I don't own these characters or profit from them.

Understanding
By, Clayton Overstreet

Sakura and Tomoyo walked hand in hand to school. The weekend before they had finally admitted to each other that they were in love. They had told their friends, who had said they understood, and had thought that was the end of it. They were wrong.

Sakura first began to notice something was wrong in first period. She kept getting odd feelings and when she looked up a lot of people were quickly looking away from either her or Tomoyo. Blushing, she focused on her work and listening to Ms. Mitsuki explain the lesson. It wasn't easy.

When the class was done Ms. Mitsuki announced that it was time to go out for break. Tomoyo and Sakura walked out to the play ground and sat down by the sand pit where the volley ball net was set up.

Tomoyo looked over at Sakura and smiled nervously. "Is it just me or were we the focus of a lot of attention."

Sakura shook her head. "It wasn't just you. I think we would probably get less attntion if we told them about the card captor thing."

Tomoyo smiled sadly. "You know Sakura if you want to stop now I would understand."

Sakura smiled and shook her head. "You know better than that Tomoyo. I love you and what anybody else thinks doesn't matter one bit."

Tomoyo smiled and hugged her. "Thank you Sakura. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Sakura giggled. "You'd die of lonelyness, just like I would. Now come on, let's get back to class alright?"

Tomoyo nodded and they both got up. As they walked back to the classroom they were both accutely aware of the stares of most of the other kids on the play ground. Despite this they both kept smiling and holding hands. Sakura and Tomoyo had both faced down everything from the fly card to the thunder card. Neither of them were afraid of a few odd looks.

The rest of the day went pretty much the same. Hushed whispers, strange looks, and some laughter behind their backs. They were both intensely relieved when the lunch bell rang. Tomoyo and Sakura sat down at their usual table and began to eat. When Naoko and the others started to walk past them Sakura called out, "Hey, are you going to sit with us or what?"

The other girls looked at her nervously and Naoko stepped forward. "Well Sakura, like we said we understand about you two and all that. But well, we still like guys. And if we sit with you they might think..."

Sakura frowned and was about to tell them just how stupid that was when Tomoyo put her hand on Sakura's arm. "That's alright Naoko. We understand. See you later alright?"

They other girls nodded and walked away. Naoko stopped and glanced back, then continued after the others.

Sakura frowned. "That is so dumb! I can't believe that they think that just hanging out with us..."

Tomoyo smiled pleasantly. "Well they're right Sakura. You've seen how people have been acting around us. For the next few weeks at least this is going to be a big deal. We just have to give them time to get used to it."

Sakura sighed and took a bite of her food. "I know you're right Tomoyo. It wasn't like it was easy for us either. But still..."

Tomoyo nodded and began eating too. Suddenly Li and Maylin sat down infront of them. Maylin smiled and Li looked at them with his usual grim face. "Hey Kinomoto, what's up?"

Sakura smiled. "Aren't you afraid that sitting with us will damage your popularity?"

Li shook his head. "We didn't move down here to be popular. Anyway you two are our only real friends around here, so who cares what anybody else thinks."

Tomoyo looked at him suprised. "That's awfully nice of you Li."

Maylin nodded. "Well he's right. And anyway it's not like he has anyone to impress." She leaned her head on Li's shoulder. Li rolled his eyes but Maylin ignored it.

Sakura smiled at them. "Well thanks you guys. I was begining to wonder if we had any real friends left."

They ate the rest of their meals and talked about the cards they had been capturing lately. "So how many are left?" Tomoyo asked.

"About fifteen I think." Sakura said. She looked over at Li. "There were fifty two to start with right?"

Li nodded. "Yes. You know Kinomoto you really need to study magic if you want to be a good card captor."

Sakura blushed and looked down. "Well Kero has been teaching me, but it takes a while. You two have been studying it all your lives."

Maylin frowned. "You've still got an edge on me. I can't even capture the cards."

Tomoyo looked at her. "Well neither can I, but Sakura is always telling me that she couldn't do it without my help."

Sakura smiled. "Yeah, both of you help out alot Maylin. Even if you can't use magic, right Li?"

Li grunted and took a bite of his food. Maylin, however, seemed to be in a better mood and the conversation turned to more pleasant topics. The good mood lasted almost until the end of lunch.

As they were heading back to class, one of the boys that they didn't know very well made a comment. Sakura didn't hear much of it, but what she did hear was her and Tomoyo's names and the phrase 'carpet muncher'.

Li immediately punched the guy in the face before Sakura or Tomoyo could stop him. "When you insult my friends you insult me." He tried to go after the guy again but Sakura and Tomoyo were holding him back.

