Mirra's Trilogy 4

December 31st
Hikaru looked so peaceful while she slept.
Mirra couldn’t help but smile as she gently brushed a few hairs awayfrom her forehead, watching her slumber. How things have changed since that first night some months ago.

When Hikaru first fell asleep in Mirra’s bed she wore her day clothes and was there to comfort the other girl’s fears as she recovered from what Mimic did to her.

Two months ago she started wearing her jammies to bed, feeling more and more comfortable with Mirra. She had even started changing in front of Mirra for bed.

A few nights ago they made their first step towards lovemaking (slow, baby steps learning as they went) and haven’t looked back since.

* * * * * *

The night before

Mirra was all smiles as she finished dressing in her jammies. The soft material and new clothes smell just excited her. These were brand new pajamas from Hikaru, one of the gifts she got from her for Christmas. They fit her like a glove, and felt so soft against her bare skin. She particularly enjoyed the blue color and little bunny images on the fabric. She poked one of the rabbits (situated over her left nipple) and gasped, giggling abit at her reaction from her prodding. Quickly she jumped into bed, rolling on the soft bedding in her pajamas,
receiving a charge from the sensations that coursed through her.

“It’s like a slumber party in here everynight, isn’t it?”

Mirra bolted upright, blushing abit as she looked towards the door. “Uh--- hi, Umi---”

“Just thought I’d check in on you on the way to bed. You two…”

“----” Mirra blushes.

Umi smiled, “Oh-kay, Ok. I won‘t ask. I wouldn’t want to make you embarrassed.“

“I‘m not embarrassed.”

Umi nods as she exit’s the room, “Sure you’re not.“

“I‘m not!” she cries out, feeling the blood drain from her face leaving her flushed. She was abit shy, but not because she and Hikaru were becoming sexually intimate (slowly, with meek steps). She just didn’t want to talk about those things. They were their intimate acts that wasn’t Umi’s business.

“I’m not embarrassed.” Mirra sighs, lying down in her side of the bed to relish in the feel of her jammies. “---hmph---” Mirra grunts slightly as she rolls over on her stomach and buries her head in her pillow. “Umi‘s so nosey!” she rasps, her face blushing as she thinks about her answer.

She always seems to be prying for “juicy” details of what happens between the sheets at night, and it miffs Mirra to no end how Umi continues to harp for details of things she didn’t want to talk about. Maybe, however, she was embarrassed that she was learning stuff from
places that she felt ashamed to talk about openly, but she was so curious.

She had been “juicing” her age (mimicking an older person) to buy porn magazines, mostly of women/women love, and looking through them for “ideas” for the past few days. Admittedly she was still rather awkward when it came to her sexuality, and didn’t know how Cloud could be so mature next to her since they were used about the same amount of times (and “Aged” the same way).

As far as everyone was concerned, Cloud seemed to be a mischievous little girl to everyone, but Mirra knew how mature she was when she wasn’t “playing” around. Still, it gave her a little shock two days ago to wander in on “little” Cloud masturbating furiously in her room
while Kero was out. She didn’t seem at all like the little girl whose “body” she wore, but Mirra knew she wasn’t little at all, at least not in real age, the body was only her non-powered form--- her true form was older in appearance--- and taller.

After Cloud was done, Mirra sat down next to the exhausted “girl” and spoke to her, but she didn’t want to talk--- all she did was crawl under her blankets of her “bed” set in the corner and hide herself.

She was very prideful, and being caught by Mirra doing that to relieve herself only frustrated her and hurt her pride. She refused to come out again until Kero returned to play more video games, but by then Mirra had already left the pouting Clow “girl” behind to mope under her blankets.

For such a young little thing she was actually a mature woman, with needs that Mirra was only now beginning to grasp--- needs such as sexual fulfillment. However she didn’t like to display this need in front others, especially Kero to spare him the pain of having to watch
without being able to participate.

Make no mistake about it. She did love him, quite strongly, but as long as they were unable to achieve their true forms they could do little about that love other than keep it close to their hearts and mind their time. It might not have happened in the original “world”, but a lot of loves and happiness that were now possible didn’t happen before so Mirra didn’t gripe about their relationship in the slightest.

Absentmindedly she rolls over and reaches under the bed, retrieving one magazine to flip through as she waited for Hikaru to come to bed. As she flipped through each page she imagined it was her and Hikaru making love, and each thought in that direction made her smile. A free hand caressed her breast, plucking at her nipple causing it to harden as she looked at the pictures. The women in the magazine looked so staged, so fake, but Mirra only wanted inspiration so it didn’t matter to her as long as they looked like they were in love (so it didn’t matter if they were really in love or not).

“Thinking dirty thoughts?”

Mirra suddenly went pale, feeling a weight press onto her rear as she loomed behind her.

“Hik--hikaru---”

Hikaru’s fingers traced the page, rotating around one of the women’s breasts on the magazine, “Do you like big breasts? I know I‘m not adequate…”

“NO! No!“ Mirra spat out quickly, “I love you---”

“That’s not right!” Hikaru groans in a joking manner, her fingers digging into Mirra’s shoulders to massage her. “You have to say your lines correctly! You’re supposed to tell me how big my breasts are and how you love them!”

“Sorry.”

Hikaru smiles, helping Mirra put her magazine “away” back beneath the bed as she looks on. “I’m only joking, Mirra… I think you’re cute when you blush like that. It‘s so kawaii!!”

“I’m not blushing!” Mirra cried out, feeling herself grow even redder.

End of flashback

* * * * * *

What happened next--- Mirra blushed lightly at the thought.

They were still at an awkward early stage, and content with their light and innocent bondings, after awhile Hikaru helped Mirra slip her bottoms off and the two laid down in a 69 position and made love in this way (fingers and tongue helping along) until they were
exhausted and content.

Mirra couldn’t help herself. She couldn’t help but to blush thinking how intense and beautiful their little acts of love were some hours ago. The thought of each and every lick, stroke, and touch warm in her mind and deep within her heart. Unconsciously she wiggled her bottom
abit, still getting used to sleeping in the half buff (top only). Each wiggle sent a little jolt through her, the bedding’s soft material exciting her in strange little ways. She had slept for so long in jammies that the last few nights of only wearing half her clothes (after lovemaking) still wasn’t something she could get used to without the need to indulge in these little “jolts“ she got from the bedding--- at least not yet.

How Tomoyo-mama & Sakura-papa slept in the complete nude in these soft squishy blankets and beddings (which tickled her exposed bottom everytime she rolled over in bed and threatened to set her off during sex) was amazing (to her at least).

Mirra’s eyes narrowed slightly as her stomach grumbled. She was feeling a tad hungry.

That was another thing she envied Tomoyo-mama/Sakura-papa, their stamina.
It seemed as if they could make strong love (a few times over), sleep, and wake up at a normal hour to eat breakfast, but Mirra felt hungry two hours ago (only a short time after her light lovemaking) and that vexed her. She already felt inadequate and it would get worst she thought. How could she be hungry after such a low key session while mama and papa can love so intensely yet not seem hungry afterwards? Did she have that low a stamina?

Abit ashamed, she crawls out of bed (locating her pajama bottoms) and sneaks out of the room. She was just going to the kitchen for a snack, then back to bed. That‘s it. Inside the kitchen, however, she found that she wasn’t alone. Inside she found Cloud sitting despondently on the floor, looking upwards at the tall cabinets and a treasured box of
cookies she wanted (but was too short to reach since it was positioned so high out of her reach).

Using her power to easily access the box (by becoming an adult sized person), she passes the box to Cloud and walks to the refrigerator to scrounge up some stuff for breakfast. Admittedly she was still learning how to cook, and only mastered a few things like eggs and
microwave-able meals, so she was only now scrounging for what she knew to make. As she sets to cook herself a meal, Cloud stares at her (cookie in mouth). “Whatcha’ doing?”

“Making something to eat.” she answered.

“Munchie! Munchie!” Cloud giggled, stuffing another cookie in her mouth ignoring the fact that she was also having a case of the “munchies”, though Mirra didn’t miss that fact for a second. “You’re eating too.” she pointed out, pointing at the box. “So why are you REALLY up anyway?”

“You first, munchie-girl!” Cloud shot back, munching as she talked.

“I was hungry.” she repeated, but abit reluctantly this time, adding, “I wonder if I’m doing right by Hikaru--- being such an inadequate lover.”

“Your not that bad. At least you can love her in that way.“ Cloud muttered as she stood up, mood shifting to her serious self. “I think I’m hurting Kero the more I stay in there with him. It‘s not fair to him… he must be frustrated by this as much as I am.”

“Why?”

No longer eating, Cloud walks over to the table and sits herself down. “I woke up and heard him talking in his sleep--- he was remembering one of the times we made love when we were… when we were… you know. Bigger people.”

“I know.” Mirra replies, cracking the eggs and dropping it’s contents in and seasoning it as it cooked. “Have to cook it longer, hate runny yolks.”

“Am I pretty?” Cloud suddenly asks, to which Mirra turns (while watching her eggs cook) “Huh?”

“I don’t feel pretty.” she admits, looking down at herself, “I feel--- ugly being this small. I don’t see how people can find this age sexy… perverts must have low expectations because it’s disgusting to me to be this young. I wish my power was back.”

“Cloud---”

Cloud sighed miserably, “I want to be the way I should be. Back in my grown up body--- and with Kero by my side, as he’s always been--- but I ---” (sighs) “---I hate being this little--- it hurts being this little.”

Mirra nods her head, remembering how Hikaru wished to be bigger so she could love Mirra better. “I can relate to that sentiment.”
After a few seconds Cloud smiles, her eyes rolling mischievously as she bounds over to a cabinet and lifts a six pack of soda bottles from a cabinet stocked full of them. “I’m going to stack these in the fridge in my/Kero’s room! Never can have too many of these for playing
games!” And with that she bounces out of the room, back in child mode again. “Are you really so unhappy being a child again?” Mirra whispers, watching Cloud’s retreating form bound out of the room. As she turns her attention back to her food she sighs, was she really doing right by Hikaru?

The door opened again.

“Another six pack, Cloud? Sugar rush must be infectious amongst the cards---” Mirra started, only to come to a dead halt vocal-wise.

It was Hikaru, and she looked troubled. “Ah--- what’s wrong, Hikaru-chan?”

“I was worried.” she whispered, walking over to Mirra, “You weren’t in bed.”

“I got hungry. Here---” (gives a drink to Hikaru) “I’ll make you something to eat.”

“Thanks.” she whispered, walking to sit down, shivering abit. “I didn’t want to find you in the closet again crying, my heart was pounding when I checked it… it hurts me to see you in pain like that, you know, it‘s not fair… why can‘t Mimic leave us alone?”

Mirra shudders abit, almost losing the egg she was plating as she did.
It was true, she had been found curled in the closet from time to time over the past few months, and it was all because of Mimic. She still couldn’t shake the visions--- dreams if it was possible to dream in a Realm of Dreams--- and it only scared her what she saw--- but it was hurting Hikaru to see Mirra in pain. She knew that now.

“I’m sorry.” she whispered, handing the plate over to Hikaru and taking another plate for herself, “I don‘t mean to do it on purpose, but it scares me sometimes to think what she‘d do to you if she could…”

“Wake me up then.”

Mirra looked at her abit surprised, “What? I don‘t understand.”

“Wake me up.” Hikaru repeats. “I don’t want you to hide yourself because you don’t want me to see you cry. Let me at least try to take away your pain, if only in a small way.”

“Even if I’m crying because of my fears for you? That‘s not fair to you.”

“Mirra-chan,” Hikaru whispered, reaching out to take her hand. “I’d be a terrible wife to you if I couldn’t comfort the one I love.”

Mirra barely sets the plate down before her mind goes numb. “Wife.”
Hikaru stands up, walking over to take Mirra’s hand. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you if I could, and if you’d have me I want to be your wife…” (her voice fails her as she kneels before Mirra, looking up into her eyes) “Marry me. One day. When you and I are ready… marry me. Please---” she stops, voice wavering as she lays her head on Mirra’s lap.

Mirra stands dumbfounded, uncertain what to say. She knew that she always wanted to marry Hikaru one day, like Tomoyo-mama & Sakura-papa were planning to get married when they were old enough., and when Mirra asked Hikaru once she even said she wanted it. Mirra however thought Hikaru was being kind and agreed just to make Mirra happy--- until now.

“Here. I have a ring for…” she stammers, lowering her hand to her hip and brushing her fingers against her soft naked thigh--- “?”--- (she was naked from the waist down) “---” (a smile creeps across her face, suddenly she bursts out laughing) “OH GOD I LEFT MY BOTTOMS IN THE ROOM!!”

