CHAPTER 5

Tomoyo lay in her bed again, in the quiet of the night. Her previous nap had made her unable to sleep again. Plus the dream had scared her.

Sakura-chan…why do I feel this way? I mean, we're such good friends but thinking about you hurts…

It did hurt. The hurt was different than any other hurt she had gone through…

Tomoyo shook her head. She didn't want to think about it!

Fed up, Tomoyo got up and walked onto her balcony, and covered herself with a sweater. The moon shone high and bright among the stars. Tomoyo grinned at them. The stars…they're Sakura's power. Not the sun, not the moon, but the stars... So many that it outnumbers everything around it.

Tomoyo found herself walking among her garden in the night. Her insomnia wouldn't be cured that quickly.

After dinner she had helped Shaoran plan an escapade with Meiling for her birthday by going out and sightsee, chauffeured by Tomoyo's own staff.

That meant she was to stay with Sakura for that day. Thankfully, that day wasn't until Sunday, and that day it was Monday.

Tomoyo blinked in surprise. Thankfully? What? Why would I ever think that I wouldn't want to be with Sakura-chan???

"Daidouji…"

"Hm?"

"I…found something…" Shaoran produced the catalogue. Tomoyo took it and saw the product in question circled with a blue pen. It was a locket in the shape of a heart with wings.

Tomoyo grinned. "I'm sure she'll love it. I'll order it today!"

"I'll pay for it…"

"No need! Take it as a start-you-off present" Tomoyo winked.

"Er…thanks…"

"Tomoyo!!"

Tomoyo lifted her head to see Sakura running towards her, wearing a backpack in the shape of an egg. Shaoran stuffed the catalogue into his backpack. Tomoyo huffed.

"Li-kun, I need that, you know." She reached over and grabbed the catalogue. Shaoran blushed as Sakura came closer, and might have had a peek at the paper.

"Ready?"

"We're waiting for Meiling…" Shaoran said.

"Go on, we'll catch up, okay?" Tomoyo grinned a prize-winning smile.

Sakura and Shaoran had synchronized blushes. Tomoyo giggled under her breath. "See you!"

Shaoran nodded and walked off. As Sakura ran up to him, he offered her his arm. Tomoyo instantly frowned when she took it.

"I-I'm here!" Meiling came, but she looked terrible. You could tell she rummaged around, trying to find something to cover up her eyes, which were slightly red and had large bags underneath them.

"Hey"

"Where's Shaoran and Kinomoto?"

"They already left"

"O-oh…"

"Meiling-chan…"

Meiling glared at Tomoyo. "I can't help it, Daidouji, okay?! I love Shaoran, and no matter what I can't get over it. I know I want to make Shaoran happy, but making him happy makes me unhappy."

Tomoyo nodded. "I know how you feel."

Meiling widened her eyes. "Oh yea! That guy! So…how do you deal with it?"

Tomoyo looked at Meiling. How does she deal with her loved one being taken from her? "Not well…"

"You're better than me. Not crying all the time."

Tomoyo grinned with sympathy. "It'll be okay. Come one, we're late"

Sakura let go of Shaoran's arm when Tomoyo and Meiling showed up.

"Tomoyo…"

"What?"

"You said that if I truly loved, then I shouldn't be embarrassed."

'Yea…"

"But I am! I can't help it! Whenever anyone I know comes along, I get so scared and embarrassed!"

Tomoyo smiled and grabbed Sakura's hand. She squeezed it. "It'll pass."

"I guess I feel guilty…"

"Guilty?"

"Well, Meiling might of said that her engagement was off with Shaoran…but she…looks so sad whenever we're together…"

Tomoyo almost gasped. "You can tell?"

"Yea…I guess I'm more...well, I can tell about it more now. Since Shaoran confessed I keep my eye out for it…"

"I see…" Tomoyo let go of Sakura's hand. For some reason, her hand began to feel in pain…not anything serious, but an annoying pain that she couldn't describe.

"Tomoyo…?"

'Yes, Meiling-chan is sad, but she knows he doesn't love her. And don't worry. I'm sure it'll be okay."

