First Date A Tomoyo and Sakura story by G. P. Comments can be sent to the author at: treeandleaf2002@yahoo.com Note: This story is s part of a series, but does not have to be read consecutively. The first story was, "Love is the Crooked Thing". That first night Sakura only just barely got to sleep before the sun rose. Thank goodness for Sundays with nothing to do! But sleep ended early with pounding at the door and a terrible voice bellowing, "Monster! Phone call!" "Ehhhhhh.....?" Sakura staggered out of bed, blinking blearily at the alarm clock. "Hoooeeeeee! I'm late!" In a mad dash, Sakura threw on her uniform and rushed down the stairs to breakfast. Except, instead of a hot, steaming meal, there was an empty table. There sat her dreadful brother, calmly sipping coffee. Sakura shot a glance at the schedule board, nervously thinking, "Was I supposed to make breakfast?" No, there was Oniichan's name, grrrrrrrr....in a furious windmill of arms and fists, Sakura roared towards her brother, who kept her at arm’s length while regarding her with amused detachment. "Where's my breakfast I'm late for school why didn't you wake me up if only I was bigger than you...." Touya interrupted her with practiced ease, "Fridge, Sunday, you're not, phone." Sakura froze in mid-flurry, staring at the phone. With a sheepish look, she picked it up, "Sakura here". "Ohayo, Sakura-chan" The sweet, musical voice of her best friend. "Ohayo, Tomoyo-chan!" A pause, and then she remembered- remembered it all: The fortune telling, the maze, the song, Tomoyo....the kiss. Sakura felt a crimson blush on her neck and cheek, as she stood dumbstruck with her mouth open. "I thought we might go on a picnic to the park today? Would you like to go, or are you busy with schoolwork and chores?" Tomoyo's bright and sunny voice only made the blush deepen. "H-h-h-h-hai", Sakura managed to stutter out. "I'll make o-bento. Shall I be there in an hour?" "H-h-h-h-hai" "Bye-bye, I'll see you soon!" "H-h-h-h-hai", replied Sakura to the dial tone. Slowly she put down the phone, closed her mouth, and stared at the floor. Just what had happened the night before? Was it a dream, or had she really *sweat drop* confessed her love to Tomoyo-chan? She staggered back to the bedroom, her mind all awhirl… Mechanically Sakura changed out of her uniform and into a yellow blouse and a pleated, light brown skirt. Brushing her red-auburn hair, she struggled to remember. Finally, she plopped on the bed with a sigh and stared at the ceiling until she heard the knocking down below. She rushed down the stairs, beating her brother to the hallway. Nervously she reached for the handle, turned it, and opened the door. There, smiling as always, stood Tomoyo. Dressed in a beautiful, be-ribboned white dress with red trim, picnic basket in hand, Tomoyo bowed and sang out, "Ohayo, Sakura-chan". "Ohayo, Tomoyo-chan. Oniichan, I'm going to the park with Tomoyo- chan". "Don't forget you're cooking dinner tonight- something better than last time, I hope", came the laconic reply. Tomoyo covered the giggle with a white glove as Sakura gritted her teeth in impotent rage. Remembering Tomoyo, she suddenly put her hand behind her neck and laughed, "Ha-ha-ha...um, should we go now?" Tomoyo nodded happily, and the two friends slipped out the door. Wordlessly the pair walked to the park, Tomoyo glancing up at the occasional cloud and twittering bird, Sakura staring at the sidewalk, deep in thought. The day was bright and alive, with a cool breeze that whispered of the end of summer. At last they entered the park, where Tomoyo broke the silence, "Would you like to eat by the lake? I know a quiet spot under the trees" "Yes", nodded Sakura, a little too vigorously. Tomoyo opened one of the picnic basket lids and took out a delicately folded orange and brown cloth, decorated with a maple leaf and pumpkin print. With easy grace she spread the cloth on the grass, placed the basket to one side, and sat, legs tucked demurely underneath her. Sakura dropped down quickly, looking at her hands in embarrassment, finally holding them tightly in her lap. She was aware of Tomoyo's lavender eyes regarding her with measured care. Never had Sakura felt so ill at ease with her best friend. Her mind continually wandered to the previous night, or rather, to what she thought she remembered of it. Tomoyo looked on in concern as she set the table with beautiful little white China plates, and delicately filigreed Western silverware. Finally, she smiled and whispered, "Sakura-chan, are you all right?" Sakura didn't know what to say, so she blushed instead. She had always liked Tomoyo as her best, most special friend. The dark-haired girl was always there for her, someone to talk to, to share adventures with, and to ask for help and advice. For the past month, since learning about Yue, Sakura had been battered by a storm of emotions. Finally, after reading the Clow Cards, she had followed the maze deep within her own heart and, to her surprise and joy, had found Tomoyo within. And last night, they had shared a kiss- a lover's kiss. Her heart burned and ached with the thought of it, her very first. But what if it was not the same for Tomoyo? Had Sakura presumed too much? Had she rushed in unbidden and unwelcome? Had she taken from her friend what Tomoyo had been too startled or kind to refuse? She knew now that her friend had professed love a year ago, though Sakura was too dense to have known it then. Only in the past day had she realized what Tomoyo had tried to tell her. And only now did she know her own heart, overflowing with a fierce, ecstatic love for her friend. But what if Tomoyo had changed? What if her love, unrequited for so long, had grown old and faded? What if she loved someone else, still treasuring Sakura as a friend, as someone she liked...but not like that. The auburn-haired girl felt her stomach knot at the very thought. Tomoyo, ever and always kind, would be loath to say that her love was no more. Had she realized Tomoyo's feelings, and her own, too late? Oh, what