Diamond Dust

Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.

Previous Chapters' recap:

Sakura finally confessed to her long time crush, Syaoran who is now a nerd in school. Syaoran, wondering why he was chosen by a very popular girl Sakura, started to make friends with her. And as he made friends with her, he met her other close friends, Tomoyo and Eriol. He learned that that there's some kind of complicated relationship between the three.

Chapter 10

-Tomoyo's POV-

INT. School building 2nd floor corridor – 3:20 PM, 3rd day of September 2008, Wednesday

I'm always one stride after that person.

Right after the class meeting, I immediately ran to the Student Council Room to look for my missing friends.

With this nice weather and a special day for me, I wanted to be with the people who are really important to me. Go to town and shop or even just go to karaoke and have a special dinner. These are things I was imagining since yesterday.

Seeing that I was almost in my destination, I smiled gleefully. But when I was about to open the door, it was slid by, none other than Sakura-chan.

I smiled once more and greeted her. "Sakura-chan, hello!" I started in which she just answered with a nod and a cold smile.

Not so long, Eriol-kun was just right behind her. "Oh, it's Tomoyo-san. Hi!" Smiling at me, I greeted back.

Turning my attention again to Sakura-chan, I saw her wondering what am I going to say to her. So I built up my courage to ask. "Hey guys, are you free after the meeting?"

"I think I don't have anything to do after." Eriol-kun replied immediately as he looked at Sakura-chan to wait for her answer.

However, Sakura-chan was having uninterested look as if she already know I was going to ask after. "Sorry. I'm quite tired already now and I want to go home and rest after the meeting. Why? Is there anything you want?"

"Uhm. No. It was nothing. Yeah, it's nothing… Is that so?" I couldn't hide my disappointment.

"Sorry, Tomoyo-san. Sakura was busy earlier to fix some errors on the report that the treasurer passed. Since I have many things to do too, I let her do it." Though I already know that Eriol-kun sugar-coated everything, I know for a fact that Sakura-chan hated me so much that she don't want to see my face as much as possible. "So sorry."

"No, no, no. It's me that should be sorry. I know that both of you are busy in the council yet I still…" I really didn't know why I stopped my sentence midway but I felt something pricks my heart when I saw Sakura-chan glaring at me. "Sorry for being a trouble."

"Glad you know." See? She really hates me.

"Sakura!" Eriol-kun exclaimed as if he was scolding her. However, she walked away while Eriol-kun followed her.

Seeing both of them gone, I still gazed at the direction both of them went to. "It's my birthday, you know? And I really want to celebrate it with you, Sakura-chan… Just like the old days."

EXT.

INT. Tomoeda Elementary School's Grade 1 Class 2 Classroom – 9:00 AM, 6th day of April 1998, Monday

It was just like last year. I was still alone. The one that was so-called the "voice-genius". I championed many competitions. But still, this didn't earned me any friend. Because of my talent, my classmates saw me as an arrogant girl who earned all her championship due to her mother's influence. Well, my mother is pretty well-known due to publicity of the toy products her company is producing. Yes, indeed. My mother, Sonomi Daidouji, owns Daidouji Toy Company which is the leading toy brand in Japan.

Actually, I was just raised by my mother alone. She divorced her husband who was supposed to be my father before she even gave birth to me. Having no child for years, my father thought that it was Kaa-sama's fault so he cheated her with his business associate and Kaa-sama discovered it before she can give the news that she was having a baby. And after that, they ended everything and my mother kept about her pregnancy a secret to him because of her anger. Even with this, she decided to have me and even named me "Tomoyo" which means "wisdom for generations" for she wished that I will be smart and protect our family's name for a long time. That's why I did all to be the best at everything. Ranking first in my year is just one of them. And this is why many hated my guts. I don't care though. That's what I want to say but it's really sad having no one who can accompany you. All I need is just a friend, just one friend. As they say, "No man is an island."