Mirra smiled, “Happens to the best of us.”

“Aww--- and I---”

Two fingers gently press against her lips. “Later. Let’s eat.”

At first she tried to protest, but looking into Mirra’s eyes she knew it was futile so she relented, sitting down and eating her snack with Mirra, looking anxious to give Mirra her ring. Mirra smiled, and thought back as she ate, watching Hikaru shifting her weight abit from time to time as her shivered abit--- it was a little colder sitting on the chairs without her pajama bottoms on.

* * * * * *

November
Mirra’s Flashback

“A ring?” Mirra asked, “Uh-huh.” Tomoyo replied as she held the small box out to Mirra.
They were in her studio, Tomoyo asked for Mirra to see her. “You’re growing up so fast I wanted to make sure I gave this to you before I forgot, so that one day you and Hikaru…”

“Not until you and papa marry first!” Mirra screams out, hugging Tomoyo as she did, squeezing her tightly, “You have to marry first! I want you and Sakura-papa to give me away as my parents! You have to get married! You have to! It‘s not going to be right unless you’re my mommy for real!!”

“Alright! Alright!” Tomoyo relented, smiling as she gave in to the “younger” girl’s demands. “I’ll tie the knot first with Sakura-chan, I promise! I wouldn‘t want to disappoint you with unmarried parents on your wedding day!”

“Really?”

“Really.” Tomoyo nods, hugging Mirra back in turn. “If it means that much that we give you away on your wedding day as mate and wife then I‘m sure we can accommodate you, though what if Umi wants to give Hikaru away?”

“---uh--- then she‘ll have to marry as well?“ Mirra smiles sheepishly, blushing abit, “Don’t ask me to explain that--- I don’t know what I just said.”

“In any case---” Tomoyo motions to the box, “When your ready.”

“When I’m ready. Right.” Mirra nods her head vigorously, “But don’t forget your promise!”

“I won’t forget.” Tomoyo promised.

* * * * * *

The ring was right where she left it. The day Tomoyo gave it to her she ran up to the room excited, and hid it in her jewelry box.
Mirra retrieved her ring, and knelt on their bed as the two exchanged rings and vows.
Vows to marry one day, when the time was right and Tomoyo/Sakura were already married.
As Hikaru fell into Mirra’s arms, kissing her, Mirra felt a surge of joy and happiness beyond what she felt to date. It felt as if the entire room melted away leaving her and Hikaru floating on clouds. Her body felt so light from her excitement that she hardly felt the bed as she fell backwards, Hikaru in arms, kissing madly and passionately.
She felt so numb it was pure heaven to be so carried away.

It was only when Hikaru switched positions and presented herself to Mirra that her senses returned, and she felt her needs rise as she placed her hands on her lover’s hips and drew her close for her tongue to engulf her womanhood as her’s was enveloped in turn.

The bliss of happiness was replaced by the bliss of their lovemaking, and the world just seemed to fall away as Hikaru became her world and vice versa.

* * * * * *

December 31st (Morning)

“No fair.” Nina remarked glumly, “We didn’t even get to see all this? Nuts!”
Several hours have passed and it was now daylight. As everyone gathered in the kitchen for breakfast Mirra and Hikaru were relating their decision to become engaged to anyone who’ll listen (which was a great deal of people in the house).

“It sounded quite sweet and beautiful.” Eliza noted, smiling at the two happy young women, “I’m sure you’ll both be quite happy on your wedding day---” (winks at Nina) “---just as we’ll be on our wedding day. Right?”

“Right…” Nina nods, blushing at the sudden shift of attention by Eliza. “…uh, so, what are we doing today? It being New Year’s Eve and all that. We‘re going to party, right?”

Fuu entered the room and bowed slightly, “We have visitors this morning. A Mrs. & Mrs. Shai’zhan to see Sakura.”
At this Nina scoffs, leaning back in her chair. “Gee, wonder who THAT could be.”

“Phwee?”

As Fuu leaves the kitchen Meilin and Xai Shar enter, all smiles. Meilin was wearing casual pants and a red dragon t-shirt with cute matching red shoes, Xai Shar was wearing her usual uniform (as Keiko & Rena often did whether they were working or not). “Meilin? Who---”

“It’s their future married last name isn’t it.” Nina noted, looking straight at Meilin. “Shai’zhan is a Palominian name--- your changing your last name?”

“It’s a beautiful last name!” Meilin huffed, bowing slightly to Tomoyo as she entered, “Good morning, remember my promise?”

“I remember. We’re going to celebrate your wedding engagement today.”

“Hoe??” (Sakura)

“Hoe.” (Nina repeated, scoffingly)

Eliza shifts her weight in her chair to bring her attention to Mirra/Eliza, “That’s great! You two can celebrate your engagement today too!” Both girls blushed at the sudden attention Meilin & Xai Shar gave them as they turned to look at the two. Suddenly Meilin smiles and gives Mirra a slight smack on the back as she laughed abit. If this was meant to settle down the two’s nerves? It didn’t help one bit.

“Let’s go downstairs and set up then.” Nina suddenly announced, taking the spotlight off of the two (to their relief). As they walked out of the kitchen, Mirra seemed confused. “But we’re already downstairs.”

“We’re going down to the holochamber. We can set the celebration up down there.”

“Phwee?” Mirra whispered, in trademark Sakura fashion.

* * * * * *

The holochamber was already on when they entered.

The setting was inside of Tokyo Tower, the observation deck now set up for a party with tables of food and a karaoke machine, and there was also a huge TV set to one side with ample seating and a few smaller sets to another side with video games hooked to them. “I like to be prepared just in case.”

“She’s been planning this for weeks.” Eliza whispers, cheeks blushing as she watches Nina hustle about making sure everything was in it’s proper place.

Mirra felt someone grasp her hand, and realized it was Hikaru. She seemed a little nervous about the setting, but quickly smiled and waved off Mirra’s concerns with a wave of her free hand. Mirra nodded her head and went back to looking around. Hikaru was worried, but she
always tried to shield it when Mirra was around. And she accused her of hiding things. Mirra shook her head briefly as she pushed those thoughts away for the time being. When she was ready she would say what was troubling her, but for now she just wanted to spend the day
with Hikaru and enjoy herself. That’s it.

“The food’s real by the way, I just used the replicator to set the buffet. Help yourselves and I’ll get some of the events started so people can relax. Remember it’s a party today so everyone have fun!”

As the groups began to break apart to try some of the food or one of the play areas, Hikaru pulled Mirra to one of the tables for a bite to eat. Feeling abit famished herself she followed, mouth watering abit as she did.

* * * * * *

Eventually somebody asked the obvious question.
“So, whose tying the knot first?”

“Phwee?”

“Is there an echo in here? I keep hearing that same noise over and over again…“ Nina remarks, eventually asking the question on everyone’s mind as they sat around the table eating lunch. The group consisted of the three marrying couples in question (Sakura/Tomoyo,
Nina/Eliza and Meilin/Xai Shar).

Meilin was decked out on a couch lying contently in the taller Palominians’ gentle grip using her breasts as pillows, the two plucking crackers & cheese from a tray on the table near to them.

Sakura and Tomoyo sat side by side, and so did Eliza/Nina. As Nina finished asking the question, all eyes roamed about as everyone looked at each other. Eliza was first to speak. “Nina wanted our wedding to be a Christmas thing so we’re having ours on Christmas Eve.”

“We’re marrying on May 15th (Xai’s birthday).”

“---hoe---” Sakura face faulted, looking nervous as everyone turned to look for her answer. Tomoyo quickly “steps” in and covers her, “We haven’t decided yet.”

“Is it going to be this year?” Xai asked, only to receive a warming smile (but not answer) from Tomoyo. “We’ll let you know when we decided.”

“Whatever.” Nina relented, dropping the subject for the time being. “How many more cards does Sakura need to seal anyway?”

Sakura suddenly blanked out, her face going as expressionless as it could possibly get.

“What?! You mean you don’t even know??”

“I wasn’t keeping count!” Sakura cried out, defending herself.

“Sigh---” (Nina began counting cards on her fingers) “Let’s see--- Jump, Fly, Illusion, Create---”

“Don’t forget to minus six cards for those who became human.” Tomoyo added, to which Nina scowled, “I know that! I know--- made me lose count. 1-2-3-4---”

Silence.

“Anytime today, Einstein.” Keiko called out from another nearby table, listening in the whole time. “SHUT IT!” Nina screeches, counting again (lost her count again). Finally, which much fanfare she came up with the number--- “You captured 13 regular Clow Cards (unlucky).”

“Is that it? Not counting fan cards--- I---” (Sakura bows her head) “---it’s 13 cards.”

Keiko, overhearing the conversation from her seat, huffs her breath. “13 cards out of a possible 46? That’s only a bit over 25%!”

“I’M SORRY!!” Sakura cries, her shoulders slumping as Tomoyo pulls her over to console her.

“Can you do better?” Nina asks, turning around to look at Keiko. “You haven’t caught card one yet dontcha know!”

“Neither have you so don’t go on about my catching skills! Why I---”

Meanwhile, at one of the game stations, Mirra slumps her head. “They’re fighting again over there!”

“Ignore them. They’re a bunch of children anyway.” Kero remarks, “They simply have no sense of decorum or--- YA-TAH!!” (Kero flies up in the air and whoops it up over Cloud’s head as she slumps her shoulders now, face scrunched up) “Keep it up, “Kero-chan”--- keep it up!!
(You‘re one to talk about acting like a kid!)”

“You OK?” Hikaru asks, tapping Mirra on the shoulder to draw her attention. “I just don’t like it when they fight. I wish they got along better.”

“I’m sure they’re getting along just fine, it’s just that---” Hikaru stops, sparing the others a quick glance before looking back at Mirra, “They just have a funny way of showing it, that’s all.”

“Could’va fooled me.” Kero responded, settling back down to take his controller.

Suddenly Mirra became very contemplative as she sat there, thinking--- “I hope Fight and Power are in good spirits today---”, a small flicker of concern crosses Hikaru’s face, but she quickly suppresses it, choosing instead to shift herself so she could lean on Mirra as they
played. ‘I hope they’re in good spirits as well.’

* * * * * *

Fight’s eyes slowly flickered open, her head lolling to one side as she stared at the clock.
She’d slept in. A slight frown came across her face as she realized that he let her sleep in again so he could make her breakfast. He was always doing that. Turning off the alarm clock and letting her sleep in when she had a day off. Then again he was a far better cook than
she was so she enjoyed it when he cooked, and became a nervous wreck when she took to the kitchen.

Day off. She never thought being “human” had so much responsibilities. As a card she would just shift back to her card form and sleep for days (or weeks), but as a human she needed a job (she taught physical education at Mirra’s school), and she needed to be constantly
active--- but, as she fondly remembered, her beloved gave her plenty of activities that was “fun” including things that involved bed and/or--- as she laid there silently, her fingers gently traced a line around her breasts as she thought about what they did during the
night, and sometimes during the day as well.

Her body seemed to come to life in strange and wonderful ways with each and every touch and caress from his hands and body, and she cherished every moment together. With the strength to shatter bone and metal her body was a weapon, but that weapon just seemed to melt like butter in his grip. She never would have thought that someone so unassuming could have so much power over her--- but she wanted him to be there, and be loved by him. She needed it as much as mistress needed love from her special someone, but why didn’t mistress
understand? “Is this how it is, mistress?” she whispered, her fingers lazily tracing circles along her nipples, “Is every night with your beloved as beautiful? Does she make you as happy as I am with him? Why can‘t you understand?”

As Fight rolls over to her side, she frowned at the thought of mistress trying to steal her power, and her rash act. She felt guilty about hitting mistress for days now, but she didn’t know what else to do--- mistress didn’t understand that if it was a better world she would have gladly given her powers up.

Each and every night she fears a little. When in the heat of lovemaking that she’d lose control, she’d harm him unintentionally--- she’d never do it on purpose but--- and then there was her need for revenge. If mistress only thought about it, and the situation was reversed with her love being the one violated, she would not hesitate to do the same and strike back at her tormentors.

“We’re the same.” she whispered to herself, “The same.”

She did not know if she said that because it was true, or just comforting words, but she said them all the same. “Did you say something?” Fight’s frown vanished quickly, warming back into a smile as she rolled back to her lying position and beheld his worried face.
“Nothing. I was just wondering when breakfast was going to be served.”

He set her place in bed, and patiently waited for her to settle in before serving himself. She smiled, and ate her breakfast with enthusiasm (his food tasted the best to her because it was made with love).

