A Tomoyo and Sakura Story
By G. P.
Please send comments to: treeandleaf2002@yahoo.com

Note: all names and characters are property of CLAMP. This story is
in no way meant to infringe on their intellectual property rights.

This story is part of a series, but may be read alone. The previous
stories in order are:
Love is the Crooked Thing
First Date
Fruits Candy
Tomoyo and the Visitor


I.
The teachers all agreed. "Beauty in the Woods" had been such a
success for the fourth grade class that it deserved a reprise as the
fifth grade play. The students, enthusiastic but nervous, began
writing their names on the board. Just like last year, Mizuki-sensei
would determine the parts randomly. As Sakura wrote her name, Tomoyo
smiled, wondering what new costumes she would get to create for her
friend. Already her head was full of fantastic designs for a fairy
godmother, and dignified, regal attire fit for a queen. She could
hardly wait to start sewing! So enraptured was she with the prospect
of getting a new costume on Sakura that she missed the scowl on
Sayoran when she got up to write her own name on the board. 

Newly returned from Hong Kong, he felt as out of place as ever. He
was puzzled why his awkward, tentative approaches to Sakura had gone
unnoticed. Brooding back home, he realized that Sakura had shown
interest in him, but he had been too busy to see. Now, she seemed
friendly, but that "something else" he had sensed was no longer
there. If only he were the Prince, and she the Princess of the play,
perhaps she could be made to see the connection they shared, as well
as their proper place in the order of things. Despite everything, he
had never really accepted the notion that a weak little girl could be
the true successor to Clow Reed. Awakened from his reveries by gasps
and cheers, he was delighted to see the first part of his plan fall
into place as Mizuki-sensei revealed the name of the Princess:
Kinomoto Sakura.

Tomoyo flew from her chair, holding her hands together in ecstasy.
Sakura would make a perfect, absolutely perfect princess! Enraptured
in a flurry of flowers and bubbles, she failed to see own name
revealed:

The Prince: Daidouji Tomoyo

Dumbstruck, Sayoran glared at the blackboard. This was even more
ridiculous than last year. How could a quiet, nondescript girl like
her ever play the part of a noble prince? As shock turned to
aggravation, he finally noticed that his own name had been revealed
as well.

Mizuki smilingly passed out scripts to the eager boys and girls. She
took great delight in being the new fifth-grade math teacher, though
her students were sadly unaware of the true power of numbers. As she
absently took her copy, Tomoyo’s attention was fixed on the Mistress
of the Cards. Mizuki laughed to herself and spoke up brightly,

"Daidouji"

The girl turned to face her, lavender eyes sparkling at the prospect
of her friend as a princess.

"I think you'll make an interesting Prince."

Tomoyo smiled and bowed slightly as she caught Mizuki-sensei's
enigmatic smile. She had not even thought about her own part in the
play. Well, with a little altering, she could wear the costume from
last year. But most of her time would be spent in designing a costume
fit for a true Princess.

Next day the class had their first walk-through rehearsal. Terada
sensei joined Mizuki to supervise and direct. Right away he saw the
problem. Mizuki's odd method of casting generated excitement among
the students and audience, but this was the sort of snag he had
always feared. The Daidouji girl was one of his best students:
bright, punctual, cheerful, and talented. But she made an awful
Prince. Kinomoto had been surprisingly good in the role last year,
with a physical verve and commanding presence that convinced all that
here was a Prince indeed. But now he covered his face in his hands as
Daidouji dropped her sword instead of drawing it with a flourish.
Worse, her soft voice had none of the iron determination that such a
part demanded. He looked helplessly at Mizuki, who simply smiled as
if she had not a care in the world. Already, he was preparing his
apologies to the Principal. Turning to the math teacher he whispered,

"Mizuki-san, eh, perhaps we might consider some slight alterations
to ensure, eh, a more harmonious cast?" He winced as Daidouji bowed
in apology after dropping her sword again. 

