Taken (Syaoran and Tomoyo gen)

[storypaint]

Title: Taken
Fandom: Cardcaptor Sakura
Subject: Li Syaoran and Daidouji Tomoyo
Theme(s): 23. Fair trade
Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to CLAMP.

Summary: Double-drabble, major character death. It wasn't a fair trade for what he had taken from Tomoyo, but it was all he had, and she understood.

They were, of course, the last two people standing at the grave, even in the cold rain that began to fall. Two figures, cloaked in black, necks bent in sorrow, lonely together.

"I know it's not a fair trade, but I want you to have this," Syaoran said after a moment. From beneath his coat, he drew a bouquet of pristine pink flowers and she took the flowers from his hand and cradled them to her chest.

"A fair trade?" Tomoyo asked.

Syaoran looked up at her from underneath his damp, messy hair. "I took her away for four years. There's no way to make up for that time."

"Li-kun, I..." Tomoyo smiled sadly. "I understand why you left. It was your home, after all. And you brought her back when she got sick. I got to see her... a little longer. Thank you for that, Li-kun."

Tomoyo leaned her head down and inhaled the scent of the bouquet. As she had expected, it still smelled like Sakura, untainted Sakura. The sweet girl she would never smell-- or see-- again in this world.

"This is perfect, Li-kun," Tomoyo said, and her tears were hidden by the sleet.