Briefly her image in the mirror showed and she thought of something she hadn’t before. Her hairstyle. When she was in Clow Costume, and in her “element” of violence, she wore her hair in such a constricting way--- but now her hair was loose and flowed down her back in long
shimmering waves.

‘Maybe I’m more relaxed like this---‘ she thought to herself, ‘---maybe I’m happier being a lover and a gentle woman than---‘, her mind focusing back on her meal as she realized he was watching her with some concern. She sighed as she tapped her fork for a second before devouring another large bite, knowing what was coming next.
“I’ll never leave you. There’s no need to constantly lavish me.”

“I love doing things for you. It‘s not excessive to---”

“Please---” Fight sighed again, looking up at him, “I’m not rejecting you. I just don’t want you to feel as if everyday must be a struggle to keep my heart--- when you’ve earned it the first moment we met.”

“I felt like such a loser--- couldn’t save you.” he whispered, lowering his head. Her strong fingers slide beneath his chin, and raise his face up to meet her gaze. “You were there when I felt like dying, and protected me from something worst than those men--- myself. You’re the strongest man I ever met.”

“I’m not strong.”

“You came to my rescue even when you knew you were going to lose, and what they did to you---” Fight chokes back a bad memory, focusing only on him, “---nobody should have had to endure that, but you did--- for me.” Without another word she slides closer and holds him tight. “I won’t leave you. Ever.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

For a second she shuddered, feeling as if it might have been a promise she might not be able to keep--- ‘No.’ she thought to herself, ‘I won’t leave his side--- I’d rather die than be sealed again---’ And with that she leaned forward and kissed him, long and slowly, thinking idly if it was the same when mistress kissed her beloved on the lips. If two people, regardless of gender, could kiss with the same beautiful passion regardless of whether they were man and woman, or two women like mistress and--- Tomoyo? That was her name, she finally remembered it having heard it only one or twice. Tomoyo.

With that they went back to eating, her mind idly wondering what the day would bring.

* * * * * *

“Yah!!” she cheered, digging into her food with relish. “Thank you, mama!”

The tall blonde woman smiled, “I’ve never been called mama before---” Quake admitted, her cheeks glowing as she smiled at the word. “I like it.”

“Mama!” Power repeated, smiling even wider as Quake took her seat at the table. It was a serene moment, even peaceful. They were a happy family, even if their occupation wasn’t normally something people would associate with happy families--- mainly the occupation of
assassins. “Papa? Are you---”

“I’m feeling better.” Technocrat assured her, motioning towards his arm as he ate. “It’s healing up nicely, don’t worry about it!”

“I’m going to a friend’s house for New Year’s! Can I---?”

“Sure.” Quake agreed, nodding her head, “There’s no work this week so you can stay over tonight. Call us if you need anything, OK?”

“OK!” Power cheerfully replied, going back to eating. From the front door of their huge apartment there was a knocking sound. “I’ll get it.” Technocrat replied, standing up and heading through from the kitchen area into the living room where the knocking was coming from. As he opened the door he felt a slight chill go through his body. “Oh, it’s you.” he mildly remarked, looking over the man standing outside his door. “If this is work then---”

“No, no, not at all…” (silence)
Technocrat waves him in with a “Come on, come on, in you go.” to which BloodStorm walked in calmly, looking about a bit nervously, “Are you sure I can enter?”

Technocrat - “I suppose so since I know you won‘t take no for an answer.”

As Technocrat stood aside to let the other assassin enter, he asked the obvious. “Work?”

BloodStorm, a tall figure dressed in black (with short black hair and coal black eyes to match his clothing) stood for a second before responding, “No. At least---”

“What now.” he asked, motioning for BloodStorm to sit down as he maintained his position standing, watching over him. “This isn’t about…”

“No, no. People like that never cross over from the waking world into here. They dream in nightmares even if they believe what they’re seeing is pleasant dreams. It’s about the buzz on the rumor mill over the past several days.”

“Mimic.” Technocrat said with a slight irritation, “What about her…?”

“It might yield some big work if certain somebodies drafted a contract for her… removal. It seems to me that it would be a right nice solid work with a nice solid payout. Can’t beat that.”

“Can beat that.” Technocrat shot back flatly, “It’s suicide to take on that assignment, what with Mimic being a certified whacko and all. Then again you never were the type to concern himself with the minor details--- like self preservation for instance.”

“Can’t help it.” BloodStorm remarked calmly, shrugging as he did. “It’s my narcissistic side acting up. I’m too vain and egotistical to know better.”

Silence reigns for a few seconds until Power, backpack on, passes by “Bye dad--- daddy?”

“It’s nothing.“ he assures her, kneeling down to look her in the eyes, “Just an old friend. Go on now, your friends are waiting---“ (smiles) “Go on. Bye sweety.” she moves quickly, kissing him on the cheek and dashing out the door. She stops briefly though, one last time, to regard BloodStorm before hurrying on her way.

As she closes the door behind her, BloodStorm smiles, his thin lips pulling upwards in a way that made Technocrat shiver inwardly. “Speaking of narcissistic tendencies, isn’t it abit vain to have a Clow Card for a daughter?”

“None of your business.” Technocrat hisses, locking gazes with BloodStorm as he stood up again, “I’ll do as I please.”
If this was meant to surprise BloodStorm, he showed no reaction to it. “Of course. As you have always done before, so what’s the surprise in that?” BloodStorm remarks as he stands up, brushing himself off and saying his farewells, “Not much different than me I suppose. Well, I had to ask anyway---” (bows slightly) “See ya’ around.”

As the door closes, Technocrat sighs, feeling his partner‘s arms wrap around him.

“Not if I can help it.”

* * * * * *

The morning turned to afternoon, and the day rolled on.

As the celebration rolled on Hikaru felt a slight chill run down her spine, but dismissed it.
She felt as if something was going to happen--- but it wasn’t time yet.
Not for that yet. Briefly she remembers part of it--- her dreams.

In Tokyo Tower, at night.

She feels Mimic yank her skirt up, forcing her down on all fours. Mimic was screaming horribly, her rage beyond anything she’s experienced. Mimic was enraged about something, and she knew she was blaming Mirra for her pain. Then, on all fours she feels Mimic kick Hikaru’s legs apart and mounted her…

“Is something wrong?”

Mirra was standing in front of her, with her usual worried expression on her face. Hikaru silently chided herself for letting Mirra see her pained expression. She quickly smiled and led Mirra to the table for a snack, “I’m OK. Really.”

“I dreamed the same dream you did. I know why you did what you did--- why you---” Mirra whispers, to which Hikaru laughed silently. “Did you now? Then we must be bonding closer than I thought…”

“If Mimic rapes you, I’ll kill her.”

Hikaru falls into silence, stopping dead in her tracks mouth ajar.

“If Mimic rapes you, I’ll kill her.” she repeated, eyes narrowed and tear filled. Without another word Hikaru draws Mirra close and holds her tight, “Oh, Mirra-chan.”
The two stand silently embraced, Mirra’s tears falling on the other girl’s shoulders as she cried.

To Be Continued

The Start of 2007 Brings A Special Preview!

January 1st 2007 brings your first look at the next Potter themed fanfic, Trial of Fire and Darkness. Tune in next week Monday for your first look!

CardCaptor Sakura Remastered II Episode 1 (10)

Tuesday December 26th
CardCaptor Sakura Remastered II 1 (10)
Tomoyo Daidouji
Misho NamoCatCat (through her corporation, NamoCatCat Corp) is hosting a Summer Field Day at the elementary, and I never seen Sakura so excited about a field day before like she was for this one.

In the past she was the star of Field Day events, but today she’s a happy parent up in the stands cheering her precious girl to victory. “GO MIRRA-CHAN!! GO!! YEAH!! YOUR WINNING!! YEAH!!”

Sakura can be so spirited when it comes to these things, especially when it involves Mirra-chan. Hard to believe that a year ago she was just a magical card, but now she was flesh and blood, and she was (by her own choice) our daughter (mine & Sakura’s).

I feel great leaps of pride watching her, filming her triumphs for posterity like I film Sakura’s victories. Sakura & Mirra-chan. The two precious loves of my life.
It was nice of Miss NamoCatCat to host this event. Especially since she went out of her way to make everyone feel like a winner, with gift certificates and free dinners for families who participated regardless of whether they won or loss. This was, after all, just a day to unwind and be kids (or kids at heart) and enjoy ourselves.

With food booths set up around the track, a karaoke stage, and a family race later there less emphasis on competition, and more on fun. I hope there’s more events like this in the future. Suddenly I feel Sakura tense up and I know why. Mirra-chan was talking to her brother by the track after her win. Sakura keeps putting off talking to Mirra-chan about her brother, and with all the card capturing I understand that, but she keeps getting angry every time she sees her brother near Mirra-chan. Overtly defensive maybe? I better get down to the field before Sakura does something she’ll likely regret later.

* * * * * *

As Tomoyo reaches the field she watches Sakura belt Toya in the back once, snarling. “I’m NOT Snoozer!!”

“Oh, no.” Tomoyo sighs. “They’re at it again. Maybe Yuki can break them up.”

“Wow! Did you bring lunch? That’s huge!!” (Mirra-chan was happy despite Sakura’s outburst, which only made Toya forget Sakura’s anger) “Yuki thought of it. It has a lot of your favorites.”

“COOL!!”

“Sonomi will be here with the others in abit. She’s running late from a meeting.”

* * * * * *

That last voice was Nina’s.
Mother’s at a meeting for a new toy line for her company, but she promised to be here when she could. She loves Mirra-chan dearly, and she has taken the former card into her heart as her granddaughter as easily as Sakura & I accepted her into our hearts as our daughter. And even though she’s always very busy she makes time to be with her granddaughter, and that’s important in Mirra-chan’s life as she adjusts to being human and growing in our world as one of us.

* * * * * *

“What’s a family race? Is it a relay to determine family unity?” Eliza asks, to which Nina replies. “Not at all. Family Race is a tongue in cheek catchphrase for a macho parent race. Whose the toughest mom & dad on the block, that sort of silly stuff.”
Nina takes a sip from her soda as she looks about, “Lots of potential winners here but Sakura is going to blow them all away. That is of course unless Sonomi enters and gives Sakura a run for her credits.”

“Me?? But I’m--- I mean can I? Nina!” Sakura blushes at the thought, “I guess I am a parent now so I could race in the Parent Race--- can’t I?”

“YOU BET!” Mirra-chan cheers, clapping Sakura on the back. “Cheerleaders? Please report to the entrance gate for the exhibition show. I repeat, all cheerleaders report to the entrance gate---”

“Now there’s a memory!” Tomoyo sighs as she listens to the announcement, “That’s Hikaru, right? She’s doing the PA system job. I remember doing that when Sakura was cheerleader. Sigh. Memories.” Toya taps Mirra on the shoulder to bring her to the here and now, “Your up, Mirra. Good luck.”

“Thank you, Toya-chan!” Sakura face faults as she hears the words “Toya-chan”.
Tomoyo - “I’ll get it on film.”

Yuki - “And I’ll take lots of pictures.” And with that Mirra-chan dashes off. But as she leaves earshot Sakura grouses under her breath, “Isn’t she going to ask for pictures of “Toya-chan”? Hmph.”

“Jealous, Sakura? That‘s so like you to be jealous.” Toya remarked, to which Sakura shrieked “I’m NOT jealous of YOU! It‘s unnatural, damn you!!”

Toya smiled, “Coulda’ fooled me. Come on, let’s go get a good spot Yuki.”

“Arrgghh!!” Sakura clenches her teeth, her face turning red as Toya led Yuki away. Quickly Tomoyo moves between Sakura and her view of Toya and catches her attention, “Sakura, did you talk to Mirra-chan yet about Toya?”
Suddenly (all at once) Sakura goes pale. “I--- I--- I forgot.”

Tomoyo sighed yet kept a strong face on, “Please try to talk to her. It’s important.”

Sakura - “I know--- I know but--- I---” (Tomoyo leans forward and kisses Sakura softly on her cheek) “I’m counting on you. Please talk to her.”

Sakura - “I’ll try--- I’m sorry.”

Tomoyo - “That’s OK. I know it’s hard being a new parent and all. I’m struggling too.”

Sakura - “Can you talk to her then? I don‘t know what to say!”

“Sakura---” (Tomoyo takes Sakura’s hand in her own) “---she looks up to you. As both her parent and her role model it’s your job to talk to her. And she’ll understand since it’s coming from you, especially when the topic is Toya. OK?”
Sakura nods, head lowered. “OK--- I’ll talk to her.”

“GREAT!” (grabs camera) “Let’s go! I must capture our daughter’s glory on video! Make a DVD out of it also, I have some heroic soundtracks I want to use and we mustn‘t miss a moment! Come on, I’m loaded and ready to go!”
Sakura faints.

