could Sakura-chan think such a thing?! I mean, I love Shaoran and all... it's not that I wouldn't want to... it's just that... call me old-fashioned, but... I mean... I...

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"Haha... okay, okay~! Actually, that's prolly good. Because, I mean, I know you love each other and all... and you've known each other a long time, but you've been going out, what, three weeks?"

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There we go, that's exactly it... three weeks isn't exactly a long term relationship.

Well, that and the fact that I'm still not sure about how serious Shaoran is about me.

Wait, scratch that last thought. You're not doubting him anymore, remember, Tomoyo? You should never doubt love. Didn't that nightmare show you what would happen if you did?

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"Yeah, three weeks exactly! So... do you still want to talk to Shaoran?"

"No, that's okay... I've found you already~!"

"All right~! So, what time do you want to go shopping?"

"Hmm... well, it's kind of late to go today, unless you're ready to go now..."

"No, I'm really not... sorry... I'd have to go home and change and all..."

"No problem! Let's go tomorrow, then!"

"Sure, sounds great!"

"'Kay! Bye, Tomoyo-chan! See you tomorrow~!"

"Bye, Sakura-chan!"

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I feel kind of bad I worried her... But I'm glad I stayed here with Shaoran, anyway.

Waking up next to him is the most wonderful feeling in the world.

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"Ne, Shao-chan... now that we're up, what do you want to do?"

"Hm... as much as I want to stay here, I guess we ought to stop by your house... the body-guards are probably freaking out."

"Mou... I don't want to! They're so fussy... and they never leave me alone! I'd rather be here with you..."

"...You mean that, Tomoyo?"

"Of course I do!"

"...Thank you."

"You know I love you, Shao-chan..."

"I... well, you know, we really should go, anyway. They're probably going to kill me for keeping you away so long without warning them first..."

"Hmph. Fine... I'll go, but only cause you want me to~! Gah, it's so annoying that my mother won't let me get rid of them..."

"Hey, you need *someone* to protect you..."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Cause you're too damn beautiful to be left alone... too many creeps out there."

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Aww... don't you just love the protective type?

But I'd really much rather have *Shaoran* save me than those body-guards...

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"Shao-chan..."

"Let's go."

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~~~~~azalea represents romance

this chapter was relatively sappy... ack sorry bout that. as ive said before, writing pure sap/romance isnt exactly my forte... so please bear with me till i can go back to the plot ^_^ (itll only be like another chapter or two before it comes back)