This day was the first day of my elementary school days. As I roamed my eyes around, I can see many familiar faces yet as soon as they see me, they turned their heads in the opposite direction. Looking for my seat number, I saw it was actually at the second last row and 2 seats far from the window. Then I saw the left set beside me empty. I was quite amazed that someone would be late in the very first day of class.

A woman standing far taller than all of us came in the classroom with wearing a simple plain red t-shirt and a skinny jeans pants. I could guess that she would be our teacher. But even before my teacher could utter a single word, the sound of the door opening came into attention on all of us.

A girl with pig-tailed auburn short hair came into view. After panting so hard, she smiled in front of us. "OHAYO!" She greeted in a loud voice. All of us couldn't help but laugh at what she did.

"You may take your seat," our teacher said.

"O-kay" she answered gleefully and it turned out that her seat was beside mine—the vacant seat right beside the window. "Good morning. I'm Sakura," she was the one who started to greet me as she took her seat. "Please take care of me from now on." Smiling to me not knowing who I really am. Well, I think she would avoid me in the future too. That's common already to me.

After the whole class introduce ourselves, I learned that my seatmate's name is Sakura Kinomoto. She's actually cute with her emerald eyes that seemed to portray kindness. Looking at her ears, it's actually quite unique. Indeed that it's bit bigger than mine but it still compliments her round face. How it would be nice if she wear the clothes I designed. It will surely fit her. It was my first thought just by observing her. However, I know it would all be just nothing but a dream. Actually, I really like designing dresses and probably someday, I can make it into a real thing. And I was looking for a person that can wear it. I finally saw her but I know that she would ignore me by tomorrow. It was actually a pity because my fate is always to be alone.

EXT.

INT. Tomoeda Elementary School's Grade 1 Class 2 Classroom – 12:00 PM, 6th day of April 1998, Monday

It was lunch break and my bodyguard mailed me that she would be running late because of traffic. So I decided to wait inside the room. Looking around, I saw that everyone had already formed their groups. Even the girl beside me, Sakura, was whisked away from me. It felt like they want me to be isolated once again.

However, someone tugged my left sleeve and it turned out it was Sakura-chan. "Do you want to join our lunch?"

"Hey, Sakura-chan! We don't want her inside our group!" The girl with a jet-black curly hair, who I knew from my toddler days as Micchan, blocked her from talking to me. "She will make our food taste bad."

"How?" A wondering question Sakura-chan gave as she seemed to be too naïve of the current situation. "Will she be putting something on our food which will make it taste bad?"

"It's not like that…"

"So it's fine!" Sakura-chan said joyfully.

"If you join her, we will isolate you too!" Micchan threatened her.

"It's fine, Sakura-chan. I haven't brought my lunch today but someone is already on her way to deliver it for me. So I'll wait for it. Sorry but thanks for inviting me." I intervened their earlier conversation so that Sakura-chan won't be isolated just like me.

"Oh! Is that so?" She said dejectedly. I found it also hard to reject such offer. After all, it was my chance to make a friend.

"See? She don't like us too. So Sakura-chan, come on! Let's eat! Let's eat!" She seemed to be delighted on how I said no to Sakura-chan. "What's in your obento?" That was the last conversation I heard before they sat far away from mine.

EXT.

INT. Tomoeda Elementary School's Grade 1 Class 2 Classroom – 11:00 AM, 7th day of April 1998, Tuesday

This was actually our art class time and we were asked to draw something we like. However, I noticed that I forgot my eraser and I needed to use it because of some mistake I did in my drawing. I really intended to draw a spaghetti strap dress wherein the length of the skirt's front will be shorter than of the back but what I did was a slanted shorter front.

It seemed that seeing my dilemma, Sakura-chan tapped my arms with her point finger and put her eraser on top of my table. "It's alright. I can just repeat the whole thing over." I said as I gave back the eraser she lent.

But then, she just put it back. "No. It's fine. I got an extra one inside my pencil case." She said as she tapped her pink pencil case.

"Oh. Okay. Thanks." I gave my word of appreciation for her kindness.