Beaming, Mizuki whispered back, "Oh, that would be fine. I do worry,
though, about the effect such a change might have on the children. I
am sure that many of them would love to have a different part." With
a puzzled look on her face, she said distractedly, 'How might we
apportion the parts fairly so that every child gets the one they
want, and is also right for them?"

Terada groaned to himself. She was right. One change would lead to
another, and it would be impossible to match up every student with
the part they wanted and would be best at. With a blush, he
remembered his secret hope that Rika-chan would play the Princess.
Well, they would just have to do their best. But already he was
dreading the night of the play.


II.
With the performance only a few days away, Sakura asked Tomoyo if
she would like to get together and rehearse. In Sakura's room the
following day the auburn-haired girl struggled to remember the lines
while her friend looked on encouragingly. For the first time, she
made it through without a stumble.

"Do you want to do your lines, Tomoyo-chan?", she smiled.

Tomoyo looked up and said, "Oh, thank you, Sakura-chan, but I
already know them by heart."

Looking closely at her friend, Sakura noticed a brief look of
concern. Taking her by the hand, she spoke earnestly,

"Tomoyo-chan, is everything all right?" 

Startled, Tomoyo looked at her, smiling again, and said, "Oh, yes. I
was just thinking about how to finish the sleeves on your costume".

With a worried look, Sakura blurted out, "Oh, I'm sorry if I
interrupted your sewing by asking you to come over. And even though
you already knew your lines you came to help me! I'm so sorry, Tomoyo-
chan".

Tomoyo, distressed by Sakura's reaction, squeezed the girl’s hand,
"No, no, it's all right, really, That's not it, I'll have it all
finished in time...." Her voice trailed off in silence.

Sakura looked closely at her friend, and again sensed something
troubling her. Smiling, she said, "If that's not it, Tomoyo, what is?
Something is bothering you, isn't it?"

Tomoyo looked up into the shimmering emerald eyes and felt her heart
flutter. Since Sakura had first confessed her love almost a year ago,
the two had grown ever closer. An unexpected result of this was that
Tomoyo could hide less and less from her increasingly perceptive
friend. For years, Tomoyo locked her love away, safe and secret as
the little eraser in the box in her room. Unaware of Tomoyo's
passionate affection (as well as her silent pain), Sakura had
directed her singular concentration towards the capture of the Clow
Cards. Now that attention was focused laser-like on Tomoyo, and the
dark-haired girl found it increasingly difficult to conceal the
things she feared would hurt her friend. Haltingly, groping for the
right words, Tomoyo whispered,

"Sakura-chan, I'm just...worried that I won't be a very good Prince
for you." 

She looked away lest the tears take her. Ever since the first
rehearsal she had worried about being an adequate Prince for Sakura's
Princess. That concern was oddly like the anxiety that had stalked
her for the past year: how could she ever be worthy of Sakura's love?
Her adoration for the girl was boundless, but had boxed her in. She
was torn with worry that she could not be all her friend deserved. On
stage with the choir, and even as a soloist, Tomoyo performed with
confident ease. But now, the possibility of dropping her sword or her
lines terrified her, for that would bring unbearable dishonor to
Sakura. She had even gone to Mizuki-sensei, to suggest that another
student, perhaps Li-kun, might make a better Prince. But the
teacher's strange smile flustered her and left her speechless.
Suddenly she felt arms around her, and turned to see Sakura hugging
her tightly.

"Tomoyo-chan, that's so silly! I wouldn't want anybody besides you
as my Prince. I know you'll be wonderful!" 

