Chapter 8
Return from flashback:
Monday July 31 3:43pm Tokyo time
"It's funny, but I never really questioned why Sakura and her mom and dad were living with us. It was just the way things were. And it was really because I had sent mom back to save Sonomi. It's like I was rewarded for it." Tomoyo thought as she smiled. "And now I'm mixing up the two "me's"." she laughed. "But it's good, really, that I'm not feeling like two different people all the time now."
After some more pleasant conversation, Tomoyo thought of something. "Sakura? How would you like to take a nice relaxing bath?"
"That would be nice! Would you like to join us, Mom?" Sakura asked without thinking.
"No thank you, dear. I will wait until Sonomi-chan calls as usual." (she usually bathes with her husband first and then with Sonomi second. Sonomi is still unwilling to bath with Fujitaka)
"Oh, of course, I'm still mixed up with Sakura2 and Sakura1. Well Tomoyo and I will just go upstairs now. See you later."
"Have fun girls!" Nadeshiko smiled and winked at her daughter who blushed cutely...
xxxx
After helping each other wash as they remembered doing for years, the two girls soaked in the hot tub and reviewed their memories. And the more they did this the less divided into two people they felt.
Tomoyo began to softly speak her thoughts. "I've known for a long time that my mom and your mom are in love and how sweet and beautiful it is. So I was happy when I began feeling a love beyond sisterly for you. But I was afraid that you didn't feel the same for me and I think you didn't actually, for two or three years, though you tried to act like you did. But then when you kissed me that first time, I could feel it! I remember thinking that your love was like a flower bud that was just opening. It was so exciting! I actually loved someone who loved me back! And it was the beautiful wonderful girl that I was living with!" The look on Tomoyo's face as she gazed at Sakura was so inviting that Sakura was drawn as if by Magic until they were gently kissing.
After they gotten out of the hot tub, they dried each other with grins and giggles, and then just held each other for a while. Tomoyo could feel Sakura's love enfolding her and holding her spirit, just as she was holding her body. Again, she was overcome with happiness, and tears came to her eyes. Life was so sweet it almost hurt.
When they got back to their (Tomoyo's) room, it was both familiar and very different. "There is no viewing room! No tapes of you. I don't even own a camcorder!"
"No, you don't." Sakura laughed, and then kissed her.
As the Tomoyos sank into the sweetness of Sakura's kiss Tomoyo1 thought to herself. "It makes sense, of course, I didn't need videos of Sakura to look at when I had the real Sakura here with me all the time! But still...it wouldn't hurt to get a camcorder anyway." she smiled to herself as Tomoyo2 was astonished at all the videotaping Tomoyo1 had done of Sakura.
"So what would you like to do now?" Sakura asked as they held each other close.
"I just want to hold you and feel your love. In spite of the wonderful memories I have and how comfortable part of me is with your love; the other part of me still remembers how very much I've missed you and wanted to be near you. And how deeply I need your love. It's strange, but all the terrible suffering and pain that I have gone through, now make the memories of having been with you all my life, -far sweeter- than they were without anything to compare them with. That part of me had taken your love for granted. It was always there so I didn't realize just how precious and wonderful that love is. And now I do. And I’m crying again. It should be getting old by now, but I still get so overcome with joy that I can't help it! The memories of us together are just so wonderful!"
Sakura then guided Tomoyo over to the large bed, helped her off with her robe and laid her down on the lavender silk spread. She hesitated for a moment, overcome with the beauty of the girl in front of her. Her very long shiny dark hair contrasted sharply with her pale skin, highlighting her very sweet curvy figure, and her beautiful blue gray eyes. Sakura could hardly believe her good fortune. This stunningly beautiful girl loved her. Loved her so much she could feel it all through her. And for her too, the contrast between her memories of wanting her Tomoyo and missing her so terribly made the memories of growing up with her more intensely sweet.
Sakura then dropped her own robe and got on the bed as well. She stretched out right on top of Tomoyo so they touched from ankle to cheek. "I'm not too heavy am I?" Sakura asked softly.
"No. You're not heavy at-" Tomoyo's words were cut off as an intense wave of pleasure cleared her mind and made her body quiver. Sakura felt Tomoyo's intense pleasure with her Magic link and her body responded with a quiver of its own. Then, the two just laid there for a while. Both their bodies and their minds fitted tightly together in their own private paradise.
xxxx
A little over an hour later as the two girls were going downstairs, they met Fujitaka. "Excuse me Tomoyo-san? Would you be so kind as to tell me if your mother is busy?" This caught Tomoyo1 off guard, but Tomoyo2 picked up instantly and probed the parents suit. It only took a feather touch to learn the answer.
"Yes she is right now." Tomoyo2 said politely as Tomoyo1 was acutely embarrassed by what they had just done.
"Thank you. I will be in my study until dinner."
xxxx
That night Tomoyo was careful to caution Sakura to not call on Dream until both of them were ready...
August 1 8:09am Tokyo time
A waiting Tomoyo watched a sleepy Sakura yawn and scratch for a minute or so before she said anything. "Sakura?"
"Yes?" Sakura replied as she looked at the beautiful girl she loved and smiled.
"Did you learn anything from Dream?"
"Oh! Yeah... Uh... I remember the three of us flying to Hong Kong and talking to Ieran..."
"And then what?"
"I don't know. The dream just seem to fade out there." Sakura answered and shrugged.