"You know Tomoyo-chan, I really want to friends with you and everyone here." She said without being disturbed on what she was doing.

"But if you become my friend, no one from here will be your friend." I said a-matter-of-factly.

"But I will be friends with Tomoyo-chan, right?" She turned to me and smiled like it was a ray of sunshine. By that time, I really couldn't but also smile mirroring hers. "Oh my!" She turned once again on her work. "I need to ask the teacher for this." She said then ran towards our teacher.

From her immediate actions, she actually bumped her table then made her pencil case fall to the ground. "Saku-" Before I can call her, she was already asking our teacher who was outside the class door. So I decided to pick them up and noticed there was no extra eraser which she said she has. So I tried to look around for it if I just missed it but it wasn't actually the case.

Even though she knew that she would be isolated too when she talk to me, it didn't matter to her. Yes. She was my first precious friend.

EXT.

INT. Tomoeda Elementary School – 9:00 AM, 20th day of June 1998, Saturday

The same as the other seasons, spring must also come to end. And as to make this season memorable for us, our school annually organizes a sports festival which parents can also join in. It was actually a family bonding time.

"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura-chan called as she was pulling a very tall handsome gentleman with same color of hair as hers, has his pair of square-shaped glasses and wearing a formal wear khaki suit which made him look more of a professor. Sakura-chan told me once that her father was once archeology professor in Towa University but became the director not so long ago. As she came, she smiled holding my hands. "Here's my father—Fujitaka Kinomoto." Then she turned now to her father. "Otou-san, here's my bestfriend, Tomoyo-chan."

"Nice to finally meet you, Tomoyo-san." He smiled similarly like Sakura-chan. Undeniable father-and-daughter. "Sakura-chan has told many things about you. Please take care of her."

I moved from my trance after I heard him say to take care of Sakura-chan. "Uhm… Yes! Nice to meet you too Sir." It seemed my tone was quite high at some words. Seeing Sakura-chan's family really made me nervous. Well, this is the first time I had this kind of friend.

In past, all my playmates are all my mother's business partners' children. So I can never really say that they are even my friends. They were getting close to me because their parents asked them too, not that they want to.

"Oh yeah. Tomoyo-chan, where's your mother?" Sakura asked.

"She will be running late. She really has a meeting to attend to this day but she said she'll do everything to cut it short and fly here as fast as she can." Sakura-chan started to laugh at what my mother told me.

"Your mother is really funny, isn't she? How about your father?" Yeah, I didn't told her. She roamed her eyes around seemingly looking for someone. "What does your father looks like?"

"I don't know. I haven't met him even once."

"Oh sorry." Becoming aware on the sad look on my face, I saw Sakura-chan was panicking what she would do. "Ah, you see. I, too, don't have a mother." Now, she was the one making the sad look.

"Sakura-chan," her father called. "Maybe I'm going to buy some drinks. Anything you want? Also Tomoyo-san, any preferred drink?" Asking me as knowing that the subject must be change.

"I'll have what Sakura-chan will want." I answered.

"Then, two strawberry juice." Sakura-chan said happily as she raised her arms to form a peace-sign.

"Okay. I'll be back in a minute." Fujitaka-san bid a brief farewell to us.

"Your father looks very kind, Sakura-chan." I said seeing Fujitaka-san was nowhere to be seen.

"Yes!" Sakura-chan answered proudly. "He's the best. Otou-san can do anything. He's a great cook too. Oh yeah, you can join our lunch too later."

"If it will not be a bother,"

"Of course, it won't. So eat with us, ok?"

"Sure!"

After some minutes, I saw my mom having her long brown hair tied in a high ponytail and now wearing a pair of sports attire. "Kaa-sama!" I called out for her to notice me.

She then turned to the direction where I was and smiled as she ran towards me and hugged me tightly. "Oh, Tomoyo-chan, you're really cute in your attire." That's my mom for you.

"But Kaa-sama, everyone here wears the same as mine."

"But still, you're the cutest."

Now having our own world, I saw Sakura-chan from my mom's back as she laughed at how I was spoiled by my mom.

