Chapter 2
By Lyaliro
Warning: This fanfic contains shoujo-ai, also known as yuri, which is also known as a girlxgirl relationship. Don't flame me because you weren't smart enough to read the warning.
That night you could say we fooled around a little, just a little. Even though the morning after would be a school day, we managed to convince our parents to let me sleep over at your house. We laid together outside in the park for a while, waiting for the sun to fall asleep.
It was a fairly secluded hill we were upon, just you and I. The trees nearby waved cheerily in greeting. You shivered, and I wrapped my arm about your shoulders, pulling you closer. You thanked me with that smile of yours, that smile which used to tear me apart. Now it seems to take all the pieces of my lost childhood and return them. I felt you wiggle a little closer as a breeze passed by. I could tell by the pinkish tone in your cheeks that you were still slightly embarrassed. I didn't mind, and let loose a small giggle. "You can take my jacket, if you like," I say as I sit up and slip out of the jacket.
"Arigato, Tomoyo-chan," You replied, putting it on.
You looked so cute with my jacket, the sleeves of it so long they cover your hands. After elementary school, I was always taller than you. Now you're nearly a head shorter than I am. My eyes ran up and down your form, drinking in every detail of your body I had already memorized long ago. Your light skin, so perfectly smooth that silk would be jealous. Trusting green eyes the color of a newly unfurled leaf. A sort of dirty blonde hair that's been in the same style for far too long. I can't even remember your hair any other way. I didn't notice your hand moving until it gently touched my shoulder, guiding me back to the soft grass. Ah, and those pink lips always silently pleading to be caressed by another.
I moved nearer, till your mouth was the only thing I tasted. It was like… Waves of unending security and comfort. You filled me, completed me, rose me up above the sky and stars. Slowly we broke apart, and once again I lost that feeling. And yet, we were still connected somehow. My fingers traced your jaw line, our eyes no longer turned towards the heavens. For how we gazed at one another, I do not know. But by the time we shifted so our backs were once again against the grass, the sun slept soundly.
My right arm casually slipped around your waist. Though, what was so casual about two girls, perfectly in love, lying next to each other at night in a park? I let my mind drift to thoughts of homework, costumes, and my new digital camera. Somewhere in my half-conscious wonderings, you managed to wiggle around and maneuver yourself so your hands linked at my left shoulder.
I giggled, but it didn't mute the pain in my voice as I asked, "If you knew for so long, why didn't you tell me?" Although I couldn't quite see you, the image of your face, uncertain and hesitant, flashed into my mind. As soon as the words left my lips I regretted them. It was the wrong time and place, yet I asked anyway. Inwardly I sighed, shrugging it off to wait for the answer that had been eating at my mind for hours.
"I… I didn't know I loved you back until a few days ago," you say, voice barely above a whisper. Somehow, somewhere I hurt you with that one question. I pulled your small form closer; the wounds I made multiplied twofold and inflicted upon my own heart. A tender kiss you placed on my neck as you readied yourself to continue answering. "Li came up to me after school, talking to me like he always did. Friendly, yet stiff, you know? Then he asked if I wanted to go out with him. I was surprised, and I thought I liked him. My mouth opened to say yes…" Your face reddened ever so slightly, "But all I could think of was you. I finally understood all those half-hearted smiles you gave to everyone except me, all those sad looks you tried so hard to hide. The pain I must've caused…" That was enough. Your head came to rest on my breast, finished with words for the moment.
It all seemed so dreamlike. Every motion slowed to a crawl, till the speckled night-blanket ceased to glitter, dull and looking very much like far off city lights. I took your face in my hands, the wind dying down. A soft apology leaving your lips hung in the air for a moment before fading away as we kissed. It started gently enough, with our tongues cautiously exploring each other's mouths. Somewhere in the middle I coaxed you on, or you coaxed me, or perhaps both. Our lip-lock soon became furious, almost. An endless, raging river of passion poured out of me, one that had been dammed up for far too long. And you returned my love without the slightest bit of doubt or hesitation. My hands ran through your hair, down your body past the curves I had only longingly gazed at for so many years. Your pulse rang clearly in my ears, matching my own so our hearts beat as one.
