"Sakura-chan and Okaa-sama's Track and Field Adventure"
(Written on the videotape in Tomoyo’s delightfully Kawaii script*)



I. 
Sakura was all eagerness when she arrived at the Daidouji residence.
Shouldering a yellow and white athletic bag she buzzed the gate for
admittance. Shortly after it opened, she saw Sonomi sama racing
towards her with Tomoyo chan trailing behind.

"Yo-ho, Sakura-chan!" Sonomi sang out. She was dressed in bright red
shorts with a crimson jacket trimmed in black. Tomoyo had a similar
outfit, but in navy blue. Both wore matching black running shoes.
Sakura smiled to see them; the beautiful mother and daughter running
together. Sonomi was quickly upon her, seemingly invigorated by the
long run from the mansion. Tomoyo, breathless but all smiles, finally
caught up. 

Sakura bowed as she said, "Sonomi sama, Tomoyo chan, thank you for
having me."

Beaming at the little girl, Sonomi replied, "It's always a pleasure
to have you with us. Would you like to change in the field house?"

 "Field house?" Sakura answered with a puzzled look.

As the three began walking past a row of trees, Tomoyo, still
catching her breath, giggled, "Mother had some changes made to the
yard so she could coach you properly."

Sonomi put her finger on her cheek thoughtfully and said, "It really
isn't what I wanted at all, but Tomoyo chan wouldn't let me cut down
the plum trees to make room for the oval."

Topping a little rise, Sakura saw what had once been a grassy yard
and stopped short. A new 100 meter track stretched into the distance,
bulldozer tread marks testifying to its recent completion. Nearby was
a small white field house for showering and changing, and even a set
of stands for who-knew-what spectators. Sakura turned to Sonomi, who
could barely contain her delight, and exclaimed,

"Oh, you shouldn't have done this just for me. Your poor, pretty
yard!"   

Sonomi leaned over, placed her hand on the girl's cheek, and smiled
sweetly.

"Don't worry, dear. It's something I'd always wanted myself since I
was young. Besides, if you do something, you do it right, and I can't
be a good coach without proper facilities.” 

Sakura bowed her thanks again, and Tomoyo ushered her into the field
house. After changing into her Tomoeda P. E. outfit, she rushed out
to warm up with Sonomi and Tomoyo. Somehow, she was not surprised to
find a camera and tripod already filming the proceedings. Sonomi then
had her run some short sprints off the starting block. watching
carefully all the while. Then the woman called her over, took off her
crimson jacket, and adjusted the wood and metal blocks with careful,
practiced precision. 

Standing behind the blocks she nodded to Tomoyo, who called out,
 
“Go to your marks,”

Sonomi placed her left leg in the far block, and her right on the
block a few inches to the front. Her left knee touched the ground,
and her hands, fingers forming little arches, rested on the track.
Sakura could see by the sure and economical movements that this was a
routine executed thousands of times. As the woman settled in, Tomoyo
called out again,

“Set,”

Like a cat crouching to pounce, Sonomi took a deep breath and arched
her body forward and up. Head down, she wore an expression of deepest
concentration. Her lithe body was perfectly still, balanced, coiled,
relaxed, and waiting. Sakura flinched when Tomoyo fired the starting
gun, and nearly missed the amazing sight of the runner’s start. She
looked in horror as Sonomi pitched forward, certain to fall on her
face. But instead of falling she rocketed ahead, her first stride
long and her body low to the ground. In the blink of an eye she had
run 5 or 6 strides and was racing down the field before slowing her
pace and walking back, hands on hips. Sakura stood and marveled,
whispering,

“Sugoi.”

Then she ran to Sonomi, starry-eyed and gasping,

“That was wonderful! I was so afraid you would fall!"  

The woman laughed, and explained how the physics of gravity and
front leg thrust combined to produce the fastest possible start. She
adjusted the blocks for Sakura, fine tuning them as the girl
practiced. Sakura was amazed how the tiniest changes of form and
position could make such a difference in speed. Sonomi patiently
observed, corrected, and praised Sakura's efforts. When they broke
for a light lunch of cucumber sandwiches and tea, both were exhausted
but excited, and eager to start again.   