After a long hug, she finally saw my companion. "And who's this cute little lady here?"

"Sakura Kinomoto. Seven years old." She introduced herself.

"Kaa-sama, this is my friend."

"Wow! You're really cute too." Now she was tackling Sakura-chan with a hug. "You kinda remind me of someone."

"Sakura-chan! Tomoyo-san!" we heard someone calling. And as we turned to where that voice coming from, it was actually Fujitaka-san.

"Oh, otou-san!" Sakura-chan ran to her father and took the two strawberry juice she ordered.

I saw my mom frozen from where she stood as she took a hard look on Sakura-chan's father. "Kaa-sama, is he someone you know?"

"KINOMOTO-SENSEI!" She just suddenly shouted then pointed her finger as she move towards him. "YOU! You are the one who stole my Nadeshiko away."

"Oh, if it's not Daidouji-san." Fujitaka-san spoke as he just smiled to my mother made a fouler scowl.

"Kaa-sama, do you know Fujitaka-san?" I asked once again.

"Yes. He was a student-teacher in our high school then when we met him. Then he just swept Nadeshiko off her feet and married her two years after." My mom explained.

"So you know my mother?" It was now Sakura-chan who was inquiring.

"Oh, so you're Nadeshiko's daughter? No wonder I saw Nadeshiko in you. And please call me Sonomi-san if that's fine with you." My mom put her hand on top of Sakura's head adoring her similarity with the said Nadeshiko-san. "Your mother is a matter of fact my cousin. We grew up together like sisters, bestfriends and of course, prank buddies." She smiled recalling the memories of her cousin. "Now I can remember that Nadeshiko used to say that if ever she will have a daughter, she'll name her 'Sakura'. I see. I see. Oh, Sakura-chan, you're like a spitting image of your mom. So cute!" She hugged Sakura-chan tightly again.

Oh yes. I could recall how my mom wanted me to keep my hair long in remembrance of her dead bestfriend.

EXT.

INT. Daidouji Residence – 4:00 PM, 3rd day of September 1998, Thursday

I never really intended to have an extravagant birthday celebration. However, to maintain the image of our status quo, a party must be held for me. Different people from different industries were coming. Many of them were really famous on their field. And most of them are people who I don't know personally. In short, this party is not being held because it was birthday but rather the gathering of all the social elites.

Indeed, they were giving me gifts no ordinary person can have. Things which cost a lot. But, it was not something I need. For me, they were just the same as empty boxes because they were given to me out of responsibility.

By the way, the theme of this was Japanese tea party for this was my seventh birthday. All were wearing their kimonos. In my side, I was wearing kimono with a lavender design and a purple colored obi which is tied by a tenga obi but didn't put any accessories because they said I'm too young for it. Well, does that even matter? In the first place, I never wanted to have a party like this. Even I wanted to end this party and go somewhere. For me, it is better to celebrate this visiting a shrine and praying that I passed the age with good health*. And then eat some sweet candies. Well, by November, I definitely have to go to the shrine with Sakura-chan then.

Minutes have just passed but it seemed like hours to me. I even needed to greet all the guest and force a smile thanking them that they attended my party.

What lifted my spirit up was the image of my bestfriend, who was wearing a cherry blossom styled kimono, coming while she was holding some white plastic. "Tomoyo-chan!" She waved her hand to me as I rushed towards her.

"Sakura-chan, I'm glad you came. It is really boring here." I complained.

"Is that so? I actually came here a little bit earlier but I have to find your mother."

"Why?"

"I asked permission."

"To what?"

"Of course, to sneak out of here." She laughed.

"But how will we sneak out?" Even this is my home, I'm not much familiar of the over-all structure of this.

"Leave it to me." She said proudly as she bumped her fist to her chest.

"By the way, what's in that plastic bag?" I once again noticed because it came to view.

"Oh this? You'll see later. It's my gift to you." She held it out as she looked so confident about her present.

"Who did you go with today?"