When we parted, our breaths came in quick gasps. Your cheeks were flushed and you had locks of stray light brown hair falling into your face. My hands had somehow ended up underneath your shirt, and I quickly drew them back. Your face seemed to grow even redder, if that was even possible. "G-g-gomen," I stuttered out. The flow of time resumed, if it ever did stop, and the trees began to cheerily sway once again. The moon had trekked through the sky without rest, and was already high. "We should be going about now," said I, rapidly changing the mood of the scene.
Your face instantly became alarmed, grabbing my arm and dragging me off to your house as swiftly as humanly possible. "Our curfew!" You cry out. Apparently, we made it back just in time, a few minutes before our set curfew. The rest of the night I spent blissfully sleeping in your arms.
The next day we walked to school, hand in hand. There are no words to express my joy. Oh, feeling of your hand touching mine! A warmth that travels through my arm, spreading through my whole body. Each step I take is if I am floating without a care in the world. If this is love, then I never want to let it go. We passed by fond childhood memories and old friends before arriving at school.
As we walked in the hallway I could hear the whispers of the students around us. There had already been rumors about you and I, but they were usually swept aside for other matters. Just to confirm their gossip, I think, you briefly kissed me on the lips. An uncomfortable silence appeared, and then disappeared as the flow of talk began again. Looks of both disgust and support were sent our way. And, just before class started, I returned the kiss with one of my own.
By the end of the day the news had spread far and wide. It seemed half the school was rooting for us while the other half despised us, and a small group was simply apathetic. Even the faculty was in on it. I knew some bets were made on how long we would last and which one would dump the other. Now we were behind the school, right next to an empty field set up with a volleyball net. Right as the chime to let us out rang, people wanted to try and chase us down. Some were writers for a small school newspaper that wanted an interview, and others were simply curious. And thus we found sanctuary here.
You had me trapped against a wall, both of your hands just by my shoulders. I chuckled lightly and leaned forward. During our passionate lip-lock, I opened my eyes and spotted Li behind you and off to the side a little. He held a bright bouquet of flowers. His eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and revulsion, then switched to a sad acceptance. The same sort of sorrowful understanding that had once touched my own features and was in every movement I made.
He was, in some ways, a kindred spirit. I suppose Li was here now because the network of gossip doesn't quite reach him. He always was a bit of a loner. He was handsome, too, and the girls try to break into his shell. The few that were brave enough to ask him out were always turned down. His eyes were always on you. His shoulders drooped, and it seemed even the flowers in his hand wilted slightly. Poor Li. He tries so hard to get so little. The pity I felt for him soon melted away. "Too late, Li. Sakura's mine now," I thought. He shuffled, and I mean he literally shuffled, away as my eyes closed again.
Afterwards you and I walked to a local playground, the likes of homework ignored for now. As we sat on the swings we spoke of days when we were still children. Every single Clow card capture was said in hushed voices. Old friends that had moved away returned, though only for a little while. Near the end of our conversation you asked, "When did you know you loved me?" I knew this question would come sooner or later.
"It was slow and gradual, like the changing colors of leaves in the fall. You never really notice the change until it's complete. I just liked you more and more until I realized I loved you in the 4th grade," I replied, voice remaining steady throughout.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Sakura-chan."
We sat in an understanding silence for long minutes, and I was simply enjoying being in your presence. My eyes watched you slowly swing back and forth. Cries of joy and laughter were heard all about us from small kids.
Suddenly a familiar pair of arms wrapped me into a crushing hug from behind. For a moment I couldn't breathe. I knew who this person was. Nervously I turned my head to face her, mouth dry. Then she kissed me. I would be lying if I said I didn't like it. You looked absolutely shocked, stopping your swinging once your feet touched the ground. A chin came to rest on my head, her elbows upon my shoulders. Long, soft strawberry blonde hair tumbled over my left shoulder. Sky-blue eyes no doubt gazing at you, she cheerily asked, "Who's your cute friend, Tomoyo-chan?"
A/N: Oooo. Cliffhanger-ish. Originally, I intended the fanfic "Replies" to be a simple one-shot. You reviewers changed my mind. Dammit, I hate it when that happens. Now I have a plan for this "series". I also suffer from frequent bouts of writer's block, so don't expect one 'o these babies to be waiting for you every day. I'll try to get up one chapter each week, or something.
In the next chapter: Find out the identity of the mystery girl that kissed Tomoyo! Also, reactions from Li.
