Disclaimer: you know it, I know it, the owners of ccs know, it. That all rights belong to them, not me. Just borrowing the character, nothing else.
What She Needs- The Soft Side
"Tomoyo-chan! I'm so glad you came!" Tomoyo was immediately swept up into a suffocating hug by Sakura Kinamoto.
"Sakura… I can't breathe." She managed to sputter out, making the auburn haired woman ease up on her grip.
"Gomen." Sakura pulled back and smiled at Tomoyo. Even after so many years, she still has the same exuberant smile that seemed to light up the room. Only now, her once childish face had become the defined face of a woman. She had the strong pointed chin of her mother, but her eyes were still soft and gentle. Now her hair hung just above her shoulders, framing her face with their soft auburn curls.
"Thank you for inviting me." Tomoyo bowed and stepped into the house.
"Oh Tomoyo, you look wonderful tonight!" Sakura exclaimed in her usual enthusiastic tone. "You should wear that dress all the time! Is it new?"
Tomoyo nodded. She had bought the cap-sleeved black dress that day after she realized none of the "going out" clothing would be appropriate for a family gathering. It would be an addition to that small corner of her closet she deemed "Sakura's corner." Tomoyo preferred to keep things modest in Sakura's company, since she was ignorant to the way she lived her life.
"It's really ridiculous Tomoyo." Sakura spoke as she reached for the large shopping bag Tomoyo had been carrying.
"What is ridiculous?" Tomoyo asked as she followed Sakura into the living room. There were already plenty of people there. Mostly Syaoran's relatives and a few old college friends.
"That someone who looks as beautiful as you, is here by yourself tonight." Sakura said casually. She held out a glass of wine for Tomoyo which she accepted gratefully, but not without a slight roll of the eyes at Sakura's flagrant hint.
"Sakura, you promised me that you wouldn't try to set me up with anyone. How many time do I have to tell you…"
"You're happy the way you are." Sakura finished the sentence for her. "I know, I know. Its just you never know how much more you may enjoy having someone else besides us. Anyway there is someone coming that I want you to see anyway. He's actually a surprise for Syaoran too, an old relative."
Tomoyo sighed. There was no point in arguing the topic to death. Sakura never subsided and neither did Tomoyo. She would just have to let it be and left the conversation unfinished.
"Tomoyo, Tomoyo!!" There was a tug on the ends of Tomoyo's skirt and she looked down to see the angelic face of an auburn haired child. The spitting image of a young Sakura.
She set down her glass and bent down to lift the young child into her arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "There's my favorite kiddo in the whole wide world. My little Nadeshinko." The arms of the young child wrapped around her neck and squeezed her just as fiercely as her mother had.
"Did you bring me anything from your work?" She whispered in Tomoyo's ear, trying to conceal her words from her own mother, but like her mother the child was not a master of discretion.
"Nadeshinko! That is not why Tomoyo-chan is here. She can't always bring you gifts. You cannot be so greedy." Sakura reprimanded the young girl.
"Its okay Sakura." Tomoyo turned her attention back to the little pixie in her arms. "Well, I don't know. It is your daddy's birthday. So I had to bring him something too. But lets see what else fell into the bag." She knelt down with the girl still in her arms and reached into the shopping bag Sakura now held for her and pulled out a stuffed dog. "Oh Willy, how did you get in there?" Tomoyo held the dog in front of Nadeshinko's face. "This is Willy. He likes to sit in my office with me at work and talks to me sometimes. When you pet him, he's gets happy and wags his tail. Go on. Pet him."
Nadeshinko patted the stuffed dog's head with hesitance and the dog immediately came to life, with a bark and a frantic wag of the tail. The little girl giggled with glee when Tomoyo touched the toy's nose to hers and pushed it into her arms. "I think Willy will have much more fun with you in your room than he will in my office, so I think I'll leave him with you, ok?"
The child nodded and then wriggled from her arms to go play with her new toy.
Tomoyo stood straight and pulled her dress back into its place. She looked up and caught sight of Sakura's scowl. "You spoil her."
Tomoyo rolled her eyes. "So does Syaoran, he's just not as blatant about it. But I can confirm that his account at Daidouji toys is a hefty one."
"Why did you have to go and tell her that?" A voice spoke up behind her. Tomoyo turned and was face to face with Syaoran. She smiled and gave him a hug.
"Happy birthday Syaoran. Here." She took the shopping bag from Sakura and handed it to him.
"Thanks Tomoyo." He gave her a peck on the cheek. "So did she tell you about the surprise? She said its for both of us."
"Hmmm, yes, she mentioned something. But I'm hoping she kept her promise and that my half of the surprise isn't a set up." She laughed.
Syaoran laughed with her. "Don't worry Tomoyo. I'm on your side. I keep telling her that you don't need to be set up. You are beautiful enough to rope them in yourself." She gave him a trademark Tomoyo smile and gave her excuses to go mingle.
Instead of going around meeting people, Tomoyo went outside for a smoke. She wasn't in the mood to mingle and make small pointless conversation with anyone. Besides, the only people she would talk to at these parties besides Sakura and Syaoran were Touya and Yukito, but they had yet to arrive.
She stood on the balcony of their third story apartment. Inside she could see people talking, laughing, and a few already swaying to the melody of their liquor. Wanting to be in that state herself, she took her glass on wine that had been sitting on the stone railing and finished it off. She turned out to face the night sky and looked up at its magnificence. It was a clear night, wonderful for stargazing.
"Looks like you need a refill." A husky male voice called from behind her.
To be Continued