For Tomoyo, it was her favorite spring. Almost every Saturday, and
some weeknights when she had no chores or homework, Sakura came over
to practice. Sometimes Tomoyo would run with her, just to give her a
sense of running against a competitor. Trying her hardest, she
invariably fell far behind the auburn haired-sprinter, though it
bothered her not in the least. To see Sakura run was a joy beyond
telling, for she ran with a wild exuberance that thrilled the heart.
Her mother slowly shaped and channeled that raw energy, and Sakura
gloried in the changes that came over her. Most of all, Tomoyo just
loved to watch, to see her working with her mother, and to film her
sprints.

That spring, Tomoyo's relationship with Sakura began to change in
ways she was only vaguely aware of. She rarely thought about her love
for the girl, for she loved Sakura as naturally and unselfconsciously
as breathing. Love was part of the morning as she brushed her long
hair in the dappled sunlight of her room. It was with her at school
while reciting a lesson, or singing in the choir, or just sitting
across from Sakura, watching her read and study. Love filled her
nights when she sewed, or studied, or sat gazing at a moon carved out
of bright steel. Only rarely did it occur to her that this boundless
love was unusual, and that she was quite unlike the others around
her. For Tomoyo, the real wonder was not her own intense passion, but
the curious fact that everybody did not love Sakura as she did. In
part, this explained her utter lack of jealousy and possessiveness.
She saw Syaoran’s awkward, blossoming love for her friend as
completely natural and right, for how could a person not love Sakura
with all their heart? For her, that was the inexplicable mystery. And
yet, though her own love had never changed in all the time she had
known her friend, Tomoyo herself was deeply affected by something
completely unforeseen. The pale, dark-haired girl had been sweetly
shaken by Sakura's own love for her.

Tomoyo, usually so perceptive, had been pained and baffled by her
friend's unusual moodiness after the true nature of Yue had come to
light. Upon collection of the final Clow Card Sakura had seemed
fragile and edgy, nothing like her usual happy self. Tomoyo thought
her fatigued, or perhaps let down by the apparent end of the quest.
Once they even fought, or, rather, Sakura had rounded on her angrily
before fleeing in tears. Tomoyo was left stunned and shattered,
painfully hurt in a way she never thought possible. That night was
agony as she called and called on the little pink cell phone,
desperate to apologize for whatever she had done, waiting for an
answering voice that never came. She nearly left to go see Sakura, to
beg forgiveness and try to understand why. So thankful now that she
had stayed in her room, waiting, and singing sadly to herself. There
the Mistress of the Cards found her after a long and trying journey.
In what still seemed a miracle, Sakura then confessed her love for
Tomoyo.

Those sweet, stammering words of love still echoed in Tomoyo's
heart. That her friend had finally discovered Tomoyo's secret love,
hidden so well for so long, was surprise enough. But when they
embraced, and kissed, Tomoyo first felt Sakura's own love for her.
Unlooked for, desired beyond hope or prayer, that love had changed
her forever. Like a pale moon, Tomoyo had circled Sakura's life with
faithful constancy. But now, like twin stars in a cosmic dance, the
lives of the two lovers revolved around each other. It was joyous, it
was thrilling, and, for Tomoyo, it was a little scary. Admiring the
beautiful girl from afar, Tomoyo was safe among the shadows. But when
Sakura's loving gaze fell upon her, she feared falling far short of
what the remarkable girl deserved. Looking inward, Tomoyo wondered if
fear was a reason, secret even from herself, that she had encouraged
Sakura's relationships with Yukito and Syaoran. She could see through
others so easily, but her own heart was sometimes shrouded in mystery. 