"Otou-san. Actually, it was him who asked your mom to permit us to go outside this party."

"Wow! Your dad is amazing."

"I know right."

EXT.

INT. A river near the city library – 5:17 PM, 3rd day of September 1998, Thursday

After a long time of convincing my mom not to drive us here and have us walk on our own, here we (with one of my bodyguards) were on the place where Sakura-chan wanted to give the present to me.

She was now rummaging on the bag she brought while my bodyguard was making fire on a piece of can. "What's that?" I inquired again for the contents.

"Fireworks!" She answered holding out the said gift. "We're going to see fireworks for you birthday. Oh yeah. First, we have to make a cake for you. Wait for a sec, okay." She ran near the river and picked up some stones. Then she went back to put it up together making it look like a cake while putting some of fireworks stick there.

"Wow! It's beautiful! Thank you Sakura-chan!" I hugged her as I was glad by the small yet invaluable gift I have received in my entire life.

"Happy 7th birthday, Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura-chan greeted properly now.

Then, my bodyguard asked us to get some distance away as she lit up the sticks. It was really beautiful. I could different colors of light forming as it shortened its length.

"Thank you Sakura-chan. Thank you so much. I'll treasure this memory forever. I promise." I started to cry about how I met Sakura-chan and how we became bestfriends. For her and for me, it's fine even if we were the only ones who become friends. Even if she, too, was isolated after sticking to me always, she lost the group she originally belonged to. And I became her one and only friend from then onwards. But then, she always smiled at me and say that everything will be just fine. I know it. She kept her cheerful attitude in front of me so that I won't worry about her.

"Aren't you overreacting? We'll be together always, you know. So we can make a lot of memories." She assured and gave one more bright smile I saw the first time I met her.

EXT.

INT. Daidouji Residence – 4:00 PM, 21st day of December 1998, Monday

Months already passed ever since I made my very first friend. I was very very happy on my current situation. We already celebrated many occasions together and I heard that we would be celebrating Christmas and New Year in our great grandfather's house in Tokyo together with Sakura-chan's family. I can finally meet Sakura-chan's infamous older brother. I laughed inside my head with the thought of it.

Then a knock came in. "Come in." It turned out, it was my mom. "Kaa-sama, you're early today."

"Yes. Actually I have something to discuss with you." She started a seemingly serious conversation as she sat down at the sofa of my room.

"What is it, Kaa-sama?"

"You're very close to Sakura-chan, right?"

"Yes." I answered very briefly.

"How about her father? What do you think of him?"

"He is the epitome of kindness." I said in confidence. "But why is Kaa-sama asking for this?"

"If Fujitaka-san becomes your father and Sakura-chan be your sister, what do you feel about it?"

"I'll be really happy."

"Thank goodness." She sighed in relief on my answers in which I wondered why. "Actually, Fujitaka-san and I decided to marry each other. Will it be alright for you?"

"Of course!" I replied delightedly on the news. Sakura-chan and I will become sisters. This just means we'll be together forever, right?

EXT.

INT. Amamiya Household – 6:05 PM, 24th day of December 1998, Thursday

Upon coming on my great-grandfather's home, where he was living no relatives around and just having his maids and butler be there, we were welcomed by Ojii-sama and my future father, Fujitaka-san.

"Are you tired from a long trip?" Fujitaka-san asked my mom with concern.

"We're just fine. By the way, where are Sakura-chan and Touya-kun?"

"They're both in their respective rooms and playing around. Yeah. Tomoyo-san and Sakura-chan can share a room. Do you like it better?"

"Yes! Please do." I answered gleefully. I could discuss Sakura-chan some wedding preparation for our parents. For sure, she would be delighted. "Then, I'll be going to the room then. What is it?"

"Upstairs. End of the left hallway." Ojii-sama gave the instructions.

"Tomoyo-san, before I forgot, please don't tell Sakura about the wedding. We want it to be a surprise."

At first, I wondered why. But I just pushed the thought out and made my way to Sakura-chan's room.

EXT.