* * * * * *

“Mirra-chan is quite good. I like her showmanship.” Nina remarks, watching the performance. Toya - “Sakura never was that good when she was Mirra’s age.”

Sakura - “That’s not fair!”

Toya - “Is so. You used to catch the baton a lot with your head--- just how good is THAT?”

“Our daughter is doing it flawlessly,” Tomoyo sighs, “but then again she had a good teacher.”

“---Tomo-chan---”

Toya, however, didn‘t know when to quit. “That’ll be the day when Sakura teaches Mirra something, more likely the other way around.” Sakura grits her teeth and huffs her breath. ‘This is Mirra-chan’s moment, don’t lose your cool Sakura, don’t lose your cool---’
Sakura’s thoughts rage as she calms down and tries to relax, ’I’ll use Umi’s ring on him later just to make myself feel better.’

* * * * * *

And, like the cheerleading practice, once again Toya was present for another thing (this time the picnic meal) “Well he did volunteer to make lunch today after all.” Tomoyo reasoned, mostly to simmer Sakura’s rage as she huffed about having to sit with Toya.
“I knew we should have made lunch.” she growled in defeat, ultimately using Tomoyo, Mirra & Hikaru as barriers to sit between herself & Toya (with Nina, Eliza & Yuki flanking her other side to keep Toya as far from her as possible). But when it came to the meal, there was one thing Sakura couldn‘t avoid having to admit even if she wanted to, “I hate to admit it but Toya’s cooking is pretty good.”

“Didn’t Yuki make anything?” Tomoyo asked. “Part of it is his work but I had to stop him after awhile. He kept sampling the food and--- well, he would have ate it all if he kept that up so I made the rest.”

Sakura - “Which part?”

Toya - “Just eat, Sakura. And your welcome.”
Sakura mutters a thank you as she continues to eat. ‘He always has to make Yuki sound like a pig!’ (though she has seen him eat and he does eat in, as Dan Ackroyd would put it from that old SNL skit, “mass quantities”.) “OH NO!! I MISSED IT!!” Sakura jumps in her spot, mostly because Sonomi just ran up behind her in a panic and shocked her. Sonomi was sweating slightly, the bodyguards nowhere to be found, with Umi, Gaia & Windy in tow. “I missed Mirra-chan’s events!”

Tomoyo - “Don’t worry! I got them all here on video!”

Yuki - “And I took pictures.”

Eliza - “And I holovid’d the whole thing for the holochamber beneath the house. Gives you a second chance at being there, so to speak.”

“Really? Thanks.” Sonomi sits down, rather casually, and grabs a plate. Tomoyo leans over and whispers into Sakura‘s ear, “Mother’s been really relaxed lately since Windy came to life. It’s like she breathed new life into her and made her happy again. I can’t ever remember seeing her this relaxed in public before.”

Sakura smiles at the remark, “Windy must be a good influence on her.”

Windy - “But I’m Nade--”

“HERE!!” (Sonomi shoves something into Windy’s mouth) “Taste that! Isn’t that good?” Windy nods her head and starts munching, forgetting completely what she was saying a second ago, with further encouragements to forget seconds away as Sonomi hastily makes a plate for her. “Is Windy alright? I thought she was going to say something.”

Sonomi quickly shakes her head in aggitation, “She’s just hungry. Makes her speak jibberish. Here!” (shoves plate into Windy’s hands) “Eat.”

“Is it just me,” Eliza notes, “or is Windy acting odd lately?”

Nina - “I never got to know Windy very well so I don’t know.” (looks at Sonomi) “But that’s a funny name for an exchange student from--- uh--- the Grimmlands. Yeah.” (remembering that they were still keeping Sonomi out of the Cardcaptoring loop). “Where’s--- uhh--- Dawn & Eve?” (nicknames for Light & Dark when talking about them in front of Sonomi) “They‘re visiting a hot spring with Fuu. Today‘s her day off.” (Sonomi smiles) “I think the two of them have a crush on her.” (she goes back to eating) “Well that was awkward--- and speaking of awkward here comes Keiko.”

“I’m NOT awkward, thanks for the insult Nina.” Keiko sits down and puts her box lunch aside as she regards everyone. “Great race, Mirra! I caught that earlier. Blew everyone away!”

“Sakura-papa helped me practice and…” (blinks) “…what the…” (plucks a flower petal from the air as more start to drift down) “…is this…?”

“Sakura, it’s…”

“I know, Tomoyo, I know…” (groans inwardly) “…not now.”
Sonomi didn‘t know what was going on, “What not now?”

“Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. Let’s go throw out the trash and we’ll need some help.”

“I’ll stay here.” Tomoyo offers as Nina, Eliza & Keiko help with the trash (and consult Sakura).

* * * * * *

“Where is it?” Sakura asked impatiently.

“Hold your hamsters, I’m looking.” Nina pans the length of the campus again, “Nothing. It must be on a rooftop but the wind’s kinda weird today so it’s blowing the petals everywhere. Not going to be easy to figure out which rooftop it’s coming from without some data from Weather Control.”

“Can’t access Weather Control.” Eliza tossed in, “They’re swamped with linkers tracking an interesting system forming in the pacific so they can’t process my request at this time.”

“That’s not good, is it?”
Nina sighs as she clips her scanner (open) onto her belt, “You have a way with understatement, Sakura. Without the benefit of Weather Control’s eye in the sky we can’t use it’s tracking system to pinpoint the wind directions to see where the flowers might be originating from. I guess we could climb onto a rooftop and visually do a roof by roof search though.”

“That’d attract too much attention, and they lock down the school buildings for events like this anyway so getting in won‘t be easy.”

“Well then Sakura we just have to wait until my scanner can do the job on it’s own tracking the winds, or we find a better eye in the sky other than Weather Control’s eye. Well, let’s go back, there’s still dessert to be eaten and I want dibs before it’s all gone.”

* * * * * *

As they return they notice a new woman in the scene, Nina motions to her as they approach. “That must be Hikaru’s mom.”

“Hikaru?” Keiko repeats.

Mirra-chan - “Papa! Auntie!”
The scream that follows shocks the heck out of everyone hundreds of feet in all directions, sets off three car alarms, brings dreadful chills down people’s spines and causes the flowers to stop falling for about a full minute.

* * * * * *

Flower sits stunned on the rooftop, she was on panting and looking about shocked. She’ll be happy again--- in a minute--- but right now she has been thrown gracelessly out of her happy place and she didn’t like it one bit. Oh, well. At least the flowers stopped for a minute.

* * * * * *

“YOU?!?”

“Oh god it’s you.” Keiko whispers, feeling faint. Seconds later she’s dragged out of eyesight of everyone and into an impromptu meeting of sorts. And by some bad luck Nina decides to tag along. “I get it now!” Nina remarks looking at the two of them, “She’s the jealous woman who was in love with the girl Keiko was in love with once, and who she married only for her to have died when she was 27 and that girl is seeking unholy vengeance in the memory of the woman she loved with all her heart!!”

Keiko - “Uh--- no. Where the (bleep) did you get that explanation anyway. Is that really the kind of thing one woman should accuse another woman of--- I don’t think so--- no.”

Nina - “Well then who is she?!”

Eliza - “Who does she look like to you?”

Nina - “She?” (looks at woman) “She’s beautiful, looks like a model or a star, and the hair is a dead giveaway. I say Umi from MKRE but what’s the odds in that being true?”

Keiko face blanks out, “Sadly the odds are better than you think---” (frowns) “---and lord knows what compeled me to actually do something nice for the likes of YOU!” (talking to Hikaru‘s mother, face frowning) “I’d get a restraining order but your illiterate so what’s the use, you‘d never be able to understand what it said on it anyway.”

“What are you doing here?” Umi raged, “Me? It’s Field Day. I have as much right to be here as you. What brings you other than the obvious fact your daughter who I saved from an alternate reality is going to the same school as Sakura’s daughter who I didn’t have anything to do with whatsoever.”

“Really.” Nina remarks, “Really.” Keiko counters, “It’s not like I’m everywhere at once. I do get time off for good behavior sometimes.”

Nina - “Oh.”

“Good behavior!” Umi hisses, “Some good behavior. Meddling in things you didn’t understand, throwing everything out of whack, playing god. Some good behavior.”

Keiko pushes into Umi‘s space, and right in her face. “Look, don’t bitch at me because you came out ahead which is more than I can say for some of the others who didn’t fare as well. You got brought here. You wanted true love, and I hooked you with El female Capitan who you had a crush on. You wanted a daughter between you two girls and I brought you little Hikaru. You wanted your friends back and I hooked you up with alternate versions of them here in the Realm of Dreams. It seems you want a lot of out me, but don’t think you owe me the simple courtesy of being grateful for turning over heaven and Earth to make you happy. So don’t stand there and scream at me about how unhappy your life was because I did a lot to make you happy and you owe me at least the simplest gratitude for the effort I put in playing god so don’t get all preachy at me because I’m tired of it. You hear me? Tired!”

“I wanted my friends!” Umi exploded, “They’re great friends but what happened to…”

“One set is happily married to each other, the other is here because they’re DEAD in their reality. And for the life of me I thought I explained that to you before… must be from having stupid stuck between your ears!”

“But this isn’t Earth!” Umi yelled, “It’s not my home! My family’s gone! My friends! My life! This isn’t the---”

“IT CAN’T BE THE SAME!” Keiko screamed, “I told you, it’s not MY fault! Blame your creators if your reaching for a reason why things just can’t be the way they used to be. It’s their fault things just didn’t have that happily ever after twinge you wanted it to either way, and it’s their fault I’m stuck with you, so don’t get on my back about it because I am not to blame here!”

Umi - “I don’t have anyone else to blame! I need someone to take responsibility for this!”

Keiko - “Why me?! I did the dirty work, but I didn’t set the events in motion that lead to what I had to do! I didn’t like it, but I had no choice in the matter! And, if you got off your emotional high horse and looked at my position in all this, you’d see that was the truth as well as I see it!”

Umi - “I don’t want to look! I don’t want to think! It’s your fault my life is incomplete and I’m holding you responsible for it!!” (With that Umi storms off in a huff) “---aw damn---”

“Should I kill her now?” Keiko looks at Nina as if she fell off her rocker, “Oh, yeah, sure. And while your at it why don’t you find a cure for the common cold while your doing it.” (huffs at Nina as she passes her by) “It’s impossible. She might be brass and yakkity-yakkity but she’s also extremely good at her art, and that art is war. I have a hard time fighting her when she’s enraged, you’ll have no better luck against her believe me.”

Nina - “Oh. Just as well because I left my gauntlets at home.”

“Really.” Keiko frowns as she stretches, “Makes me wish I left something at home.”

Nina - “What?”

“Myself.” (Keiko sighs irritably) “Oh, well, might as well get it over with.”

Nina - “She going to duel you to the death?”

Keiko - “Nothing so clean or quick I’m afraid. If I know her and what she‘s thinking of challenging me in”

* * * * * *

“Keiko sure gets around it seems.” Eliza remarks as she waits for the three to return. “I never knew she knew Umi. Maybe Nina can explain when she gets---”

“The Family Race is next. Participants please report to the main gate.”

“Yes! That’s it! I’ll beat her with that! Yes!” Umi passes by, hugging Hikaru as she does and seeming rather jovial as she does this, walking towards the main gate. “Somebody’s in a good now all of a sudden…”

“Wait! Wait! I want in on this race!” (Keiko) “Where is it? Where’s the gate?”

“Mirra’s taking Sonomi to the gate now, if you follow them you can---” (Keiko dashes off after the two before Eliza can utter another word) “---catch up---?” Nina walks up next to Eliza, only to receive a curious stare from her. “Should I ask, or is this one of those things I’d feel better not knowing about?”
Nina explains the situation to her. “But Keiko can’t be held responsible for all that. She did her best, right?”

Nina - “Umi doesn’t see it that way. She’s a tad miffed and Keiko is in her line of sight as a target as far as she’s concerned. She doesn’t want reason, she wants to take it out on someone and Keiko’s the candidate whether Keiko likes it or not.”

Eliza - “Did she say much else past what she said to Umi?”

Nina - “No. You know Keiko, she can be very tight lipped about things when she wants to be.” (sighs) “Doesn’t matter to me in the slightest. It’s their problem so they should thrash it out amongst themselves (as long as they don’t drag the kids into it at least).” (looks up) “This is bad. Flowers’ kicking up the flowers.”

Eliza - “A Clow card is doing this?”

Nina - “Either that or somebody blew up the FTD Florist--- probably an old grudge from mother‘s day.”