Sitting in the viewing stands, Tomoyo caught the delicate scent of
plum blossoms as Sakura exploded again from the starting block. She
felt a twinge of guilt for begging the trees be spared, but her
mother said the girl was a natural sprinter, and the oval track would
be more for her use than Sakura's anyway. She resolved to bake her
mother a plum pie when the fruits were ripe. Sonomi was working with
Sakura's form as she emerged from her start. Carefully her mother
demonstrated the transition to a full run, while Sakura watched,
nodding, and then tried it herself. Her mother said the girl was a
quick learner, and Tomoyo ruefully knew how true that was. It was
just like the cards. 

At first, Sakura seemed baffled, even intimidated by the complexity
of Clow's creation. But she proved relentless, and against all hope
saw it through to the very end. In time she penetrated their secrets
and made them her own, and the Cards seemed to love her all the more
for it. Just like me, Tomoyo thought with a blush. 

Once she had charmed Sakura with a mask of happiness, her friend
blithely unaware of Tomoyo's hidden love and loneliness. But now
Sakura loved her, and was no longer content with shimmering
reflections on the water's surface. Sakura as the Mistress of the
Cards devoured secrets, and burned with a fiery will to know. Now
that will was turned towards her, and Sakura impatiently brushed
aside the veils that hid Tomoyo's true feelings. When Tomoyo was
happy Sakura was, too, and when she was not the girl consoled her and
shared the grief and pain. At first this had horrified Tomoyo,
devastated that her own unhappiness should so affect her friend. But
Sakura seemed none the worse for it, her irrepressible spirit and
energy washing away hurts and fears as her gentle fingers brushed
away tears.

 Tomoyo felt closer to the girl than ever before. That closeness
came not from her own love, which was as vast and unchanging as ever,
but from Sakura's. Sakura's love was a beacon that lit the darkness
of Tomoyo's world and a hammer that shattered the barriers around her
heart. Tomoyo had painstakingly designed her own prison, a citadel of
loneliness to seal her love away. But when the Mistress of the Cards
realized her friend's isolation, she came like a hurricane and tore
the walls apart. Then, shy and gentle once more, Sakura begged leave
to stay, forever. And Tomoyo, blinking in the unexpected sunlight,
said yes. 

As time unwound in it's own way, she slowly realized that Sakura
would have no walls between them. Tomoyo could love from afar, but
not Sakura. The girl's eager enthusiasm demanded she know Tomoyo's
innermost self, and be ever close to her heart.  And despite
misgivings, for she still feared bringing pain or hurt in some
unknown way to her friend, Tomoyo found herself yielding. Besides,
all her art and artifice availed her nothing in the face of Sakura's
direct and relentless innocence. Even for the sake of her beloved,
Tomoyo found it increasingly impossible to meet those shimmering
green eyes with anything less than the truth. With a sigh, Tomoyo
looked up and saw Sakura at the far end of the track, waving in
exaltation at a new personal best time. Tomoyo waved back, smiling,
and glanced at the plum branches swaying in the spring breeze. She
knew she would rather die, would rather have never existed at all,
than bring any hurt to Sakura. But the little zephyr laughed at her
worries, whispering "It's all right, everything will be all right."
Blossoms rained down from above, covering her gray-black hair in a
pink and purple crown. A sweet, intense longing gripped her as she
leapt from the stands. With her heart afire, she dashed wildly down
the track towards Sakura.

II. 
Just by watching her posture Sonomi could tell. She laughed to
herself as Sakura fiddled with the starting blocks. If Tomoyo had not
been her own child, she would have despaired of ever knowing her at
all. But Sakura was an open book, her moods and thoughts there for
all the world to see. Something was troubling her, something she
wanted to talk about but could not. Sonomi stood to the side and
spoke in a loud voice,

"Go to your marks."

Sakura settled into position, awaiting the next call. But Sonomi was
silent, watching the girl's arched figure with intensity. A runner
should be able to hold that stance for several minutes with no
fatigue, but the girl was already trembling from the strain. Sonomi
walked over and gently laid her hand on Sakura's shoulder. In a
soothing, motherly voice she said,

"Sakura chan, your shoulders are tight, and your body seems very
tense. Are you feeling well? Is there something the matter?"

