Menagerie: {Prologue}
A clean room is a good place to think. There's nothing to distract you from your deepest thoughts. The cool, comforting sheet of a made bed, the way air can move freely without bumping into things, the mere silence- all of it perfect for when you need time to yourself.
Tomoyo had discovered the secrets of a clean room long ago. Of course, there were always the maids to clean the room without complaint but it inspired in her a sense of accomplishment. More satisfying than the A's she received at school or the medals she'd earned at singing competitions. It was one of her two favorite things.
The others were video tapes.
One hundred and ten video cassettes of her favorite cousin and friend, Sakura. Oh the memories! The wonderful, glorious memories that these tapes held! Watching them reeled her back in time. Back to before. Before Sakura had gone off to college. Of course, Tomoyo couldn't help but feel an incredible pride for her cousin.
Still, her heart ached whenever she recalled Sakura's cheery, emerald eyes and chestnut hair. And her smile! Anyone would have called it goofy. But to Tomoyo, it was perfect. Perfect because it meant Sakura was happy. If Sakura was happy, she was happy.
"The greatest happiness for me is to let the person I like have the most happiness."
She'd said this herself when she was only twelve years old. When she had decided she was different from the girls who swooned over football players and movie stars, who had hopes and dreams of marrying and having children.
Tomoyo liked Sakura as more than just a friend.
But her love was a selfless love. Sakura loved someone else. A Chinese boy named Syaoran. Seeing the sparks between the two, Tomoyo played the part of matchmaker and brought them together. Afterwards, they spent little time together, and the only way Tomoyo could see Sakura was in the precious video tapes she had made of her.
And so, day after day, Tomoyo sat in her room, watching tape after tape. A museum trips, school events, visits to the mall…all of them were there and she was happy to have memories that she could watch again and again.
The video was getting to the best part. Tomoyo knew the plot of this movie, but she always had shivers up and down her spine as she watched the climax, when one of the boys at school had asked her to date him.
"Don't do it, Sakura!" Tomoyo called out dramatically, spilling half her popcorn on the floor. As Sakura took a breath to answer, Tomoyo heard her mother, Sonomi, yelling on the phone.
"What do you mean by 'he's at college'?! He told me he would come!"
No, Sonomi was an independent woman. The boy she was looking for was yet another rich, possible fiancée for her. Yes, her mother wanted an arranged marriage for her, so she would definitely marry someone rich and handsome. As for Tomoyo, she would use the man's money to improve her mother's company, Sonomi Toy Co.
Sonomi had been calling all her rich friends, hoping to find the perfect boy. But the process had not been going well. She slammed the phone down with a snarl of frustration.
"I'm sorry," Sakura replied on the plasma screen, "I…I already have someone."
"Well said, Sakura!" Tomoyo squealed as she picked the popcorn off the ground.
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura or The Glass Menagerie