As she smiled and hugged back, Tomoyo knew Sakura would love her no
matter what.  But at the thought of having to be "wonderful" in the
play her body tensed, and Sakura sensed it. Tomoyo was usually so
good at things like this, and Sakura had been too absorbed in the
role of the Princess to even notice her friend's anxiety. But what
could she possibly do? Tomoyo knew her lines; that wasn't the
problem. Thinking about it, Tomoyo fit all the ideals of a fairy tale
prince: she was gracious, self-sacrificing, confident, brave, kind,
and... beautiful. Sakura blushed. But physically, Tomoyo seemed
strangely ill at ease with the part. Sakura realized that with
cheerleading club, and gymnastics, and the exertions of capturing the
Clow Cards, the physical activity of the Prince’s role had been
second nature to her. But Tomoyo was different. How could she
possibly help her friend to look and move and sound like a prince?

 Long after Tomoyo had left to go sew, Sakura sat awake in her room,
determined to do something. She couldn't count all the times that
Tomoyo had helped her. When she was down, or afraid, or uncertain,
her friend was always ready to listen, to talk, or just to be there.
Now those roles were reversed, and she had to find a way to help.
Finally, long after midnight, she took out the Clow Cards and studied
them. Slowly going through the cards, each with her name engraved
upon it, she waited for inspiration. Finally, one leapt to her
attention as the obvious solution. She held it up, dancing out of
bed, heart bursting with the certainty that now everything would be
all right.

III.
As the audience expectantly greeted the rising curtain, Tomoyo
helped Sakura into the elaborate Princess’ costume off-stage. A
circle of girls surrounded them, oo-ing and ah-ing at the magnificent
design. Sonomi had pitched in with sewing the night before, and even
then the two had been up till dawn. Stifling a yawn, Tomoyo felt it
all worthwhile as she made the final adjustments, sewing a loose bow
on the hem. She only hoped her own part in the play would not prove
too embarrassing for her friend. After worrying the matter to the
point of tears, she had finally resolved to just do her best.
Finished at last, she stepped back for a final appraisal, and stood
in awe.

The design was inspired by the dress of the Italian Renaissance in
the early 15th Century. A moiré of dark green brocade served as the
gown. Decorated with golden moons and suns, the lush fabric was
outlined in a thick, gold trim. The gown was slashed in front,
revealing a crimson velvet petticoat embroidered with silver stars.
The sleeves were puffed and slashed, tied together with blood-red
ribbons, a delicate pink chemise peeking out from underneath. The
ends of the sleeves flared out and hung down, lined in spring green
silk. Pearls encircled Sakura’s delicate neck, and trimmed the
squared neckline of the gown. Typical of the time, she wore a wig of
blonde hair made of two long braids, entwined with long, pink
ribbons. Finally, a single teardrop emerald graced her forehead like
a third eye, hanging in place on a golden chain that encircled her
head like a tiara. She remembered her mother's words when she
borrowed the gemstone, "Please be careful, it's very precious to me.
It was Nadesico's"

Tomoyo could only stand and stare in the presence of a Princess from
long ago. But if the costume so lovingly crafted by Tomoyo's heart
and hands had brought the Princess magically to life, the real
miracle was Sakura herself. Most girls would look awkward and out of
place in the costume, overwhelmed by the rich, luxurious fabrics. But
she wore them with a natural grace, as if she'd been raised as
royalty from birth. The real glory was Sakura's, and the dress merely
an obedient compliment to her innate beauty. Utterly enraptured,
Tomoyo was only dimly aware of the girl's anxious voice,

"Tomoyo-chan, does it look all right? Tomoyo-chan?"

As though awakened from a dream, Tomoyo blinked and stood
speechless. A male voice from behind whispered,

"It looks wonderful. Kinomoto, you're on next, come with me.
Daidouji, you'd better get your own costume on soon".  Terada-sensei
had stopped short when he first saw her in the costume. Like a fairy-
tale come to life, Kinomoto made a radiant princess. As she went on-
stage for the first time, he heard the audience gasp, then applaud.
He smiled and thought, maybe this will work out, after all.