Sakura looked up in surprise, mouth open, as if to say, "How did you
know?" But instead of answering, she looked away in embarrassment.
Sonomi gently nudged her into a standing position, and said,

"Let's sit over by the trees for a bit, all right?"

Sakura followed morosely and plopped down in the grass. Sonomi
stretched out under the tree and let silence do its work. Sakura
fidgeted, played idly with the grass, finally looked up with moist
eyes and blurted out,

"Sonomi sama, I feel so bad. I ran so badly and it was just awful!
I'm so sorry..." Her voice tailed off as she fought back the tears
with a halting sob. 

"Well, there's no reason to feel sorry if you tried your best. You
can't win every race, you know. Do you feel like telling me what
happened?" Sonomi's tone was gentle and reassuring, urging the child
to continue. Sakura looked at the ground as she spoke, an
undercurrent of anger edging her voice,
 
"It was the qualifying races for Field Day. I finished second, so I
qualified for the final race next week, but I ran so poorly."

Sonomi spoke in a cheerful but restrained tone,

"Oh, my, second is no cause for shame, especially if you made the
cut for the final race. Who finsihed first?"

Through clenched teeth, her anger rising, Sakura mumbled, 

"Li-kun."

"Ah, Tomoyo told me he is a very good runner. She said he almost
beat you in the race last year."

Sakura turned abruptly to look at her, anger and pain and tears all
jumbled together. In a stammering rush she exclaimed,

"He was so mean. He said I couldn't run as fast as him, that girls
were slower than boys, and that...that..."

Sonomi watched Sakura carefully, and felt deep sympathy for the poor
girl, so obviously wounded. With a kindly look she nodded, waiting
for her to continue.

"He...he said I shouldn't be around Tomoyo so much and that she was,
she was clumsy and couldn't run or anything and that, that she was
just an anchor around my head or my neck or something stupid like
that and I was so angry and I wanted to win so bad and I couldn't and
he beat me just like he said and I'm sorry I wanted to run my best
for you and Tomoyo and I didn't and I'm sorry I'm so so sorry!"

With that, she collapsed into Sonomi's arms, crying at the shame of
it all. The woman held her tightly, cooing reassurance as she rocked
gently back and forth. With a fearful look Tomoyo came running, but
Sonomi shooed her away. Looking down at the auburn-haired girl she
smiled, knowing that what stung her the most were the taunts aimed at
Tomoyo. Sakura was a gentle, cheerful little spirit, but a protective
tigress when roused. She's like me, Sonomi mused. Odd, because she
had always seen Nadesico in the girl since their first meeting a year
ago, never herself. But when it came to those dearest to them, both
were as quick to anger as to love. And then memory took Sonomi,
memory from long ago.

She heard the sneering voice first, coming from behind a corner of
the school. Then the mocking words, "clumsy", "baka", "watch where
you're going". Curious, she walked around the wall and heard a
muffled voice stammering out apologies. There stood Nadesico-chan,
bowing low, her long hair nearly sweeping the ground. Above her
towered a sempai, red-faced, hands on hips, his books in the dirt.
Letting loose another stream of disparaging abuse, he contemptuously
pushed her shoulder, knocking the slender girl off balance as she
continued to apologize in her soft, sweet voice. With that, Sonomi
snapped.

She rushed towards him, screaming, "Stop it!". He turned to look,
his face contorted in the strangest combination of surprise and
anger. Without thinking, Sonomi clenched her fist and swung in a
swift, arcing uppercut. She caught him square under the chin, his
open mouth quickly shutting, teeth clattering. Leaning her onrushing
body into the blow, she staggered him nearly off his feet and up
against the red brick wall. He slammed into it, head banging back
with a solid thunk, then slumped into a heap in the dirt. Shaking in
rage and shock, Sonomi stood above him, waiting for the boy to rise.
But he was deathly still, and the fury that gripped her quickly
drained away. She was startled by Nadesico, who rushed past her to
see if the boy was all right. With a worried look, she touched his
forehead with loving tenderness. Groaning, he opened his eyes, and
Nadesico took Sonomi's hand and whispered, "Let's go."