"Li stop it right now!" Sakura, Tomoyo, and Maylin said at the same time.

Li looked at them confused. "But he..."

Sakura shook her head. "Li I appriciate you trying to defend us, but you can't do things like that."

Tomoyo nodded. "She's right Li. You can't be there every time something like this happens. Just let us handle it alright? You'll just end up getting into trouble."

Li stopped struggling, especially since the guy had run away. He looked at both of then, then bowed. "You're right, I'm sorry."

Maylin smiled and held his arm. "Still Li, it was very gallant of you to do that. Would you do the same for me Li?"

Li blushed and the three girls laughed at him. Just then the bell rang and they turned to go back to class. On the way in Ms. Mitsuki looked at them. "I want to talk to the four of you after class." They all looked down and nodded. "Yes Ms. Mitsuki."

After the other students had been excused Sakura, Tomoyo, Maylin, and Li stood infront of Ms. Mitsuki's desk. "I saw what happend today durring lunch. That wasn't a very smart thing to do Li."

Li looked down ebarrassed and frowned. "I'm sorry."

Ms. Mitsuki laughed. "You don't have anything to be sorry for Li." They all looked up at her suprised. "It's been a long time since I saw chivalry like that. But like Sakura said, you can't fight someone's battle for them."

She looked at Tomoyo and Sakura. "And it is going to be a battle you know. It hasn't been easy for either of you two has it?"

They shook their heads and Sakura said, "No, but I'm not ready to give up just because of what somebody else thinks."

Tomoyo nodded. "Me either."

Ms. Mitsuki smiled. "You know I envy all of you. And not just for the cards either. Very few people find someone who loves them enough to go through this sort of thing. And even fewer have friends that will stand with them."

Sakura and Tomoyo smiled at Li and Maylin who stood looking stunned. Ms. Mitsuki smiled and pointed towards the door. "You may be excused now. I will see you all tommorow."

They all nodded and headed towards the door. Tomoyo and Sakura smiled at each other and said goodbye to Maylin and Li, then bagan walking towards Sakura's house.

When they arrived at Sakura's home Kero was waiting to be fed. "I'm starving. Why were you two so late getting back from school?" Sakura and Tomoyo told him what happened. Kero was actually quite impressed with Li's actions. "I didn't think he had it in him. Back in Clow Reed's time that was the standard of course. He must have been taught very well."

Sakura shook her head and handed him a sandwich. "Well this isn't then. If we don't handle our own problems then they will just get bigger."

Kero nodded. "You're right of course. But so was your teacher. This isn't going to be easy for either of you."

Tomoyo smiled and scratched Kero behind the ears. "Don't worry Kero, I'm sure we can handle it. Right Sakura?"

"Right Tomoyo." Sakura hugged both of them. "Thanks for helping out though Kero."

Kero smiled and ate his sandwich. "No problem kid."

They went to the living room and watched television until Sakura's brother and father came home. After that Tomoyo called her mother for a ride home.

When Tomoyo's mother arrived and she was leaving Tomoyo turned back to Sakura and the two kissed goodbye. "See you tommorow Sakura."

Sakura smiled. "Bye Tomoyo. See you on the way to school."

Once Tomoyo was gone Sakura turned back to see her father and Touya standing behind her. "Something you want to tell us Sakura?" Mr. Kinomoto asked.

Sakura blushed. "Well Tomoyo and I have kind of... become a couple."

Both of them looked at her suprised. Toya frowned and asked her, "Why didn't you tell us?"

Sakura looked at them. "Well it only happened this weekend. And I've been having a few problems at school so I just really didn't think about it."

Toya smiled and nodded. "I see. Well that's understandable I suppose, right dad?"

Her father frowned and looked at her. "What kind of probelms at school?"

Sakura told him about how her friends had decided not to sit with them any more and about what happened durring lunch. "It's no big deal really."

Her dad seemed unconvinced. "Sakura I'm not sure if this is a good idea. I mean you're a little young to know what love is and you might be deluding yourself. Maybe you should think about not seeing her for a while."

Sakura looked at him in shock. "Dad, I know what I'm doing. Tomoyo makes me happier than anyone else in the world and I am not going to stop seeing her."

Toya started to say something in Sakura's defense, but her dad cut him off. "Sakura I think that maybe you should go to your room to think about this. I'll send Toya up with your dinner later."

Sakura looked at her father, feeling like he was betraying her. A tear trickled down her cheek and without another word she ran up the stairs to her room.

Toya looked at his dad and said, "Weren't you a bit hard on her?"

He shook his head. "No, I don't think so. She's just a kid. This way will spare her a lot of pain."