“Oh.”

* * * * * *

This year Hikaru & Mirra were given the goal for the Parents’ Race. They didn‘t understand what was happening but they kinda knew something was up.
“Did you know that my mom knew Keiko?”

“Sorry, Hikaru, I don’t even know Keiko very much myself.” Mirra admitted, a confused expression on her face. “Maybe they went to school together when they were our age?”

“Maybe.” (Hikaru turns towards the starting line) “Mother seemed happy when the race was announced. She was kinda reluctant back home but now she’s actually excited about running in the race.”

Mirra - “Maybe she caught a second wind?”

Hikaru - “Maybe.”

* * * * * *

“Do you mind not glaring in my direction?” Keiko growls, pushing Umi back a few paces, “I have two words for you, girl, “Restraining”, “Order”.”

“I’m still going to beat you dammit!”

“Whatever.” Keiko rasped in frustration, her eyes looking up as the flowers began falling from sky once again. “I’d say this was a cliche moment but I’m far too irritated by the situation to even think about laughing at it.”

* * * * * *

Somehow Flower managed to find a vidscreen on the roof and started using it.
“…that’s what christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
(musical score)
Flower (wiping tears from her eyes) - “That’s so Flower…” (blows nose in a fistful of flowers)

* * * * * *

Eliza - “Nina, is Keiko fast?”

Nina - “Well, she’s got a fast mouth so maybe…” (blushes) “…oh, wait. I have the fast mouth. She just has a potty mouth. She’s so screwed.” (blinks) “Still what’s with Sonomi racing? It‘d be a sure thing she‘ll win.”

Eliza - “But that won‘t solve the dispute between Keiko & Umi if Sonomi wins.”

Nina - “And that’s a bad thing because---”

* * * * * *

As the race starts Umi takes the lead--- which lasts for about a few seconds as Keiko takes over. This doesn’t last long as Sonomi passes them, who leaves the other two behind her to catch up. ‘Man what was I thinking?!?’ Keiko yells in her mind, ‘I’m going to humiliate myself out here and still die a vicious death from fatigue, or drowning in flowers, or whatever comes first!’ (sighs inwardly) ‘Next time I want to prove my womanhood, I’ll challenge someone to a game of Trivial Pursuit or an orgy or whatever that requires the least energy to undertake!!’

* * * * * *

As the flowers increase Sakura looks about the roofs. “We can’t wait much longer. Let’s take to the sky and spot Flower so we can---”

“AGH!” Nina suddenly yelps.

Sakura - “What?!”

Nina - “Misho put up a huge holo-banner on each rooftop to advertise her businesses! From ground level you can’t see anything but eye-level to the roof or above the rooftops you see only the banners! It’ll be impossible to see Flower from the sky because all the rooftops are covered in virtual banners!!”

Sakura - “WHAT?!? But that means…”

“It’s going to be a lot harder to capture Flower this time.” Nina finishes for Sakura.
“Aw man---”

The field was becoming hip deep in flowers, the race was still on (just like the first time Flower appeared years ago), and people were beginning to panic. Only this time without an ability to have a clear bird’s eye view of Flower even from an advantage point above the field, and the wind making it hard to locate which rooftop Flower was on (scattering the flowers in a strange pattern about the schoolyard skies) it wasn’t going to be easy to nab Flower. Not easy at all.

* * * * * *

“I don’t remember this before…” (Flower blinks) “…this is a new Peanuts Christmas cartoon isn’t it?” (sighs) “The things I missed while I was sealed away between releases.”

* * * * * *

Nina wasn’t in a good mood.
“HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIND THAT CARD IF WE CAN’T SEE THROUGH THE HOLO-BILLBOARDS!! I---” (stops and thinks as she looks around) “Everyone’s panicking, things are getting worst. We have to do something now!”

“But what? With those boards up we can’t see the rooftops!” Eliza points out.

“I got it.” (motions to Sakura) “You take Tomoyo and grab some sky. Here---” (pins her commlink pin to Sakura‘s top, set open) “It’s an open link. Just talk into it when your up there and I’ll do the rest to guide you along.”

“But the billboards!” Sakura protested, only to get pushed once by Nina. “You leave that to me, just grab some sky with Tomoyo and capture that card!”

Tomoyo - “But Sakura can’t use her magic in view of everyone.”

Nina looks about, waving her arms in the midst of the storm of flowers, “Who’s looking, Tomoyo? Nobody!”
Sure enough everyone was too panicked to notice anything.
Tomoyo - “Oh. Right. That happened before too.”

“Then get going. I’ll be down here monitoring…” (Nina turns and walks off in one direction) “And improvising something McGyver style.”

“Then let’s go.” Sakura holds out the key, her other arm wrapping around Tomoyo drawing her close, the urge to kiss her clawing into her mind as she held out the key.
“Key of the Star, with powers burning bright, release the staff and shine your light---
RELEASE!!” As the key grows into the staff, Sakura takes out the Fly card and triggers it, unfurling two huge wings from the bird head end of the staff. “Let’s go, Tomoyo!”

* * * * * *

Nina, wading her way through waist deep flowers, moves towards one of the booths. “Everyone get to higher ground! Come on! Move it!”
Nina stops to pull someone out of the flowers and send them on their way to higher ground. A few seconds later she reaches the booth and climbs on top of the now cleared booth counter, looking over into the pile of flowers within the booth. “He said he kept it under the counter, so…” Nina shoves her arms into the flowers, then her head, shoulders, and half her body until her hands finally latch onto the case beneath the counter.
Wresting it up from it’s hiding place she lies it on top of the flowers, propping it open and pulling out the parts of the sniper rifle within. “Good thing there was a marksmanship exhibition event planned for later today… Sakura?”

* * * * * *

“We’re here. Your right…” (Sakura responded, looking down at the huge floating holoboards advertising everything from soap, to soda, to movies, to toys). “I can’t see anything under the huge boards. Wait…”

Nina - “You see Flower?”

Sakura - “No. I see a movie I want to see though. Have to remember to see it.”

Nina - “SAKURA!!”

* * * * * *

Nina finishes assembling the rifle and hefts it up, “45 seconds, new record for me.”

Sakura - “What was that? What record? I don’t hear music---”

Nina - “Never mind, Snoozer. Just tell me which of the boards is glowing the brightest.”

Seconds pass and nothing, then--- “I see it. It’s the main school building. Can you---”

“I see it, I see it.” Nina swings the rifle over and aims up. “Don’t go near yet, I need to have a clear shot of the roof side.”

“Clear shot?” (Tomoyo)

“Holo billboards use holopods to project the images on all the roofs, but the programming comes from one point. A direct feed antenna linked to an orbiting satellite which in turn is feeding it up-to-date ads, news reports, weather and so forth. Snap that feed and the whole
system goes down…” (smiles) “…and there it is. Hold on and get ready to spot Flower because the lights are going off for corporate excess.”

With one shot Nina snaps the feed in two, breaking the link and shutting the system down. Seconds later the holoboards fall silent and the rooftops lie exposed.

Sakura - “There’s Flower!”

“Alright then, it’s up to you two. Let me know how it turns out.” Nina finishes, putting the rifle onto the flowers with a sigh. “That was a nice shot if I do say so my…” (her phone rings) “Speak to me.”

“Remember that thing you called for this morning? I have the results for you.”

Nina - “And?”

“Your not going to like it.”

* * * * * *

Sakura & Tomoyo land behind Flower, but she is oblivious to everything (dancing away).

Her dress flutters in the breeze, her hair shimmers as it’s blown slightly in the wind, her face is happy as she dances without a care in the world. Sakura quickly rushes up, “FLOWER! STOP---”

Flower is shocked for a second, but immediately smiles. And, just like old times, Flower scoops up her favorite dance partner in the whole world and begins to dance. Only this time, Tomoyo has her camera at the ready (filming since the Parent Race started) and wasn’t going to miss this dance for nothing.

“It’s beautiful!” Tomoyo said speaking out loud, not realizing Sakura passed the link to her when they landed.

“What? What’s beautiful! Tomoyo? What‘s going on up there?” (Nina) “Is Sakura making out with Flower?”

Tomoyo - “It’s Sakura! She’s dancing with Flower--- again.”

Nina - “Oh…“ (silence) “Again? She did that before you mean?”

Tomoyo - “Yup. This time I’m getting it on video.”

Nina - “Great. I’d never believe it if I didn’t see it… uh… Tomoyo?”

Tomoyo - “Yes?”

Nina - “Will this take long? Not to be a pesk or anything.”

Tomoyo - “Just a few minutes, then I’ll remind Sakura to capture Flower.”

Nina - “Really.”

* * * * * *

(Tomoyo) “Really. I’ll let you know when the card’s sealed.”

“Great.” Nina looks about as the booth is now covered in flowers, and her legs which were lying on top of a mass of flowers were now buried and she was slowly in danger of being buried herself. “You think we‘ll survive long enough for Tomoyo to get her precious Sakura dancing footage? Huh? Tomo? You still on? No, no, I didn‘t say anything. Uh-huh. That’s good to know. Please hurry. Thank you.” (looks down) “This area of the field is getting more flowers than other parts so… eh… I think I only have another ten or so minutes at this rate but do take your time. I’ll be here all day. Sadly.”

Nina leans back against the machine next to her as she waits for the inevitable end.
“Do you think she‘ll remember to give us honorary mention at the end of this DVD episode after we drown in flowers?” Nina stops and thinks, then swivels herself around, “I think this is the cotton candy machine. Is there---?” (looks inside) “SCORE!! There’s still cotton
candy in here!!” (quickly unplugging the machine Nina grabs two large handfuls and starts eating straight out of the machine without a care in the world)

Eliza - “Is that sanitary?”

Nina - “We’re minutes away from drowning in a scene kinda hinting of influence from American Beauty (and none of us is going to die naked looking enticing and arousing while we drown), so we might as well treat ourselves while we’re still alive.“

Eliza - “Since we’re techincally Fictionals we’ll never die of anything, let alone drowning.“

Nina - “Stop being so rational.“ (glomp glomp glomp) “Nobody’d mind since if I eat the machine clean. It’s a public health service anyway, with the plug pulled like that and
everything--- mmm--- it‘s only for the public good I remove the slowly spoiling food.”

Eliza - “Cotton candy doesn’t spoil that fast, and you unplugged the machine.”

Nina - “Details, details.”

Eliza - “…” (holds hand out) “…pass me some.”

* * * * * *

Six minutes (and two dances) later.

Tomoyo (over the cellphone) “We got it! Nina! We got Flower!”

Nina didn’t sound so happy, “You sure Tomoyo? You got it? I‘m feeling a little stuffed… all this cotton candy and all…” (burps) “…was it fun?”

Tomoyo - “Yes we’re sure, and yes it was. And what did you---”

Nina - “Never mind. Never mind. That’s great---” (sighs) “---now I can cancel my funeral arrangements (if all this cotton candy doesn’t kill me first).”

Eliza - “We’re Fictionals so we can’t di--” (Nina shoves cotton candy in her mouth)

Nina - “Oh, did a little background check on this “event” before we left the house this morning. It took awhile but the results came in a few minutes ago. It seems that just after the first flowers fell Misho put a call through to a contact she had at the Edenina Patenting Office to push through a set of products marketed after “Flower”. And, get this, it’s all products which can be made FROM flowers. Jams, perfumes, pillows, candles, potpourri, etc. Anything related to the stuff Flower makes with her powers Misho had patented. And I just heard a loudspeaker announcement that Misho’s buying bags of the Flowers for 5000 credit’s a pop.”

“That’s a lot.” Sakura notes.

Nina - “Not if you think of all the products she can package and sell on one bag. 5000 credits a bag is nothing compared to the gross yield she’ll pocket from the sales of Flower related products. She’ll clean house, so to speak.”

Sakura huffs her breath and frowns, steam seemingly coming out of her ears, “SO SHE RIGGED THIS WHOLE EVENT JUST TO PROFIT FROM FLOWER’S POWERS?!?”

Nina - “Flower’s Powers. That’s cute, Sakura, really. Oh, and that’s about the size of it. Yeah.”

Sakura - “GRRR!!! THAT’S NOT FAIR!!”

“Hey your telling me.” Nina gingerly steps down into the flowers, bag in hand. “I’m going to start bagging and selling to Misho. Want me to rack any bags aside for you and Tomoyo for pocket change?”

Sakura - “NINA!!! YOU CAN’T DO THAT!! THAT’S WRONG!! IT’S TAKING AD--”

“AGHH!!” (Tomoyo)

Nina - “What? What’s wrong?! Is Sakura hurt?!? What!!”