 Later that morning they passed him in the hall, but he studiously
ignored them. After lunch, the two friends sat on the grass in the
shade of a big oak tree. Nadesico watched Sonomi intently as the red
haired girl gingerly covered one hand with the other. She reached
out, gently laying her own hand on Sonomi's, and asked,

"Did you hurt your hand?"

Turning, Sonomi saw the fearful concern in her shimmering, green
eyes. Blushing, she looked away and stammered,

"N-no, I'm fine, it's nothing". 

Nadesicio squeezed the hand ever so slightly, and Sonomi winced at
the pain. Nadesico drew her hand back in horror and gasped, 

"You did hurt yourself. Oh, Sonomi chan, I'm so sorry. You hurt
yourself because of me." 

Sonomi shook her head vigorously, short red hair flying back and
forth,

"No, no, it's nothing, really, just a sprain, I think. It happens
all the time in gymnastics". 

At this, Nadesico looked more upset than ever. 

"Gymnastics? But Sonomi chan, don't you have a meet this weekend
with the gymnastics club?"

Sonomi had forgotten, but not Nadesico, who attended every meet to
cheer her on. With her dearest friend in the stands, Sonomi loved the
competition. Before each event, she silently dedicated herself: May I
be blessed with strength and beauty to perform for her delight.
Fiercely competitive, Sonomi hated to lose even more than she loved
to win. But such things seemed trivial when she was watched by
Nadesico. Performing was sheer joy, and the dark haired girl's eager
enthusiasm drove Sonomi to do her very best. With a smile she said,

"It's no big thing if I miss one meet."

Nadesico looked at the ground, then at the sky, watching a little
white cloud scudding across the blue. She brushed the gray-black hair
from her eyes and glanced at her friend. In a soft, sweet voice she
whispered,

"Thank you, Sonomi chan". She carefully reached out for the girl's
good hand, and took it in her own. She caressed her hand gently,
fingers lovingly tracing every curve and contour. Sonomi caught her
breath and blushed, staring straight ahead, not daring to face those
wide, emerald eyes for fear of what she might say, or do, here in the
schoolyard. Nadesico whispered again,

"But," Sonomi looked up quizically, waiting for her to continue. "
you know, sempai was right. I really am very clumsy." She smiled
brightly as she spoke. Sonomi suppressed a grin and wore a mock frown
instead as she replied,

"Yes, I know. But I'm the only one allowed to say that, ne?"
Nadesico giggled, and Sonomi laughed out loud. Hand in hand, the two
cousins rose and ran off to their next class.

Sakura had stopped crying, but still lay nestled in Sonomi's arms.
Wiping away her tears the woman said,

 "That race is all over now. Let's get ready for the next one."

Sakura sat up, eyes red and puffy. Slowly the anger returned,
pushing out the hurt and filling her voice as she spoke,

"This time I'll beat him. I'll beat him so bad!"

Replying in her soft Mother's voice Sonomi answered,

"If that's the way you feel, Sakura chan, then you'll lose again,"

Stung by these gently spoken but cutting words, the auburn-haired
girl looked up in surprise. Sonomi smiled nonchalantly and continued,

"When you sprint, emotions like anger just slow you down. Remember
how I told you to be when you take your mark?"

Sakura nodded as she spoke, "Relaxed but concentrating". 

Sonomi nodded and continued, "That's right. It's very hard to do,
because when we concentrate we usually strain to keep our focus. But
when you strain like that your body isn't relaxed, you tense up like
you did today. But when we relax, we tend to lose focus, our mind
wanders, and we're distracted by whatever comes along."

Confused, Sakura blurted out, "But then, what do I do? How can I do
both at once?"