"How do you know?"

"We've arranged something for Meiling-chan's birthday…"

Sakura sighed with relief. "Good. I don't want her to hate me…again…"

Shaoran and Meiling walked in front of them. Meiling was walking slowly and saying something, while Shaoran was facing forwards but you could tell was listening to her.

Tomoyo turned her head to see Sakura's eyes twinkling with adoration. She saw Tomoyo looking at her and smiled. She then turned back to Shaoran. Tomoyo bit her tongue from the pain in her heart.

"Shaoran is so…nice…" Sakura whispered.

"Uh, yes…he is…isn't he?"

Tomoyo's eyes started to fill with tears. She tried to blink them back, but they kept on coming, threatening to fall down her alabaster cheek.

"Go on ahead…" she whispered to Meiling.

Sensing pain, Meiling nodded and grabbed Shaoran's arm.

"Oi! What are you doing, Meiling?"

"Shaoran?" Sakura asked. However, as she was about to leave, Tomoyo grabbed her arm.

Sakura turned and saw Tomoyo's face. "Tomoyo? Are you okay?"

"I'm…I-I'm happy for you, Sakura-chan…because you're happy."

Sakura nodded, concerned. "I know. What's wrong?"

Tomoyo pulled her into a hug. Her arms clutched Sakura's neck and squeezed it tightly. "I'm s-so happy f-for you…so happy…" Tomoyo began to cry. In all the years she knew Sakura, she never cried in front of her, let alone in a public place. But she wouldn't let go, and more tears stung her eyes.

"H-Happy…"

"Yes, Tomoyo…I am happy…are you really happy?"

"You are happy…I am h-h-ha…happy…"

Tomoyo began to sob uncontrollably. Sakura sat and Tomoyo followed suit. They were in the middle of a sidewalk, but Sakura or Tomoyo didn't let go. Sakura let Tomoyo cry on her shoulder. She didn't ask why Tomoyo was sad. Tomoyo respected that but…

I thought you were more attuned to someone who is in love… Tomoyo thought throughout her sobs. I thought you'd notice…

I thought you'd notice by now…

The rest of the day went by without Sakura mentioning or even thinking about what happened between them. Tomoyo had calmed down and they walked to catch up to Shaoran and Meiling. Tomoyo still felt foolish…

"Daidouji? You're face looks red…"

Tomoyo met Meiling's gaze. Thinking quickly she said. "The one I love is here."

"He is? Where is he?"
"Around…"

Meiling looked about. "Is it him? He's good looking…no, wait he has a girl with him…"

Tomoyo zoned Meiling's words out of her head. She had called her staff to order the locket earlier. She knew Sakura would love it. Especially from Shaoran…

"What about him? Wait…that's a girl with short hair…oops…well, she looked like a male from the back?"

Tomoyo almost snapped with panic. "Are you saying I'm gay??"

Meiling jumped. "N-no…it was my mistake. That girl just looked like a boy from the back…"

"Oh…okay…"

"Are you alright, Tomoyo? Or am I embarrassing you since You-know-who is here?"

Tomoyo shook her head. "No, I'm just…tired…I've been having big headaches lately."

"Oh…I hope you're okay…"

Tomoyo nodded in reply.

'Hey, where did Shaoran and Kinomoto go? They were just with us a moment ago…"

Tomoyo nodded. "Let's look."

The streets were littered with many stores. But none were what Sakura or Shaoran would like.

They ran about and ended up by the park. They both sat on a bench, out of breath.

"Where could they have gone?" Meiling asked.

Tomoyo shrugged. "I don't know…but we have to find them s— Meiling-chan? What is it?"

Meiling's eyes were fixed on something behind Tomoyo.

Tomoyo cocked her head. What was it?

Tomoyo turned her head.

Her eyes took in everything. The sapphirre blue of her eyes faded to a blue-grey from the shock.

There was a tree.

A cherry blossom tree.

It's branches tried to cover it.

But they didn't.

Sakura

Shaoran

They stood behind that tree.

They stood.

They were close.

...

They kissed.