Tomoyo - “I forgot to tape mother winning the race!” (Sakura faints) “Oh and she raced so well…”

(link goes off)

“Whoops.” (Nina pockets her spare link and sighs) “Turned it off by accident. Silly me. Now where was I…” (looks about herself) “So many flowers to bag, so little time. Might as well work my way to the bathrooms just in case I have to go. Kill two birds with one stone and all that, as it were. Might have to after eating all that cotton candy, and then the soda…”

* * * * * *

True to Tomoyo’s prediction, Sonomi won the race… if anyone was checking.

Once across the “finish line” (reduced to a ribbon with (once again) Toya & Yuki holding the ribbon (for old time’s sake) since the actual track and finish line itself was buried under a ton of flowers) she quickly grabbed the flag and started waving it. “If only wish Fujitaka
was here to see this! Then I’d shove this flag right up his…”

“AHEM!” (Toya)

“Sorry.” (Sonomi’s breath stops for a second) “…what’s that…” (turns around) “---eeeww---” (blinks) “Was I that… I mean that…”

Toya - “Just about. Only those two seem angrier. Wonder why.”

“Can‘t possibly imagine why.” Sonomi face faults, staring in horror at the two before her. “God was I that bad?” (passes flag to Toya) “He won.”

Toya - “Gee, thanks.”

* * * * * *

Two hours later.
The field was finally beginning to look like a field again.
Everything was cleared, with only another hour’s worth of cleaning to do--- maybe two.

Toya, as always, had a complaint to file. “Second time we ended up cleaning this field. Why don’t they cancel these events altogether if this is going to keep happening.”

“It’s not the event’s fault.” Sakura gripes, holding up a handful of the flowers, “Why did he make that card? It’s such a pain in the…”

“You said something?” (Yuki)

“Me? Nothing. Nothing at all. I didn’t say anything---” (blushes) “Say! Where’s Hikaru? And her mom? And Keiko…”

“What about Nina?” (Eliza)

Sakura - “What about her?”

Eliza - “Nina went off to bag more flowers, but she showed Keiko/Umi to the back of one of the buildings before that so they can talk out their differences. As for Hikaru & Mirra-chan? I saw them about helping with the cleaning but I can’t say where they are now, they’re somewhere around here I guess.”

Sakura - “Which building did Keiko/Umi went behind?”

Eliza - “They went behind that building and---” Sakura quickly grabs Tomoyo and runs off in the direction of where Eliza was pointing. “---your welcome.”

Toya - “Well that’s a sure fire way to get out of cleaning.”

Eliza - “Isn’t this a 5000 credit a bag job?”

Toya - “Yeah, so?”

Eliza - “Then less complaining and more cleaning please, you‘re being paid for your services after all so less bitching from you.”

* * * * * *

As much as listening to Keiko & Umi trash out their differences might interest Sakura & Tomoyo, what’s happening between Mirra & Hikaru is more interesting.

Mirra & Hikaru were sitting under a tree in a secluded spot, catching their breaths.

“That was a lot of work!” Mirra gasped, turning over to look at Hikaru by her side, “I know, Mirra-chan, but… it was worth it… for a little extra allowance this week.”

Mirra - “A lot extra! 20000 credits apiece for each of us! Personally I think I’ll put some in my savings and use the rest to go shopping this weekend. Wanna come?”

Hikaru - “Sure, I like that plan, sounds like fun--- Mirra-chan?”

“Yes?” (turns to look at Hikaru) “What’s wrong? Your blushing.”

Hikaru paused for a few seconds, uncertain what to say, but say it she did. “How long have we known each other?”

“Since last year…” (Mirra shudders, ‘Since I was “born” last year.’ Mirra thought to herself, her thoughts sad as she stared in Hikaru’s eyes. ’While Tomoyo-mama & Sakura-papa were still dating--- their love still growing. Why can‘t I tell Hikaru the truth?’)

Hikaru smiled a little, while still blushing. “I remember the first day you came to school. How fast we became friends. Our first trip to the mall, our first sleepover, the first time we swapped box lunches. Everything. It’s only been a year but… I… I mean I…” (grows
silent again)

Mirra - “Go on. You can tell me. What’s wrong?”

Hikaru - “N-nothing’s wrong! I just… I… I just wanted to… well I wanted…” (lowers head as she struggles with her words) “…to tell you how much I care about you.”

Mirra smiles, “I know. I care a lot about you too, silly!”
Hikaru, however, wasn‘t stopping, head snaps up as she struggles to get all the words out at once, “No! No I don’t think you know just how… how much I… I…”

Mirra suddenly leans over and kisses Hikaru softly, holding their kiss for a few moments before pulling Hikaru close and embracing her close. “I know, Hikaru-chan, I know…” she whispers, closing her eyes tight as she takes the leap. “I love you, Hikaru-chan. I never thought you could love me but… I mean… you do…”

“I do.“ she agrees. “Now you know.”

Both girls lean into each other, Hikaru resting her head on Mirra’s small but strong shoulders. “Thank you.”

Mirra - “One day I hope we can be a couple like Tomoyo-mama & Sakura-papa.”

Hikaru - “Or like my loving parents. I hope we have that kind of special love when we’re older, one day married and planning our futures together one day at a time.”

“I love you now.” Mirra-chan notes, “The rest will come when we’re older. But for now I want to enjoy our special love the way it is, and let it grow slowly. As you said it’ll be one day at a time. Blossoming every day.”

Hikaru giggles abit at Mirra‘s words, “Your so eloquent. It’s like your older than you look Mirra-chan.”

Mirra - “You don’t know the half of it.” (Before Hikaru can question her further Mirra kisses her again, kissing away the questions before they come to voice). “N-nothing. Nothing. Let’s just enjoy the moment. And our love.”

The two spend the rest of the afternoon watching the clouds roll lazily by, while talking about their day and what they wanted to do that weekend. Their future was ahead of them, and they were in no hurry to get there. No hurry to take the next steps, or to love in the
ways older women loved.

They were fine the way they were. No rush. They’ll get there soon enough, why rush things?

They would one day grow into stronger and more mature lovers, find new ways of expressing their love, and eventually consummate.

But not today. And not for awhile to come. For now they were simply in love.

That was enough for them. Just as it was enough for Sakura and Tomoyo as they took their leave as silently as they came in.

* * * * * *

“---and that’s the report. It’s not much I’m afraid.”

“It’s enough.” she remarked.
From her vantage point on the rooftop of one of the buildings overlooking the field she watched, holding the Seeker out ahead of her as the images flow and ebb in her mind’s eye. The power reading was unmistakable. The one that was being spoken of in the ranks of
Alliance Command, the Guardian units and even the Judgments was below her, on the field.

“The one is here. I feel her--- and the cards.”

“Are you sure this is what you want?” the voice from her commlink warned, “Orders are---”

“Damn the orders.” she rebuked, “I’m going to take the cards, and save the Realm myself.” (a thin smile etches itself across her face as she speaks) “After all, am I not the 5th Judgment?”

* * * * * *

Meanwhile---

Umi - “Best five out of seven!”

Keiko - “For god’s sake, Umi, I beat you at everything already! Give it up!!”

Umi - “Not yet! Let’s run again!”

Keiko - “Sure. No problem--- if only you didn’t challenge me to strip poker and I happen to have all your clothes in front of me here.”

Umi, not put off by the fact she was stark naked, was not going to give in. “Let’s run anyway!”

Keiko - “Oh, no! It’s Family Day out there! Have some decency dammit! Give it a rest!!”

Umi - “NO! NO! I WANT TO BEAT YOU!!”

Keiko - “I don’t see how you can possibly--”

Umi - “Let’s see who’ll be the first to have---”

Keiko - “NO!! N-O!! I’m NOT DOING THAT!!” (stands up in a huff) “I GIVE UP!! YOU WIN
ALREADY, ALRIGHT? I LOST, YOU WON! YOUR TOO MUCH FOR ME!! I GIVE UP!!
THERE, HAPPY??”

Umi sits, naked, watching Keiko storm off into the woods in a huff.

Umi - “Does this mean I get to have my clothes back?”

Keiko - “BY ALL MEANS!!” (Keiko’s voice is fading as she storms away)

Umi - “Hah! I always knew I’d win in the end!” (grabs her clothes and smirks) “SEE? I BEAT YOU!!”

Keiko - “Whatever.”

Umi - “YEAH!! I WON!! I WON!! I--- hey! My panties are gone! I can’t wear this without panties, the first wind will blow up my skirt and I’d flash every--- KEIKO!!!”

Somewhere in the parking lot there’s a Judgment smiling like a cat who ate the canary and swinging a pair of blue panties in one hand while whistling “Ode to Joy”.

Don’t ask her why she‘s doing that though--- she might tell you.

To Be Continued

CardCaptor Sakura Christmas Tale 2 (2)

Sunday Christmas Eve
CardCaptor Sakura Remastered Christmas Tale 2 of 2

Inspired by the original CCSakura fanfic “A Dance to Remember” by Clayton Overstreet. She undid the laces in the back that held it together and carefully pulled it on, loving the feel of the soft fabric against her skin. Then she slipped on the stockings and put her feet into the shoes. As expected everything fit perfectly.

Sakura stood in front of her mirror for a while looking at herself. She felt like a princess and loved the way the dress caught the light and shimmered as she walked. Kero, escaping the watchful gaze of Cloud for the time being, had flown into the room while she was in the shower and was sitting on Sakura's dresser. Sakura smiled at him and twirled in her dress. "What do you think Kero?"

Kero looked her over and gave her a thumbs up (sorta) to which she stopped and looked at him. "I thought you said you usually wasn’t one to judge human beauty.”
Kero blushes. “I don’t need to judge it to know you look great in it!"
Sakura blushes in turn and bows, taking abit of weight off of Kero‘s shoulders unknowingly. "Thanks Kero. I hope Tomoyo likes it." Kero smiled and nods his head up and down furiously. "She likes anything you wear Sakura! Remember that costume she made you when you went after the Illusion card and ended up fighting Mimic?" Sakura blushed at the costume, feeling odd that the rage she usually felt connected to that moment didn‘t rise in her. "I liked that costume. Anyway I just wanted your opinion on this one." She turned to leave the room. "I'll see you when I get back Kero. Good night."

"Good night Sakura." Kero said, flying back to his room where Cloud was already waiting, no doubt some third person shooter was already waiting for him as well as snack foods and sodas for a long gaming session ahead of them. This time, he silently vowed to himself, he was going to beat her. This time for certain!

* * * * * *

Meanwhile
As she walked downstairs she saw the mostly everyone was there. Besides the residence of the house (Sonomi, Fuu the maid, Light & Dark (in their maid outfits), Umi (Water), Gaia (Wood), Windy (who Sonomi seemed to be comforting for some reason) and a few bodyguards) there were also Nina (in her own beautiful dresses), Keiko, Eve (just arrived) and a rather nosy Misho who couldn’t climb on Keiko’s shoulders fast enough to get a good view of the dress. “It’s beautiful!“ she gasped, to which Keiko growled, “Yeah that’s nice and all, so get your frickin’ butt off my head already!!“

Nina only smiled, and nodded her approval giving her a thumbs-up sign. "Nice dress. Very becoming of you.“
Sonomi nodded in agreement. "You really are beautiful, Sakura. You look just like your mother--- bless her heart and soul." She finished, smiling back at Windy who blushed at the sudden attention, yet kept silent. As if on cue, everyone broke into applause (including Keiko who still had Misho balanced on her shoulders, face scrunched up as she regarded the wildly clapping Nekochanian on her back). "Thanks you, everyone!” Sakura spoke loudly, bowing to everyone. “You've all been really great about all of this. I appreciate it, I really do."

“We’ve been good because we’ve been waiting for the big show!” Nina sighed, motioning for Sakura to join them. Sonomi hugged her, wiping a few tears from her face as she did. "I already peeked at my daughter’s dress, but she wouldn’t let me look at yours! I’m so proud of you, Sakura-chan, so very proud.“ (blushes) “It’s like your already family and we haven’t even had a wedding yet!“

“Pwhee?!?“ Sakura suddenly felt all the blood rush out of her as she turned pale, thankfully Sonomi kept talking. “Like we told you Sakura, we're just happy that you and Tomoyo are so happy together and that all that matters to us." Eve nodded her own agreeance and patted Sakura on the head lovingly, "Besides, Nina now has less reason to tease you since she has her own beautiful dress just like yours."