"Sakura, usually when you run, you do both at once, you're just not
aware of it. But when you have strong thoughts and feelings that
affect you, you lose focus, or your relaxation, or even both. During
practice, when you hear the starting gun, what are you thinking about?"

Puzzled, Sakura tried to remember. Finally she looked up in
bafflement and said, "I don't know. I don't remember thinking about
anything. I'm just waiting for the gun."  

 Sonomi smiled, "And in the qualifying race, what were you thinking?"

"That I wanted to beat Li-kun so bad. That I was so mad for what he
said about Tomoyo."

"And how was your start?"

Sakura stared at the ground and mumbled, "Awful. I missed the gun
and came out of the blocks last."

Sonomi lifted the girl's downcast chin with gentle fingers. Verging
on tears again, she looked up into Sonomi's soft, blue eyes. Suddenly
the woman swept her up, hugging her tightly as she spoke,

"Sakura chan, I know perfectly well how you want to protect Tomoyo,
and I love you for it. But," stooping by the standing girl, she
studied her face carefully, "you can't let thoughts and feelings
hamper you when you sprint, or you'll never run well. You have to let
them go, like dropping a heavy stone. Do you know when I ran my best
ever?"

Sakura brightened, "Was that when you won the Nationals?"

Sonomi nodded and smiled, "That's right. It was after your Mother
was married." At that thought, the smile left her, and she struggled
to keep her composure. "Sakura, when your Mother married, I
was...very, very sad. I felt I'd lost the one most precious to me. I
thought about her all the time."

To herself she sighed, "I still do."

"The only time I didn't think of her was when I ran. For just a few,
precious seconds, I forgot everything. There was only the running.

Sakura, when you run, you can't think about Tomoyo, or what Li-kun
said, or anything else. You have to let everything go. When the gun
sounds, your body starts instinctively, without a trace of thought or
feeling. A sprint is over too quickly to let yourself be clouded by
emotions. My coach told me that when you run, your mind should be an
empty mirror in a dark room. Then the running happens all by itself,
and there is nothing to slow you down."

She stood and smiled at the beautiful daughter of Nadesico, who
smiled back ever so sweetly. A gentle spring breeze swept past them,
their short hair teased in the sudden wind. There were times when
Sonomi sensed her cousin's presence in the things she had loved: rain
drops running in little rivers down the window, birds circling high
in a cloudless sky, and a breeze like this, playfully tossing her
long, gray-black hair. 

"Sakura, let's work on your transition to a full run. I think your
final stride is a bit too long."

The girl nodded eagerly, and the two walked away from the tree and
back to the track. The breeze died down as fast as it had come,
leaving Sonomi with a terrible longing. "Someday", she thought with
an aching heart, "someday. Wait for me, Nadesico, please wait for me."

III.
When Sakura first caught a glimpse of Li kun she struggled with her
feelings and  pondered what to do. Afraid of upsetting herself before
the race, she decided to ignore him, and continued her warm ups in
the grassy field by the track. But the boy stood close by her, and
then coughed loudly, twice, all but demanding an audience. Sakura
turned towards him, waiting for his latest remarks. Instead, he
looked at the ground, obviously struggling with himself. Puzzled, she
said,

“LI kun?”

The boy clenched his fists tightly and forced the words out,

“I….I’m sorry. Sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it.”

He stood silent, waiting for whatever abuse she might hurl. But her
voice was gentle, overflowing with happiness,

“Li kun, I know you didn’t mean what you said. It’s all right. But
thank you so much for telling me.”

He looked up at her with pained eyes and saw that comforting smile.
A terrible burden suddenly and miraculously lifted from his
shoulders, he teeterd on the verge of tears. He almost smiled, but
flustered and obviously out of words, quickly ran off instead. Sakura
watched him go, and felt her own blessing of relief. Now she would
not have to run this race against anyone. But she would still run the
race for someone. With that realization, she heard Tomoyo’s voice on
the loudspeaker announcing the start of the 5th grade 100 meter dash.

