Chapter II: Tomoyo Knows

Darkness – an empty void surrounding what once was a prism of colors. A lonely morbid place. Gothic in a sense. Lovely; so lovely and yet sad.

Sakura felt trapped in this Darkness. She couldn't wait to get out of this abyss… and yet a part of her wished to remain…to avoid Life and all its complexities… Tomoyo… she must rest! She must forget and live on! No, forget and die on… Forget Sakura… Forget Yukito, Aya, Li, Eriol… Eriol and his smile, embrace, kisses…

Suddenly, out of that Darkness, a hand began tp choke Sakura…choking her, depriving her of mortality, killing her… NO!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

No! The girl was turning blue; she gripped around to stop the perpetrator but only grasped NOTHING…

Yes! Yes! Yes!

No! she needed air… She was dying! All alone in this limbo…left to die alone!

Yes! Like me!

N-O!

"Noooo!!!" Sakura's eyes flew open. She sat up, gasping for breath, gently massaging her neck. Tomoyo? But… The girl looked around…studied the room she was in – the Queen-size bed she was plopped on, the Entertainment set by the corner, the many stuffed toys, the opened closet revealing the Sakura Costumes Collection, the camcorder on the side table…

Shit… What am I doing in Tomoyo's room?

She got up, heading for the door when she realized she was completely naked. What the hell is happening? Where's Syaoran and Yukito? And why am I nude?! Crimson filled her face as she hurriedly grabbed and put on some underwear and a sundress, grumbling at the situation she's in.

Quietly, she got out of the room and descended the spiral staircase. Nobody seemed to be in sight. She called, "Hello? Is anyone here?" She continued going down, listening for a sound, any sound…waiting for an answer.

No answer.

The living room seemed barren. Only lifeless figures presented themselves to the girl. The stereo had been playing some classical piece – that Beethoven sonata Tomoyo had always been raving about.

She touched the plush couch, remembering the times they've spent gorging on this same furniture, hands locked, hearts tied… Sakura felt a deep sense of regret. If only… No! It was right. I was right! The girl got up and left the spacious room.

Sakura walked towards the kitchen, hoping to find Tomoyo's mom and her cakes. The cakes. Yes, the only thing, which could make her feel better. Because of those cakes, she had met Tomoyo… She owed a lot to those cakes. But there was no Mrs. Daidouji. No cakes…but a rumbling sound from under the table.

"Mrs. D?" Sakura whispered, crouching down. "Mrs. D?" She called again, peering under the tablecloth, hoping to find Mrs. Daidouji…only to see Tomoyo crouching, consuming what looked like human mutilations.

Sakura could only gape at her in horror, watching the sanguine liquid trickling down her best friend's chin. She stared as Tomoyo showed her bloody teeth in a freaky grin, scaring the wits out of her.

Sakura couldn't move. It seemed as if she was glued on that spot. She wanted to cry yet the tears wouldn't flow. What's happening to you, Tomoyo? Have I really done this to you? Their staring game seemed endless…until Tomoyo held up what she had been eating – Eriol's familiar face jumped at her… the visage twisted in an impossible manner… Only then did Sakura realize Tomoyo had been devouring the remains of their friend – the cause of all these events.

Hallucinations… Yes, these are what they are! Sakura shut her eyes, as if closing them would miraculously unwind everything.

She heard Tomoyo's laugh – childlike, playful, eerie. She felt the corpse's soaked hands touch her cheeks, and an electric jolt rushed down her spine.

Tomoyo was so, so cold.

The ghost began to speak, not taking off her hands. "We were the best of friends, Sakura. I had you; you had me. We had everything! …And then Li came and took half of you away from me. But I could forgive him. He was your destiny. I couldn't argue with what the stars have charted… But Eriol had to come… First, deceiving me with his mortal body, only to find a way to take the remaining half of you…the half that was supposed to be mine!"

At this point, Tomoyo's hands had gripped Sakura's face tighter and her nails had dug deeper into her skin. Sakura had to force herself to stifle her screams as not to disturb Tomoyo's thoughts. Yet, her tears begun to betray her, and they fearlessly trickled down. This time, surrendering to Sorrow. "…And you willingly gave it to him… Sakura, I was so shocked. He was my fate…I was supposed to have him but he chose you! And even if you had Li, part of you still wanted him… you selfish bitch! Stop crying! You have no right to shed any tear at all!"

Sakura was wailing now as Tomoyo scratched, slapped, disfigured Sakura's face. Then, as if her patience had finally reached its limit, Sakura fought back, unleashing the emotions welling inside her. she opened her misty eyes and lashed at the supernatural being. Who are you to punish me?

"I have all the right," Tomoyo took one step back and grinned. "And now you want to fight…Guilty, Sakura?"

The girl's eyes widened. How did she know?

The ghost let out a freaky laugh. "Maybe you've forgotten, my ever dearest friend. I'm not human anymore… I know what you've been hiding…even what others have been hiding from you… Goodbye, Sakura."

With that, the place began to fill with smoke. Tomoyo had whisked away into oblivion…somewhere the living knows not about. But it is not yet the end. Sakura looked around, made sure her ex-friend wasn't lurking behind her. Her heartbeat doubled. Fear began to envelope her. It is not yet over. She will return…for revenge? I don't know. But one thing's certain…

"Tomoyo knows…" Sakura murmured just as her body surrendered, collapsed on the marble floor, and entered the Darkness once again.

I must be careful…