Sakura nodded her head, to which Nina reluctantly did likewise, “I guess.” (a large smile overcomes Nina) “Come here you!” (she grabs Sakura and gives her a little noogie being careful not to disrupt her hairstyle). "Thanks Nina!" Sakura cheerfully cried out as she hugs Nina holds her lightly until Sakura finally pushes Nina away with a look on her face, “Thanks, really, thanks.”
Sonomi smiles down at Sakura. "Are you sure you don't want anything to eat? (At least before Nina eats it all)."

“Uh-huh.“ (she mumbles) “Sorry, Sakura, I hope I didn’t wrink…“ (the dress, wrinkled abit, suddenly straightened itself out again and made itself presentable to Sakura’s shock)
“Uh, I did that.“ Eve admits, blushing. “Simple care spell. It’ll keep the dress pretty, stain free, 100% intact and it’ll even withstand the wash.“

At this Sakura smiles at that, realizing that one wrong washing adventure with her not knowing how to care for the dress could have meant it’s demise. Sakura looks at the clock, her heart beginning to race abit. Tomoyo wanted to surprise Sakura so she left early to meet her at the convention center along with Tina (to surprise Nina). "No thank you, Mrs. Dai-- I mean Sonomi-chan.” (Sonomi insisted months ago that Sakura stop being so formal around her and call her Sonomi from now on, though she was still having a hard time remembering to do it.) “There will be food at the dance and I don't want to take the chance of getting anything on my dress."

“There WILL be food, right?“ Keiko asked, looking up at the Neko on her shoulders to which Misho frowned. “Yes, dammit, there WILL be food damn you to heck! One time, ONE TIME that I have a dessert party and she thinks everything I hold with food is going to be cakes.“

"Alright.“ (Now Eve was talking, handing Sakura a small watch which she puts on her wrist) “As you already know Tomoyo and Tina are waiting at the center. This---“ (pointing at the watch) “---is a tracker watch, similar to the one Nina’s wearing right now. It can tell you where someone or something is, how far, and also can give you the quickest course somewhere. It also has a Shield Projector, a homing beacon, a water spell to repel rain or water splashes, and a way to track individuals. Just say their name and it’ll do a tracking search for them and display it on the maps mode.“ “----“ (Sakura rotates the watch about a few times) “Where’s the time.“

“Oh, the time… the time… uhhh, actually there wasn’t enough room on it for that what with all the optional extras and all that… uhhh… Misho’s limo will pick you and Tomoyo up afterwards so no worries about a ride. Nina already arranged a ride for herself and Tina so don‘t worry about them either.“

“Here you go.“ (Keiko pushes a commlink into Sakura’s hand) “Nina already has her‘s in her hidden pocket so you should have one too. Just put that in your purse. It’s a gift from Nina, just so you know, because she wanted you to have it just in case of emergency.“
Sakura nods as she slips the commlink out of sight. "Thank you, Nina. And thank you, Eve, for the watch."

"You’re welcome.“ Nina says quietly, smiling a little as she passes Sakura on the way out. Sakura blushes as Sonomi steps in. "I think Nina cares about you more than she lets on."

“No I don’t…“ (Nina calls out behind her) Sonomi shakes her head and draws Sakura closer, "Alright, alright. But when you get back you have to tell us everything Sakura.”

“Eavesdroppers!” (Nina)

“Where?” (Sakura)

“Living room.” (Eve)

“Ok.” Sakura looked up at everyone and smirks. Nina really did care about Sakura, even if she didn‘t want to admit it to herself in her depressed state that she was in. "I'll tell you all what I think you need to know and you'll like it."

“TOLD YOU SO!!” (Nina cried out from outside) “Now let’s go while I’m still in the mood to try to be romantic here!“
Everyone (including Sonomi) blushed, relinquishing that maybe they wanted more juicy details than even Nina thought they deserved. Everyone suddenly turns on Keiko, who continues to stand to one side staring nonchalantly. After a few seconds she blushes and waves them off. “Alright! Alright! I wanted to know too! Climb off my back--- speaking of which---” (Keiko flips Misho off her back and into the couch and, having rid herself of her excess “baggage“, she walks into the kitchen with Eve behind her to eat).
“It's time to go meet Tomoyo and Tina anyway.” Misho remarked, pulling herself off the couch, a definite frown on her face. “Come on, Sakura. I’m chaperone so we’re taking my limo to the dance.”

The sound of everyone going to eat followed the two out the door as they headed to the car port and Misho’s waiting limo.

* * * * * *

The ride down was pretty exciting for two of the three people in the vechile, sitting in the back of Misho’s huge limo together (Misho was driving tonight because she gave her driver the night off) Sakura only wished she was with Tomoyo, especially since Nina wasn‘t much in terms of being good company.

When they got to the Convention Center, Sakura whistled in amazement. The huge complex was far bigger than the images she saw on the news. When they pulled up to the building a valet took the limo off of Misho’s hands as someone opened Sakura and Nina’s door with two other people escorted the two inside the huge complex with Misho right behind them with her own escort. Once inside they simply had to follow the signs all the way to the dance, which was nearly going to start.

The huge hall that Misho rented was converted into a giant dance hall, with a long table for food and drinks with a Christmas holiday theme, several dozen small tables for people to sit and enjoy their food, and a large area just for dancing. Two live groups (one an instrumental section for slow dances, and one a live rock band for those wanted something faster) was set up, each taking turns with a huge billboard behind them displaying what song was being played or about to be played (again with a christmas theme running throughout).

Sakura glanced anxiously about the huge dance hall while Misho spoke with one of her assistants to insure everything was going smoothly. It didn’t take long for Sakura to be seperated from Nina, the two walking apart in different directions looking for their dates. Minutes later Sakura caught a glimpse of Nina as she was pulled aside by a tall woman wearing a Freeworld Alliance uniform similar to Nina’s regular “dress clothes”, the two talking in seclusion.

* * * * * *

Somebody tapped Nina on the shoulder.
“What do you want Mina.” she responded dully, allowing herself to be manhandled by Mina 00 into a corner for the two to talk. "Tina’s coming out in a minute. One of Misho’s people says she was in one of the center’s private suite’s bathrooms all afternoon trying to make sure everything was absolutely perfect, though I think she was in there hiding from others so they didn‘t try to hit on her."
Nina smiled as Mina 00 pointed towards the door she would be entering through, “She is abit of a stickler for her little flaw, but I love her regardless.“ Nina’s heart began to race as she waited anxiously, her eyes continuing to glance upwards towards where Mina 00 pointed, waiting in anticipation of Tina‘s entrance. Finally she saw the door sweep open in a grandiose manner as Tomoyo and Tina stepped out into the dance hall, bringing everyone to a dead silence as they looked on.

"Woooooow---” Nina stammered, her eyes locked on her, “She’s beautiful."
Tina’s own dress matched her’s perfectly except that instead of it being in a soft aquatic blue with an indigo trim. Trinity, Rebecca’s companion, arranged for elfin aquatic blue silks which is hard to come by delivered to Tomoyo, which she used to make the dress from, laced with Grimmland gold silk. She did the same for Nina, but using rare Elflin forest green silks instead of the aquatic blues. A gold necklace glittered around her neck, laced over the top of her exposed breasts causing Nina’s breath to catch in her throat. Slowly Tina walks towards her, swaying with the soft background music as she did so. The crowd parted giving both women room, forming an open path between both lovers.

* * * * * *

She noticed that Tina had permed her hair so that it shimmered in waves instead of her usual style. Nina nodded her satisfaction with the dress and smiled, reaching out to take Tina’s hand and slowly lead her onto the dance floor as a new slow dance started. She was so incredibly psyched about this whole thing that she could hardly maintain her easy slow pace during the song as she fidgeted to maintain control. It was then that she noticed the necklace around Tina’s neck : a perfect replica of her FreeWorld Alliance communicator pin emblazoned with Nina‘s Lt. Rankings, accurate right down to the finest details.

She quickly snapped out of her thoughts as Tina kissed her on the cheek, drawing her attention right back to reality. Once the music shifted again (after a long mesmerizing dance with Tina), they sat down at one of the tables as Trinity lead those dancers with short short skirts through a rousing rock opera tune she particularly loved. Once seated, Tina turned to look at Nina, blushing slightly. "Am I suitable to you?"
Nina quickly nodded her head sharply, her voice awestruck as she held Tina’s beauty in her sights. "You’re more than just suitable, Tina, you’re beautiful."

Tina smiled, leaning over for another quick kiss. "I’m glad you approve, Nina. You look most beautiful in your dress, even better than I could ever have dreamed."
After they kissed the two towards the stage and watched Trinity get the crowd of students jumping with her high stylin’ loud music which had everyone excited and cheering.
“Where’s Sakura and Tomoyo?“ Nina asked, looking about, “They’re on the other side of the group, sitting out this song as we are.“ Tina noted, “Look over there.“

Turning about Nina noticed Xai Shar (the Palominian Judgment) and Meilin walking in next to each other. The two seemed rather mis-matched, with Xai towering a full head and shoulders over Meilin, yet they were very happy being together. Xai Shar was wearing her dress black uniform (Keiko brought it out once when Sakura’s class did Sleeping Beauty for Misho’s yearly Christmas talent show, and explained that it was worn only for special occasions), while Meilin was wearing a beautiful white dress with red Chinese dragons all over it. “She must really be into dragons.“ Nina noted.

First the two waved at someone (“No doubt Sakura and Tomoyo.“ Nina noted) before moving towards a table near Nina/Tina, taking a seat to eat. On the other end of the tables, where Sakura/Tomoyo was, they saw Chiharu walking in with Yamazaki (who Keiko had “affectionately“ nicknamed “Yama the Liar“). “God I hope they’re not dating.“ Nina noted with disdain, to which Tina said “Maybe it’ll make him less of a liar if they were.“

As it looked like the instrumentals were about to play a soft dance next, the two exchanged nervous glances and reached out to touch the other’s hand. They were both plainly nervous about taking the floor for another dance, and some how touching each other’s hand made them both feel better. Nina squeezed Tina’s hand gently, as she returned the gesture in turn, her free hand covering Nina’s hand and patting it softly.
“Well…“ Nina whispered, “…shall we?“

Together they stepped up onto the dance floor and began to dance on the second soft musical score that was played that night. The song was gentle, light and yet sweeping in it’s tones and scoring. The two found themselves simply swept away by it as they danced and danced, the two of them being the only things that mattered at that moment.
As the music ended they found a few of Nina’s friends (chaperones for the dance) who sat with them as they talked and ate. Meilin and Xai dropped in shortly thereafter, Xai catching half the girl‘s eyes as they couldn‘t stop staring at the tall Palominian at the table, her horse like features crinkling abit as she was clearly nervous under the watchful gazes of the lady chaperones.

So, for Xai, it was a good thing when the others dispersed to do their jobs or find other people to talk to, leaving Meilin and herself to talk with Nina and Tina. Tina smiled at them and said, "You all look great." Meilin looked at them, and gestured towards them. "Well we don't have anything on you two or Tomoyo/Sakura, you all look like a matched set."
The two exchange blushing glances as Tina told them that Tomoyo had made the dresses. “We heard. We already complimented her on a job well done and told her that they were even more sure than ever that she'd be a great fashion designer one day.” Xai said.

Nina, glancing about abit as Xai talked, caught a glimpse of Misho standing in the back, wearing her best evening dress (cut extremely low in the back so her tail could hang out unencumbered to swing freely) as she was talking to Miss Mitsuki who had volunteered as another one of the chaperones. Misho, her back shivering as if she could fee her gaze, turned and gave her and Nina a thumbs up. Miss Mitsuki, upon seeing Misho’s movements, also saw them and immediately walked over to talk to them.

“Uh boy, here comes the walking 8-ball again.“ she sputtered, catching everyone’s attention as they noticed her arrival. "My you all look perfectly lovely." She complimented as she reached them, just then behind her Trinity retook center of her stage area and got the crowd back on it‘s feet again. "Alright!! ARE YOU READY FOR JAM AGAIN??”
The crowd roared it’s approval, answering ‘yes’ at the same time. "Then those who love to jam grab your partners and come out onto the dance floor!"
The ones who could (or wanted to) found their dates and headed out to the dance area again, Trinity already warming up for another epic rock opera piece she picked to get the crowd jumping. “That’s Trinity for you.“ Nina sighed, noting that Rebecca was hanging uncomfortably close in the distance next to Sakura, “I’m betting she has a whole dance card filled with energetic songs for the dance. Seems her way, doesn’t it.”