She walked to the starting line, scanning the crowd for familiar
faces. With delight she saw Oniichan, Yukito san and her father
waving from the stands. She waved back wildly, and then saw Sonomi
sama as well, and waved to her. Noticing the other runners, she
quickly went to her starting block and adjusted it. She felt a great
excitement, but also a wonderful sense of peace. Beaming, she turned
to Syaoran who was preparing in the lane next to her and said,

“Li kun, let’s do our best, OK?”

He blushed, and nodded silently while he fiddled with his blocks.
Terrada sensei, in his white and black stripped official’s uniform,
stood to one side and nodded. The eight runners stepped into their
lanes in front of the starting blocks. Sakura closed her eyes and
said a silent prayer,

“Tomoyo chan, if I forget you, just for this race, please don’t ever
forget me.”

With a deep breath, Sakura began to let everything go: the spring
sky, the other runners, the expectant audience. All things faded from
her mind: the fight with Li kun, the hours of training, her brother's
taunts, Yukito's kindness, her father's gentleness. Last was Tomoyo,
pale, serene, and ever smiling, her long, black hair blowing in some
distant wind. 

"Go to your marks!"

At Terrada sensei's booming call, she went to her position. Her left
leg rested on the ground, her right leg the power leg, brought
forward. Both feet set lightly on the starting blocks, and  her
fingers and thumbs formed little bridges on the white chalk starting
line. With her head down, her field of vision was reduced to a few
square inches of dirt. Her body felt utterly relaxed but alert,
awaiting the next call.

"Set"

In an instant, everything changed. She took a deep, quick breath as
her body arched up, hips raised slightly above the level of her
shoulders. Her weight shifted forward, head and neck leaning over the
white line. Her back foot lifted up slightly with only her toes on
the block, but her right, forward foot was flush to the block for
maximum thrust. She was still calm and relaxed, but the muscles in
her body sang out in electric expectation. Her concentration was
absolute, waiting, waiting, waiting...

A deafening bang.

At the retort of the gun her body pitched forward, fingers leaving
the ground and forming fists, one arm sweeping and one thrown back.
The muscles in her right leg exploded and thrust her body forward and
up. Her strides were short but powerful as her body gradually
straightened, while her eyes rasied and focused on the long, narrow
lane. By the fourth stride she was at a full run, arms moving piston-
like in quick, sharp bursts, stride lengthening as her leg speed
approached its limits. Her form was liquid smooth and flawless,
without extraneous motion to detract from the efficiency of her run.
Her head was straight and still, her knees lifting high to the front,
giving her the delightful look of a prancing horse. She saw only the
finish line, almost halfway there now, narrowing in a long, dark
tunnel. The darkness enveloped her as she reached her fastest speed,
then splintered in a shattering fountain of light.

She saw her own body running, as though viewed from outside herself.
But not quite her body, for it was a luminous, pulsating figure that
illumined the darkness. Great strands of blue light flowed through
her arms and coiled through the air, pulling her ahead. Torrents of
yellow energy flooded through her legs with every stride.  Her body
hurtled forward, straining its earthly bounds as if taking flight. It
was exhilarating, captivating, and liberating. Ahead she saw the
finish line, bathed in a luminous white light. The radiance shimmered
with a gentle warmth, and she longed for it. In a sudden burst of
speed she accelerated, drawing closer and closer to the sparkling
brilliance. Nearly engulfed by the blazing light she suddenly
thought, what is it? And with that, great luminous shards fractured
about her as the world of Tomoeda tumbled back into place. 

