Fall (Tomoyo/Sakura)

[storypaint]

Title: Fall
Words: 317
Comm: 20_inkspots (claim dropped)
Series: Cardcaptor Sakura
Pairing: Daidouji Tomoyo/Kinomoto Sakura
Author: rhap_chan
Artist: sky_pirate_tat
Theme Set: Dark themes, #10
Rating: G
Warnings/Spoilers: shojo ai
Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to CLAMP. All fanfiction archived here is a derivative of canon material that is not my property. I do not profit from these writings. The opinions and actions expressed in these stories are not necessarily the views and beliefs of the original author or me.

Summary: At Sakura's wedding, Tomoyo proposes a sardonic thought about love-- it's for those who fall behind.

"Love is for the fools who fall behind," Tomoyo said once to Eriol, and he could see her breaking. He did nothing about it, because her next words came with a smile.

"Or so they say. But I don't believe that, do you?"

He shook his head and thought about reaching out and taking her hand, just to give her comfort in the form of human contact, but decided against it. Kaho would hear about it, and he didn't want to explain it to her.

In a moment he rose and gave the toast, and if teardrops diluted Tomoyo's drink a little, it was dark and no one noticed. Soon Eriol left to join his wife. He hated to be around someone he couldn't help; it drove him mad. But Tomoyo was beyond his aid.

"Love is for the fools that fall behind," she said again after he left, trying to believe it, but all she could see was a couple on the dance floor who were stronger with combination, not weaker. If they would die for each other, it meant they would draw on unprecedented strengths and look deeper to find out who they were themselves.

Unrequited love is for the fools that fall behind, perhaps, because she was being left here alone. Syaoran and Sakura were moving to Hong Kong and the thing that Tomoyo had always worked for-- Sakura's happiness-- was not dependent on her. It was dependent on that brown-haired young man holding her hand tonight. He would take care of her, Tomoyo knew, but it didn't make it any easier for Tomoyo.

She who lived on a diet of Sakura's smiles and the comfort of her best friend's presence was now restricted to phone calls and letters full of a new laughter Tomoyo would never understand. And because this made Sakura happy, it would be done.

Tomoyo would let herself fall behind.