“She’s a hit, no doubt about it.” Xai noted as everyone got into the latest song, “Everyone seems to enjoy her high style of loud music. The lighting effects are particularly nice too, strobe lights, and lasers that had been set up made the room look like it was spinning---” (takes a sip of her soda) “---I thought Trinny was going to drop a bundle of kittens on the spot the minute Misho told her that she wanted the special effects safety checked to make sure nobody had seizures or anything. I was doing the security check and to hear them going at it while I did the walkthrough was abit… surreal to say the least. I mean she nearly went ballistic. I never seen her so wired up about a performance like she was for this one---” (Xai sips again as she speaks) “It finally came to the point that she almost started sleeping with the equipment to make sure it wasn’t damaged (Rebecca put a stop to that though)! That girl can be such a perfectionist at times”

After the song there was a break as Trinity prepared another rousing full out song, during which Nina and Tina headed over to the food table for seconds. Admittedly, the two had skipped out on everything but breakfast and a small lunch so they were famished right now (no doubt similar to what Tomoyo and Sakura were experiencing).
Misho, true to her word, had stocked a fine assortment of food for the dance. The table setting looked like a dining room meal from a Harry Potter movie, with a large amount of food available for any tastes with enough sodas and juices to keep the entire party well supplied in a non-alcoholic way for the entire night.

Tina gathered drinks for each of them while Nina assembled the food. They took their time eating, talking with their friends as they did, and when they were done eating the instrumentals were up again as second, slower song had started. Tina, not to miss a single detail, had already pointed out some of Misho’s “camera pods” overhead, and some of her people shooting footage on the ground, “Tomoyo must be quite the happy camper.“

“No doubt.“ Nina noted with abit of a whistle, noting all the documenting going on in the room. As they retook the dance flook each of them had one hand on the other's waist and the other on a shoulder, looking into each other's eyes the whole time as they took on this new slow dance. It wasn't until much later that they noticed most of the others had stopped dancing that they realized they danced through the whole number without diverting their attention from each other for one second. In fact aside from themselves there was only two other couples left on the dance floor: Tomoyo and Sakura, and Xai and Meilin.
"Why do I have the bad feeling that we’ve been had?"

"Because we’ve been had.“ Tina noted. Suddenly from the stage Rebecca’s voice cut through the music. "It seems we have a bit of a contest on our hands. I have here a request from the majority of the people here to keep playing music until I either run out of music, or one of these happy couples drops."
Sakura and Tomoyo glanced at Xai and Meilin then over at Nina and Tina. Xai looked back with a rather wide smile on her short snout and shrugged while Meilin smiled at them. "I could dance all night long--- you two are up to it, aren‘t you?" Sakura glanced at Tomoyo who smiled and nodded. She looked back at Xai and said, "You're on!"
The assembled kids cheered them on and started clapping their hands to the music. Sakura didn’t want to look away from Tomoyo. Half because she couldn’t tear herself away from Tomoyo’s beautiful eyes, half because she figured Trinity was throwing a major fit and pouting because her “time” on stage was being stolen away.

Occasionally, a few of the dancers joined in just for fun. As they danced to the music the two stared into each other's faces, and with this much closeness between them the topic that had been on the tip of Nina‘s tongue could at last be brought up. The subject of Eliza.

“Eliza and I’ve been together just about forever it seems… I mean I can’t remember a time we weren’t an item until… well… until.” (Nina smiles weakly) “Goddess you’re a damn saint, aintcha.”

Tina - “Huh?”

“Aren’t you angry at me?” Nina asked, faced askewed in confusion, “Aren’t you sick and tired of me bringing her up over and over? Why aren’t you angry at me?”

Tina smiles, and leans closer to her, “I only want to be loved by you. Even if I am second in your heart it’s more than…”

“No, no, no, no.” (Nina) “You’re never second in my heart, but…”

Tina - “How can you fall in love again when the person you swore you loved just stopped loving you one day?”

Silence, almost. As the two danced in silence Trinity organized a “ring dance” about the few slow dancers with hot music just so she had something to do, but that didn’t seem to phase them in the slightest who had campods over their heads playing soft music just for them while they danced under a “hush light” generated from the bottom of each campod (usually for interviews in loud situations) which kept Trinity’s loud music out.

Nina - “She said we’d be together forever, but then she just turned around and left me without warning or cause. Was it something I did wrong?“ (sniffles) “Did I do something or err in someway? Why did she suddenly just stop loving me all of a sudden? Why?“

Tina - “I guess telling you that I’ll love you forever is inappropriate now then…“

Nina kisses her slowly, holding the moment as long as possible as they continued to slow dance. She she looked into Tina’s eyes, the kiss breaking, she whispered “I’d love it if you told me that, even if only to placiate me.“

Tina - “I’d never do that to you. Never.”
They kissed again, deeper, never once stopping their slow dance as they did.

Finally, Rebecca announced the last dance of the evening. Everyone crowded onto the dance floor as a soft, slow song filled the hall. Sakura and Tomoyo moved closer together as well as Nina/Tina, leaning on each other as they danced.

"This has been the best night of my life Sakura-chan. Thank you." Tomoyo whispered in her ear. Sakura smiled and nodded. "Mine too, Tomo-chan. Mine too."
Sakura looked up over Tomoyo's shoulder and saw Meilin leaning against Xai, obviously tired from all the dancing. Xai was doing the dancing now for the both of them, smiling as she led Meilin, holding her up in her strong arms. Sakura grinned at her and winked, to which Xai made a gentle “hush” motion as she put a finger to his lips. Sakura nodded softly and she turned back to Meilin.

On the other end Nina/Tina were still dancing, but it seemed as if the dance no longer existed as they only had eyes for each other, focused firmly on the other as they continued to dance slowly and surely.

Finally the song came to an end and everyone applauded. Sakura and Tomoyo took a seat and rested their legs for a minute. Misho came up and handed Tomoyo her camera back and smiled at them. "You two were great out there. That really set the mood."
Sakura smiled at him. "Thank you Misho." Tomoyo smiled at him, "I hope it wasn't too much trouble taping us like that." Misho smiled and shook her head. "No problem. And just so you know, I’m not planning on selling copies or anything. Everyone who is walking about and filming are just carrying transmitter cams, the actual footage is being stored in a locked down system that only myself and a few people can access. We’ll make the copies and wipe the hard drives clean ourselves so no unauthorized copies are made. That alright with you?"

"Deal.” Tomoyo nodded, giggling abit. “So what are you doing the rest of the night?"
At that Misho shrugs. "Ah. Boring night and there’s nothing good on TV, so I was thinking of visiting my baby sister in Hawaii and seeing how she’s doing. I have a tech shuttle waiting for me on the roof so I‘m going right after I leave the dance. Rena is going to drive you two home in my limo, by the way."

Sakura smiled and checked her watch. "Well it's almost time for the limo to come pick us up. Say hi to your sister for us.“ she nods and turned to walk off, headed towards the private entrance she used when she first entered. As she did this, Sakura and Tomoyo looked around at the people filing out of the dance. Trinity, who was happier than Sakura would have thought she’d be after what transpired, was packing up her guitar and instructing the cleaning staff on packing the band’s things away.
A huge cleaning staff was already packing out the dishes, while a group called “People For The Ethical Use of Party Foods” was packing away the food in time-lock cases (preserving the food) to be sent to Nina’s underground base she kept under Sakura‘s school. Sakura could almost guess the first day back menu for the staff commissary, “Chicken steaks and garlic pasta in a light butter sauce” being one of her guesses.

Xai and Meilin passed them on the way out, Meilin being held up by one of Xai’s arms wrapped around her waist as they made their way to the exit. As they passed, Meilin smiled at them and waved slightly. "You two were great out there. Almost as good as Xai and me." At that Xai smirked, a few of her strong teeth showing through her smile as she leaned over and nuzzled her face against the top of Meilin’s head. Sakura looked at the two and nodded, "Thanks Meilin." As they walked outside, Sakura took Tomoyo's hand and lead her out the huge doors and through the corridors until they reached the front (the signs were now in reverse helping people out instead of in). Rebecca & Trinity were waiting as they stepped outside, the staff eager to help the two in as the driver who brought the limo to the front passes the keys to Rena. She smiles at them as they climb into the back seat.’ As the limo sets off back to the Daidouji Estates, Rebecca makes for some small talk through the limo‘s speaker system. "So did you two have a lot of fun? (Keiko‘s going to faint when she finds out that there was actual food at the event! I had that food group give me some of it so I‘m going to bring it in for everyone to eat.)"

“Pwhee?” Tomoyo smiles at her. "You honestly didn’t think anyone was going to fall asleep without milking us for details about the dance, did you?“

“Yeah---” Sakura nods, blushing. Everyone was no doubt wide awake and curious as heck, and there would no doubt be a ton of questions to answer once they stepped through the front doors. Thankfully they had video of the event to show to deflect their questions for the time being. “It was great, wasn’t it?” Sakura remarked. “It was. Wait until you see the DVD I’ll make of it! It’ll be my best work yet.“

“Tomo-chan---“ Sakura sighed, knowing that Tomoyo was only kidding her--- to a point. She knew in a few days there would be a new DVD up on the shelves of their bedroom and it’d be of the dance. Still, it would be nice to keep those memories alive forever--- those happy memories. Rebecca laughed. "You tape everything!” (silence) “Even Alliance Command doesn’t tape as much things as you. I swear if you didn’t go into animation you would have ended up a TV News Reporter! I'm only sorry that I have to stay over at your place tonight and watch the watery mouths as everyone drools over the footage! (I find displays like that over something so non-hentai to be rather disturbing!) Are you sure you two are alright? Sharing this stuff with them? Not like it’s their business to know, you know that. I could always stop off at a 24 hour store, buy supplies, and “lose” you two and those supplies at Sakura's old house if you‘d rather have the night to yourselves."
Sakura shook her head, "No, that's alright." To which Rebecca became rather silent. She must have been staring backward for a second before focusing on the road, her thoughts mulling over the next thing to say. Then--- "Just checking. Don't worry about it. I‘ll stuff them all full of food and they‘ll fall asleep faster than you can say “Blockbuster“. Anyway, once they’re out like lights you'll have the whole remainder of the night to yourselves. I took Tomoyo to buy you a few new DVDs to watch and--- hold on.“ (silence) “OK. Nina ordered you a pizza and it’ll be sitting in the second cylinder back home exactly 15 minutes after we arrive.“ (again, silence) “Tricky devil hiding a teleporter in the second cylinder like that after Tomoyo left for the dance."

The ride back let Tomoyo and Sakura rest their tired legs, and ponder the “story“ they would tell everyone about the dance. The dance itself? It had lasted for over four hours, but to them it seemed like an eternity. When they got home they all walked inside, knowing what was coming--- What they saw, however, surprised even Tomoyo. At first the house was rather empty, or so it seems. But once Sakura found the note in the kitchen they knew exactly where everyone was. Nina had opened up the downstairs Holochamber and everyone was there broken up into groups of four in this huge simulation of a giant rec room playing Rayman : Raving Rabbids. The strangest thing was seeing Sonomi, fixated on her move, as she was competing against Windy, Umi & Gaia. As they walked in everyone paused their games and all eyes fell upon the two. With a slight smirk Tomoyo presented the video (made on the way home with some equipment in the back of Misho’s limo) for everyone to see. This, of course, was a first cut and Tomoyo would spend all day tomorrow with all the copies to make a better final cut, but for now that all they needed to see. The room was shifted into a theatrical setting and everyone took their seats as the room darkened, and the film began.

Before the two finally managed to sneak off to bed, everyone had given them several rounds of applause and a few standing ovations. Clearly the video was a hit, and this was only a rushed first draft--- they already were anticipating the final cut and talking about it (while playing Rayman RR) as the two snuck away to go to bed to eat the pizza, watch a little TV, and fall asleep.

* * * * * *

Nina sighed, staring upwards at the ceiling.
If that night was meant to finally eliviate her worries about being unfaithful to Tina or vice versa those fears were gone. This was the best night they had in awhile, and yet Nina just knew that it was only the beginning for them. As she laid in bed, holding Tina’s sleeping form snug in her arms, she thought about the dance, and what came afterwards --- and it made her happy. On Tina’s hand was the engagement ring she thought was meant for Eliza, now looking for right on Tina’s hand. The ring seemed to make her happy, and as long as she was happy then Nina was happy too.

Figures she’d be unable to sleep with Christmas on the way, especially now that she got her groove back and felt like Christmas was worth waking up for. That night she only had good dreams, and from that point forward she used her happy memory of that night to push away any bad visions while holding onto the good ones. It was as if that night was made just for them. And, in a sense, it was. All around it was a happy ending.

Except for “Snoozer“, for once she woke up she’d be back on her case again.
Fin

One day delay (sorry)

Christmas Tale 2 will be out on Christmas Day (if not the 26th at the latest).
Sorry for the delay. Take care and Merry Christmas!