As Tomoyo finished buttoning her costume, she went over her lines
one last time. She was nervous and sad and resigned all at once. With
a sigh, she stood on the edge of the stage as Yamazaki, this year's
narrator, intoned, 

"To the country came a Prince".

Terada-sensei nodded, while Mizuki-sensei, standing at his side,
watched her with curious eyes. With a sinking heart, Tomoyo scuttled
on stage, faced the bright floodlights, and spoke in her usual sweet
voice,

"They say this is a mysterious castle".

She saw the three fairy godmothers, and heard Rika-chan's
encouraging voice, "We've been waiting for you".

Lying on her bier in the dark, behind the scenery of castle and rose
briars, Sakura fumbled about, looking for the Key. She had hidden it
and the card all too well in the costume's many layers. Finally she
found it, and quickly whispered the words, bathing the backstage in a
flash of golden light. A startled stagehand, wondering if a bulb had
suddenly blown, thought he heard a whispering voice,

"...and be a proper servant for Tomoyo's princely heart."

Relieved of an anxiety for her friend that had kept her up all
night, Sakura smiled to herself, and drifted off to a deep,
mysterious sleep.

As Tomoyo drew the little prop sword, shortened by Terada-sensei to
keep her from dropping it, everything changed. When the sword emerged
it was longer, sharper, and more menacing than a mere prop.
Simultaneously, she changed, feeling a flood of confidence and power
surging through her arm, flooding her body. In a calm, measured, but
commanding voice, she demanded,

"Who's there?"

As the normally placid girl flourished the sword high above her
head, the children playing the fairies stepped back in fear. Though
stunned by the sudden transformation, Rika had the presence of mind
to continue with her lines. After warning the Prince of the sorceress
within, Tomoyo declaimed,

" I have my sword, and my courage. I swear that I will break the
Princess' curse." 

As the fairies bowed low and stepped aside, Tomoyo strode towards
the thick briars encircling the castle. But before the boys could
move back the props, the Prince slashed away, scattering them off-
stage. The sword cut through the two-by-fours in a shivering blow,
scattering fragments of props and wood across the stage. The audience
cheered the heroic assault, but Terada stared from off stage in
disbelief. He turned to Mizuki, only to be greeted by the ever-
present smile as she spoke,

"I thought Daidouji might make an interesting Prince."

He swallowed hard, and watched as the little girl advanced on the
evil Sorceress and her minions.

As soon as he saw the sword, he knew. Peering through swirls of
black silk, Sayoran watched the girl in Prince's clothes advance
towards him. There was no doubt that she wielded the Clow Card,
Sword. Or rather, that the sword wielded her. Only a strong will
could master it, and the Daidouji girl lacked even Kinomot's meager
strength. How had she ever gotten a hold of such a thing? Well, no
matter, he would strip her of it and end this farce. He drew his own
sword, the indomitable legacy of the honored House of Li. He
whispered to his minions to get off the stage, and in a mad scramble
they happily obeyed. He took a fighting stance as a hush fell over
the audience.

Terada, mumbling that none of this was in the script, made ready to
go on stage and stop the play. But Mizuki held his sleeve, and calmly
whispered,

" It's all right. I made a few changes in the script so it wouldn't
be the same as last year".

He stopped and watched aghast as Li lunged at the girl with a
glistening sword.

Tomoyo deftly parried the heavy blow and slipped aside as Sayoran
charged. His surprise quickly changed to anger, and he slashed about
wildly. But each time she turned his blade, lightly dancing away. The
massive plume bobbed on her hat, but her body was calm and still
amidst the furious action. The audience gasped, then roared its
delight as the black sorceress hacked in vain at the plucky Prince,
who time and again dodged the deadly seeming blows. Panting, Sayoran
was engulfed in a rage of humiliation as the girl avoided his every
stroke with mocking ease. His mind clouded with anger, he failed to
remember that the Card's power was proportional to the will of its
user. Staring at the girl he felt true hate, and spat out the words,

"You can never have her. She's mine!"

