A/N: Hi : ) I'm back again with the next chapter of Tears of A Fallen Angel and I just want to thank everyone who takes time from their busy lives to read and review. : ) I also want to extend thanks to the C2: timE kiLLeR for adding THE AUDITION to their archive.
lunarianmaiden: I'm glad you love the story, and to tell you the truth, I actually cried myself while I was typing out that letter. ; P
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Chapter 6
A week had passed since Tomoyo had that conversation with Mei Ling, and she felt reassured that everything was going great in Hong Kong since Mei Ling hadn't tried to burst her eardrums with another of her night phone calls. Sakura seemed much calmer now, even if at times she still showed the lost look she had before Syaoran talked to her.
Tomoyo glanced over her homework to check on Sakura. She, Naoko, Rika, and Chiharu were all camped out in Sakura's living room doing their homework. At least Rika and Chiharu were doing theirs along with Tomoyo and Sakura, but Naoko's been intent on a huge sheaf of paper for it to be their daily homework load.
Tomoyo went back to her work, satisfied that the Math homework was keeping Sakura too preoccupied to think hard, because that's what Tomoyo guessed of here friend's lost look. It hadn't been that present these past few days, but it still hadn't disappeared entirely, and it was a cause to worry as far as Tomoyo was concern. She had already come to terms that Sakura loved Syaoran, and she's happy that Sakura's happy, but there's no helping the concern that popped up at every lost look Sakura wore.
Naoko growled causing the room's occupants to glance her way, startled out of their homework. Naoko looked particularly crossed and started muttering under her breath, gliding her pen savagely against the page she was working on. When the paper was totally shredded to pieces by her actions, she ripped it up, balled and tossed it angrily on the floor.
Sakura and the others watched Naoko as she rested her chin on her elbows with a furious expression on her face. Sakura shrunk back a bit, Tomoyo looked curious, Rika worried her lower lip. It seemed only Chiharu wasn't affected by Naoko's sudden burst of anger.
Naoko raked a hand through her hair in frustration. "I can't do it. I cannot believe that I can't do it."
Chiharu gave her a patient stare. "You don't have to rush it Naoko-chan. You know you get easily frustrated every time you rush something. Just let it be, it'll come to you eventually." She placed a hand on Naoko's arm to offer comfort, and maybe to keep Naoko grounded in reality.
Albeit a bit timid, Rika chimed in, "Naoko-chan, most of your best works happened when you keep yourself relaxed. I'm sure the same will happen to whatever you're working on."
"But that's not good enough. This is supposed to be our cultural festival script. This is going to be Sakura-chan's debut." Naoko nearly wailed, grabbing fistfuls of her hair.
If Sakura had been listening to that outburst, she would have probably reacted in shock. But apparently, when she was trying to put some distance between Naoko's glare and herself, her eye caught the painting of the angel.
Sakura would have loved to have it hanging on her bedroom wall, but her father said it would be very dangerous since the only available space was right on top of her bed. She thought about it a bit and realized her father was right, and relented on having it hanged on the living room instead. It became one of the high points of the room if Kero could be trusted. When no one's around, the little guy would steal downstairs to stare at it. Sakura had caught Kero a couple of times motionless in front of it and could safely conclude that Kero loved the painting if not its giver.
Tomoyo let out a strangled squeak before covering her mouth to mute the sound. She eyed Naoko pleadingly to stop whatever she might add. Chiharu and Rika exchanged worried glances. Tomoyo hadn't yet told Sakura that the cultural festival theme of their class will center on her. Fortunately, Naoko was too gloomy to talk further and just resorted to staring blankly ahead.
Tomoyo let out a small sigh and asked Sakura a bit loudly to mask the tension. "Sakura-chan, why don't you get some more tea while I prepare the cake?"
Sakura snapped out of her daydream, and looked at them dazedly. "Oh… Sorry. What was it again?" she asked sheepishly.
As one, the group turned to see what kept Sakura's attention that she completely missed out one of the biggest slip-ups. Taking note of what it was, they all gave out a loaded 'oh' which caused Sakura to blush.
Trying to find a way to escape their knowing smiles, Sakura searched around for something to do and took note of the nearly empty cups. "My, I better get us some more tea." She volunteered in an unusually high voice and literally pealed away to the safety of the kitchen.
Everyone exchanged a relieved sigh that their usually aware Sakura had been totally distracted since Li sent a painting resembling her, and, Tomoyo hinted at, a romantic letter.
"Somehow, I can't decide if it's a good thing for Sakura-chan to be so distracted or not." Rika commented, slanting a worried look towards the kitchen.
Chiharu agreed with Rika's sentiments. "Yes, it's hard to choose. But I like seeing Sakura-chan smiling again the way she used to before we became juniors."
Tomoyo looked on in sympathy at her friends. Though they tried their best not to show their worry to Sakura's less than cheerful behavior, it was obvious how much Sakura's silence affected them all.
It was Tomoyo's idea to make Sakura the lead in the cultural festival. She related this to the girls one time Sakura separated from the group to head down her street. It was unanimous that Sakura would be the focus of the story. The busy schedule of rehearsal, the lines she would have to memorize, all on top of cheerleading, and schoolwork ought to chase away whatever it was bothering her.
"Let's just treat this as a good thing for the moment." Tomoyo said decisively. The other two murmured their agreement with the exception of Naoko.
They exchanged glances and turned to scrutinize Naoko. She hadn't moved from her position but it could easily be observed that her attention was elsewhere. Chiharu would have nudge Naoko if Sakura didn't chose that moment to appear bearing the now full teapot.
"Now that tea's here, let's all have that cake." She called out cheerfully and nearly dropped the pot when Naoko suddenly surged to her feet.
"I got it. Of course, this will work even better." As if in a trance, Naoko glided reverently towards the painting, eyes glazed over. "Why didn't think of this before."
"Um, Naoko-chan?" Chiharu called out after Sakura had taken her seat next to Tomoyo on the floor, with the pot safely deposited in the middle of the center table.
"Ladies, you are now looking at our new story for the cultural festival." Naoko announced grandly when she finally snapped out of her preoccupation.
Four pairs of eyes went from her to the painting behind her, all wide with undisguised shock.