INT. Amamiya Household – 7:00 PM, 2nd day of January 1999, Saturday

Today was the last night here and tonight would be the announcement of Kaa-sama and Fujitaka-san's planned marriage.

After we had our dinner, great-grandfather asked us not to leave. Seating opposite to mine was Sakura-chan's brother, Touya. By observation, he was quite tall for a middle-schooler and very handsome. His dark brown hair (being parted on the left side) complimented his tanned skin greatly. His brown eyes being same as his father portrayed caring in it. But what stroke me the most is the shape of his ear which perfectly resemble Sakura-chan's. And every time I gazed at it, he turned around and look at me seemingly wondering why I always stare at him. This, in which in return, made my face hot. So I would always just turned my head the other way.

"To all of you, we have an announcement to make," Fujitaka-san started. "Well, truth to be told, I began seeing Sonomi-kun for some months already." Both Sakura-chan and her brother turned their heads to their father with a shock look. "And we decided to get married this year."

A slam on the table made the whole room full of nothing but silence. Then everyone looked at the raging Sakura-chan who already stood up from her seat. "What's that again?!"

"Sakura-chan." I called out to her to calm her.

"You know about it too, Tomoyo-chan?" She asked coldly. It was as if it was not the Sakura-chan I know. "I asked you just now, didn't I? Do you know?!"

"Yes, I know." I said in a very low tone.

"So all the while here, you are happy knowing everything what's going around while I was not even informed about this said marriage."

"All we are asking Sakura-chan is your approval. I want to raise you too as my child as well as Touya-kun." My mom was trying to turn Sakura-chan's anger to her.

"You ask for my permit? Then I'll say no way."

"Sakura!" her father roared. "You shouldn't be impolite towards people who are older than you."

"I hate you, Otou-san." Sakura-chan stormed out of the house as she shouted to not follow her.

That was the last day Sakura-chan ever treated me as a bestfriend.

EXT.

~end of chapter 10~

*Japanese event: Shichi-Go-San – This event which can be translated into 7-5-3 are numbers indicating a child's age. It is actually a traditional rite of passage and festival which is held November 15 of each year. This is when celebrating growth of the child and being in its good health. This is attended by 3 and 7-year-old girls and 3 and 5-year-old boys. And this will also be time when they will first be wearing a kimono. And about the candy, it is called Chitose Ame which means "thousand year candy" in accordance to what they prayed at the shrine for the children. If you want to see how it looks, it's searchable in Google.

Author's Note: Finally back, everyone! I'm really sorry for updating just now. And also sorry for the errors for this chapter. I have it rushed. Had a very tough semester. *sigh* Actually, I was intending to finish this chapter last week. However, because I was so busy preparing for Christmas. Also, I was thinking if I have to do my translations first or this. The scanlation group I was in is surely taking a fit on my super delayed translation of the manga. Haha. And to add with this, I also have to write a new chapter for my "High School to Remember". For those who read this story because of HSTR, you'll probably know that it was the very first fanfic story I ever made. But I can't finish it because of I'm so busy with everything. To think that I even want to find a part-time to support my trip to Japan. Urgh! Well, well, well. For those who are interested in my other stories, HSTR and For a Wish, here's the summary:

Title: High School to Remember (Special A and Kaichou wa Maid-sama's Crossover story)

Full Summary:

Break was over and Tadashi made a big mistake once again by not attending his mother's birthday party. So as a punishment of his besides bungee jumping, the whole S.A. crew are sent to Seika High School for a month to fix Tadashi's wandering habit. There they met the so-called demon president and a very talented Usui Takumi. Thus, Seika High now became a battlefield between the best vs the best. Who will win?

Title: For A Wish (CCS one-shot story)

Full Summary:

Li Syaoran was sent to Tomoeda, Japan to be operated for his leukemia. And there he met a very jolly Kinomoto Sakura (a patient too) who he thought to be bothersome as she kept on insisting to become friends. Two hospital buddies. Where will it take them?

Before I forget, let me greet everyone.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!