if she had missed her chance for Tomoyo's love, forever? Sakura clenched her fists tightly, and felt her body tremble with each halting sob. Tomoyo looked at her friend in silent agony. Sakura's pain tore at her heart. Nothing was worth this, nothing. She was certain now that Sakura had come to regret her words of last night, but did not know how to take them back gracefully. Gently, Tomoyo took her friend's hands in her own and spoke in an even voice, "Sakura-chan...Sakura-chan" The Mistress of the Cards turned her tear-stained face away, trying to yank her hands from Tomoyo. But the dark-haired girl had strong, nimble fingers from countless hours of sewing, and held on with a vise-like grip. "Sakura-chan, please look at me". When the wet, shimmering green eyes turned to her, Tomoyo nearly stumbled. It had taken hours of torment to fashion the words, and now she hesitated. Had she lived a hundred lifetimes, she never, ever would have thought she could say this. How easy it would be to quietly live her life with Sakura's sweet words ever in her ear, even if she no longer meant them. But what she was going to say now was right, and Tomoyo knew it. Composing herself with the greatest difficulty, she smiled and spoke in a calm, even tone, "Sakura-chan, I wanted to speak with you today. I wanted to tell you something, about what you said to me last night". Sakura sat motionless, like a fragile crystal statue. Tomoyo took a deep breath, and continued, "Sakura-chan, if you did not...really mean what you said last night, it's all right. I will always like you as a friend, no matter what. I want you to know that". Inside her, a voice screamed, "Liar!" It's all right? If Sakura really did not mean what she had said, if she had said, "I love you" out of pity, or kindness, or confusion, it was not "all right"- it was a black agony that Tomoyo dared not face. But better that than her friend, no, her one, true love, should be bound by words she did not mean. Breathing deeply, unburdened by the words that were so hard to speak, Tomoyo looked with a start at Sakura's reaction. Like some terrified animal, Sakura was slowly shaking her head back and forth, a look of utter terror upon her. Sakura's ashen face reflected her worst fear: that Tomoyo was gently trying to untie the tangled knot that bound them. She was nearly certain that Tomoyo no longer loved her, but was too kind to hurt her by saying so. Never had she felt such a hopeless despair. She knew she should let it all go, and walk away for Tomoyo's sake. But she could not. Her overpowering love forced her to speak the words she knew were wrong. Choking back a sob, Sakura blurted out, "Don't you...Tomoyo-chan, don't you love me?" Stunned, Tomoyo stared into Sakura's frantic eyes, felt hands painfully gripping her own, nails digging into her palms. This was not at all what she expected. Now, dancing on the precipice, she felt a breathless, suspended hush, as though all the cosmos listened for her reply. For the first time she sensed the presence of the Clow Cards, watching her and waiting. Blinking back the tears, she gazed into Sakura's emerald eyes and drew a deep, steady breath. She knew she could never lie, even if it was the right thing, even if it was for her beloved's sake. Carefully taking her hand away, she gently brushed back the girl's auburn hair, and tenderly caressed the pale, teary cheeks. With a sweet, soothing voice, Tomoyo spoke, "Sakura-chan, I loved you when I first saw you, love you now more than words can tell, and will always love you, and only you, forever and ever. I was never so happy as when you said you loved me, and never so afraid as when I thought it might not be true. I was worried that you might have regretted what you said last night. I didn't want you to suffer for my sake, for the sake of my love for you". Crying again, Sakura buried her face in Tomoyo's chest and sobbed on the soft, white of her dress, “Tomoyo-chan, I love you! I..I didn’t think you loved me anymore…I didn’t think…” She broke down, weeping incoherently. With soft, loving strokes, Tomoyo smoothed the girl's beautiful hair, touched by fire from the afternoon sun. Nestled in Tomoyo's black-gray tresses, Sakura remembered crying like this before, remembered the comforting solace of her mother's bosom. She hugged her friend fiercely at the memory, Looking down at the trembling, vulnerable girl, Tomoyo felt a sweet, painful ache wash over her. She knew now that Sakura truly loved her, and that her love was freely given. Tomoyo felt a deep, glowing peace. Despite the terrible fear of losing Sakura's newly found love, she had been honest and fair. It seemed odd that as the Cards had tested their Mistress, so too was she tested by Sakura's love. Last night was like a fairy tale, where her dearest wish had magically come true. Today, like a story from long ago, she was tested by a dark, terrible riddle: to take Sakura in silence, or speak, and risk losing her forever. Tomoyo spoke, and now, in a miraculous, unlooked for happy ending, she cradled the beautiful princess in her arms. Her falling tears glistened in Sakura’s hair. Tomoyo softly sang her Mother's favorite lullaby, gently rocking her exhausted friend to sleep. Sakura dreamed of lavender-eyed angels in glowing robes, dark tresses swirling as they floated slowly to Earth. Tomoyo too grew drowsy in the afternoon sun as the song worked its maternal magic. Dark lashes fluttering, she closed her eyes and soon fell asleep in Sakura's arms. There Sonomi found them, bathed in the orange-purple of the setting sun. Hearing the song, her song, as she jogged through the park, she came upon them, like two angels fallen to Earth. She stood and stared, marveling at the fairy spirits entwinned in sleep. The evening wind seemed to whisper the voice of Nadesico, soft and sweet and approving. Finally she roused them from blissful slumber, giggling to herself as they stretched and smiled and blinked themselves awake. Laughing and singing, her loneliness forgotten, Sonomi led the two girls home.