Suddenly Tomoyo caught a glimpse of the figure on the bier, shrouded
in the dark and fast asleep. Her heart burst with longing for the
Beauty that lay within. Her voice rang out, clear and strong,

"Witch! I'll finish you."

She sprang like a panther, sword sweeping the air in a great
shinning arc. The blow knocked the sword from Sayoran's hands, and it
fell clattering to the floor. Another swing, and the sword stopped
short, inches from his neck. He stared into the icy blue eyes and
felt his courage drain away. In a commanding whisper she ordered,

"Fall!"

And he obeyed, dropping like a sack of potatoes, fast asleep.

The audience clapped and yelled, swept away by the fantastic
spectacle. But Tomoyo stood oblivious, quietly sheathing the sword as
the castle gates opened and revealed Princess Aurora on her darkened
bier. Tomoyo now spoke not in the regal tones of the Prince, but with
her own earnest voice, which touched the hearts of all who heard her. 

"The fairies spoke truly, for here is beauty beyond the world's rim.
Not sun, nor stars, nor shimmering moon compare with thee, oh fairest
of the fair. All victories are fleeting, my conquests brought to
naught, for this heart is mine no more. Awaken, Princess, and claim
thy thrall".

Riffling through the script, Terada exclaimed, "I don't remember
those lines." glancing up at Mizuki, he stammered, "Did you.....?"

But she only smiled, watching the play. Trancelike, the fairies spoke,

"The Princess can be awakened with a kiss of true love"

Tomoyo swept off her hat, hair falling down in a black cascade. She
knelt over the still, silent Princess, leaning closer and closer.
Their lips brushed lightly, then locked together in a passionate,
consuming kiss. Sakura's lashes fluttered as she awoke, a pulsating
warmth throbbing through her very being. She flushed crimson with an
aching desire, and instinctively wrapped her arms around the figure
above her. The world spun dizzily as she slowly came to. Waves of
longing washed over her as she rose from the bier, embracing the
sweet, pale figure in her arms. She held her ardent lover tightly,
their kiss a red ribbon binding their hearts together, forever. 

Terada's frantic signaling failed to catch the attention of the
stunned stagehands working the lights. But Mizuki hid her giggle
behind one hand as she tinkled and dimmed the lights with the other.
As the stage went to black the Prince and Princess disappeared, and
the audience rose to their feet in a thunderous ovation. When Terada
saw the Principal rushing towards him, he quailed, and prepared for
his humiliation. As the applause continued and the actors made their
bows, the Principal rumbled,

"Excellent job, you two. Best play I ever saw at Tomoeda. Better
special effects than the movies, I'd say!"

"Thank you, Sir!" Terada spluttered as he and Mizuki bowed low.
Looking out the corner of his eye, he saw her smiling that odd, Mona
Lisa smile. Next year, he thought to himself, we'll do a damn variety
show. I couldn't survive another one of these.

The next day, Sakura and Tomoyo sat on the grass after lunch. Sakura
had slowly come to realize just what had happened the previous night,
and blushed with every memory of it. Tomoyo couldn't stop talking
about how wonderful she looked in the Princess costume. Finally,
Sakura asked in a halting voice,

"Ummm, Tomoyo-chan, ummm, why did you, ummm, kiss me....like that?

Tomoyo tilted her head and smiled holding her friend's hand
delicately in hers,

"But Sakura-chan, how else would a Prince kiss his Princess? I
wanted to do the best job I could in the part."

A soft, lilting voice came from behind, and they both turned to see
Mizuki-sensei  standing by them,

"She's quite right, Kinomoto. Besides, if you were the Prince and
Daidouji the Princess, wouldn’t you have done exactly the same?"

Tomoyo gazed at her friend. Sakura stared at the ground, blushing
fiercely. There was nothing to say. 

As always, Mizuki-sensei was exactly right.