"Well that tells us that the plane to Hong Kong won't crash on the way there." Tomoyo said with some very uncharacteristic sarcasm. "Well, did Ieran seem to be friendly? Do you remember what she said?"
"Well... I think she seemed sort of friendly. But I don't remember her saying anything actually..."
After a deep sigh, Tomoyo spoke again. "I'm sorry for being nasty. It's just disappointing that's all." A couple of sweet kisses later both girls were in a better mood. "Well please hurry and get dressed, our mom's are waiting for us downstairs."
Tuesday August 1 2:39 pm Hong Kong time.
As the Taxi left the Hong Kong International Airport, Tomoyo reminded her Mom of their agreement. "Now you will let me do the talking, right?"
"I suppose so, though I am regretting that promise more and more as we get deeper into this. The fate of the world is at stake and I am suppose to let my sixteen year old daughter make the decisions. It really doesn't seem all that reasonable... But I do have the right to stop you if I think you are really messing up, right?"
"Yes, but only if you are sure." Tomoyo said firmly.
xxxx
"Well this is the Li's main house all right. I hope Ieran is home." Sakura announced as the taxi stopped in front of a high brick wall with a ornate steel gate in it.
Tomoyo did a quick probe into the house and felt Ieran's shield. "She is home all right. Now let's find out what it will take to convince her to see us." With this, Tomoyo walked over to the communication box next to the electric gate and pushed the call button. In a few seconds, there was an answer.
"Li residence. What can I do for you?"
"My name is Daidoji Tomoyo. I and two others wish to see Li Ieran."
"What is your business with Li-sama?"
"We wish to discuss certain Cards."
"What Cards?"
"The Clow Cards."
"We know nothing of such cards: please go away."
"It seems they are going to be difficult. Well I guess we will have to persuade them to let us in."
"If you do not invite us in, we will show you what the Cards can do."
"I said, go away!" The voice sounded angry now.
"Sakura? Use Earthy, but gently."
"Okay, Earthy! Shake the earth under the house in front of us just a little." Immediately the earth barely quivered. "A little harder." Sakura ordered. Now, the ground shook quite noticeably.
"Do you think that was a good idea?" Sonomi worried out loud.
"Why not? How else will we get their attention?" When Sonomi shook her head Tomoyo turned back to the communication box. "Now, are you going to invite us in or not?"
"Just a moment please!" The voice was now much more polite sounding.
"I thought that would get their attention." Tomoyo chuckled.
"Please, come in." The voice invited as the gate opened. Tomoyo could feel Ieran's shield coming towards them and sure enough when they got to the door it opened and she was standing there.
"What can I do for you?" She politely asked.
But Tomoyo could feel fear and anger coming out through her shield. "She thinks we are enemies!"
Tomoyo politely bowed and introduced her company by name but not mentioning that her and Sonomi were mother and daughter as agreed on, then she continued. "We wish you and your family no harm. We are trying to find out if the Clow cards have been found and if you know anything of a Sorcerer known as Kutong." With this, Tomoyo could feel shock and even more fear.
"We know nothing of these things." Ieran said, and Tomoyo knew she lied.
"But how do I get her to trust me? I guess we have to trust her first. But that's dangerous. We don't know her in this Timeline."
"Kinomoto Sakura," Tomoyo nodded at the Cardmistress, "has a set of the Clow Cards which she has transformed into her own. Kutong wants her Cards very much. In fact, he has managed to kill her once. And she has killed him once. But these things happened in different Timelines. We would like your help in finding out where he is and what he is doing right now in this Timeline...before he finds us."
"If you are not my enemy, drop your shield and let me see if you are speaking the truth." Ieran replied evenly.
"Sakura? Call Shield to protect you two and stand by. If I am attacked, do not hesitate to respond with the Cards.
"All right, I will." Sakura said firmly. "Shield! Fiery! Kero! Change to your large form." Now Fiery and the large and dangerous looking Seal Beast hung in the air on either side of Sakura. Fiery was smiling at Ieran and tossing a fireball back and forth between his hands. "If you do anything to Tomoyo, I will let Fiery eat you." Sakura threatened, sounding remarkably grown and serious while Sonomi shook her head obviously not liking the way things were going.
"Sonomi-san? leave me out of your shield and just protect the two of you, okay?" Sonomi nodded and Tomoyo could feel her mom's shield withdraw from her. Tomoyo then pulled her shield back until she was the only one covered.
"I will do no harm to your friend. I swear." Ieran said calmly and firmly to Sakura. Tomoyo could feel her fear struggling with her iron control, but she could also clearly tell that Ieran spoke the truth this time.
"I can tell if she is lying through her shield but she can't do the same. Well, I sure hope all is as it seems."
Then Tomoyo extended her shield to include Ieran. In an instant, she could feel Ieran's probe roughly going through her mind. Tomoyo concealed nothing, though it felt like she was being violated. Then, Ieran's shield went down and in a sort of reflex action she probed Ieran and didn't find anything that seemed dangerous.
"Not that I am exactly an expert in mind probing, but this is what she seemed to be doing to me and she does feel like a decent person who is proud of her honor."
In less than a minute it was over and Tomoyo returned her shield to cover just her own group.
"I am very sorry to have to do that, Tomoyo-sama, but I am responsible for the safety of my clan." Ieran apologized.
"I understand. And we must be careful as well so that the Cards do not fall into evil hands. She's okay, Sakura."
"Kero, return to your small form and Fiery back to a card, please.
"Damn!" Fiery swore before he shrunk back into a card.