Blinking incomprehensibly, Sakura saw she had crossed the finish
line and was nearly at the end of the track. Dimly aware of the
tumult behind her she looked and saw the crowd of parents and
children jumping, clapping, and screaming. Dazed, she looked for a
familiar face and saw Mizuki-sensei with a stopwatch, comparing it
with a timer from another teacher. Terrada sensei jogged up from the
starting line, examined the stopwatches, then glanced at Sakura
incredulously. Again he looked, and shook his head in disbelief. The
other runners were congratulating Sakura, regarding her with
excitement and awe. Timidly, she made her way to Mizuki sensei, who
smiled and placed her hand gently on Sakura’s head. She felt a sudden
flash of the glow at the finish line, and a warm, bubbling happiness.
Tomoyo’s voice, with barely suppressed excitement,  came over the
loudspeaker, 

“First place, 5th grade 100 meter dash, Kinomoto Sakura, 12.6
seconds, a new Tomoeda record. Second place Li Syaoran…”

The wild cheering and clapping of the audience began again, drowning
out the rest of the announcement. Terrada sensei looked at her in
wonder and laughed, 

“12.6, amazing. That would be a good time for a high school girl.
Nice run, Kinomoto.”

Embarrassed, Sakura bowed her thanks. She scanned the crowd, looking
for family, and Sonomi, to invite her and Tomoyo for lunch.

Lunch, prepared by her father, was wonderful. He brought a triple
portion for Yukito, who still finished his before anyone else,
including some of Tomoyo’s portion, which was graciously offered and
gratefully accepted. Sonomi, sitting by Sakura (and as far away from
her father as possible), looked askance and declared in an irritable
voice, 

“Just as I would have expected, sensei. It’s excellent.” 

After her father left for work and her brother and Yukito for class,
Sakura talked to Sonomi while Tomoyo went to wash up. When she
thanked her for all the time and effort, Sonomi smiled and shook her
head,

“Sakura chan, it was delightful to be your coach. Your sprint today
was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. You did so well,
and I’m so proud.” 

Sakura gazed up at her and felt the tears welling. She threw her
arms around Sonomi and hugged her tightly, as if she were fearful the
woman might suddenly vanish. Startled at first, Sonomi smiled and
hugged her back, fighting off tears of her own. At last Sakura
released her and bowed, asking in a trembling voice,

“Sonomi sama, I… I don’t want to be a bother, and, if it wouldn’t be
too much trouble I’d understand, but if…if…could you please keep
being my coach?” 

Sonomi laid her hand on the girls shoulder and spoke in a loving
voice,

“Sakura chan, I can’t think of anything that would make me happier.”

Sakura’s smile was radiant.

Walking home from school, Tomoyo spoke adoringly of Sakura’s
marvelous sprint. Sakura walked in silence as her friend talked
nonstop,

“I only wish I had been able to design a special running outfit for
you. It was such a beautiful run! You were like an angel flying to
the stars, or a cheetah springing through the plains, or…”

“Tomoyo chan.”

“…or maybe a dolphin, but that would be swimming. Oh, you should
join the swim club, too! There are such wonderful patterns for cute
swimsuits, but I don’t know if…”

“Tomoyo chan?”

“…if you could wear them on the team. But I could, oh, I’m sorry,
Sakura chan.” Tomoyo covered her mouth as she giggled. Glancing up to
see Sakura’s troubled and uncertain look, Tomoyo suddenly stopped
short. Before she could ask, Sakura blurted out in a teary voice,

“Tomoyo chan, I forgot about you today. Sonomi sama said I should
let everything go, and I did, and you were the last thing I thought
about, but I feel so bad that I forgot you like that. I know you
would never forget about me. I’m so sorry.” 

Watching her sobbing friend and pained by her anguish, Tomoyo gently
took the girl’s hands and spoke with angelic sweetness,

“Sakura chan, you don’t have to think about me all the time. There
are lots of wonderful things to think about. And I know that no
matter what you’re thinking, you love me, and that’s all that
matters.” 

Breathing raggedly, Sakura gazed into Tomoyo’s luminous eyes. She
felt a sudden torrent of longing, the same that had drawn her to the
brilliant white light at the race’s finish. Sakura fell into Tomoyo’s
arms, the two girls clasped together amid smiles and tears. 

And there they stood while the world spun round, two perfect lovers
in an ardent embrace. 












*Thanks to Heather of Amazoness Duo for the title




  
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