Toya frowned and walked to the kitchen. "I'm going to make dinner."

When they got home Tomoyo's mother asked her to wait a second before going upstairs. "Tomoyo... I think we need to talk about you and Sakura."

Tomoyo sat down on the couch and looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Well, when I was younger I had a crush on Sakura's mother, so I know what you're going through. I don't think you should keep seeing Sakura."

Tomoyo looked at her. "Why? I mean I've been in love with her for years and now we're finally together. I'm not going to give her up for no reason."

Her mother bit her lip. "Tomoyo, I'm just trying to spare you some of the pain I went through. I mean eventualy she might decide that she wants to have a baby Tomoyo."

Tomoyo looked down sadly, then shook her head. "I don't care. We'll deal with thatever comes up."

Her mother frowned. "I'm sorry Tomoyo, but I can't let you do that. I'm going to arrange for home schooling now and I want you to not see Sakura for a while."

Tomoyo looked up at her in shock. "You can't do that!"

Her mother shook her head. "It's for your own good Tomoyo."

"But mom I..." Tomoyo began.

"I've already decided Tomoyo." She said.

Tomoyo gritted her teeth and ran up the stairs to her room. Her mother watched her go.

The cell phone in Sakura's room rang. Smiling she picked it up. "Tomoyo?"

"Yeah, it's me Sakura. You aren't going to believe this, but my mom wants me to stop seeing you." Tomoyo said.

Sakura sighed. "My dad is the same way. I can't believe them. It's none of their business anyway."

Tomoyo laughed. "You're right. But my mom is saying that she is going to make me take home schooling so I won't see you."

Sakura gasped. "She can't do that, I mean it's totaly unfair. I don't believe... hold on a second, my brother is at the door." She stuffed the phone under her pillow. "Come in Touya."

Toya came in carrying a tray of food. "Hey squirt. Here's your dinner."

She smiled. "Mmm, smells good."

He turned to leave and then stopped and looked back at her. "You know I think dad was totaly wrong."

Sakura smiled. "Thanks Toya."

He smiled. "No problem. I'll talk to him tommorow after he's had some time to think alright?" He turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Once he was gone Sakura picked the phone up again. "Wow, you're brother is being really good about this." Tomoyo said.

Sakura nodded. "I know. I mean he teases me a lot, but he's a really cool guy some times."

Sakura nodded and took a bite of her food. "So what are we going to do?"

Tomoyo sounded uncertain. "I don't know Sakura. I mean what can we do?"

Sakura was thinking about it when she heard a door open on the other end of the line. In the background she could hear Tomoyo's mother. "Tomoyo I thought I had made myself clear. Give me that phone right now."

Sakura listened while the phone exchanged hands. After a second Tomoyo's mother said, "Sakura? I would really appriciate it if you would leave Tomoyo alone for a while."

Sakura frowned. "Why? We've been best friends since we were kids."

"You are still kids. You're too young for this kind of relationship. Now please just leave her alone." She hung the phone up, leaving Sakura just sitting there.

Sakura tried to call back, but it was turrned off. When she called the house number the operator told her that the call was blocked. She looked at Kero who had been sitting on the dresser. "This is so unfair. How can she do something like this?"

Kero shrugged. "She wants what she thinks is best for the two of you. The question is, what are you going to do about it?"

Sakura frowned and bit her lip. Suddenly the clow book opened and the cards flew out to surround her. "Kero, what's going on?"

Kero nodded. "The cards want to help you Sakura."

Sakura frowned and looked at them, then nodded. "Alright, then I know what I have to do."

Tomoyo sat in her room crying into her pillow. All the videos, drawings, and pictures she had of Sakura had been confinscated by her mother. She had taken away her cell phone and even went so far as to delete all of the pictures of Sakura that Tomoyo had on her computer.

Her door creaked as it opened slightly. "I don't want to talk to you right now."

The door opened a bit more, but nobody answered. When she looked up instead of her mother she saw the visible form of the sleep card peeking around her door. Tomoyo gasped and her face broke into a huge grin. "Is Sakura here?"

The sleep card nodded and flew into the room, avoiding her so that she didn't fall asleep too. It pointed to the window. Tomoyo got up and walked over to the window and opened it. The sleep card flew out and up. Looking outside Tomoyo saw Sakura flying just above her roof.

"Hi Tomoyo, care to go on a little trip?" Sakura whipsered.

Tomoyo looked at her worriedly. "You mean like run away."

Sakura nodded. "Not forever, but maybe long enough to let our parents know we're serious. If you don't want to we won't."

Tomoyo smiled. "Just wait a second while I get my coat and cammera."

Tomoyo ducked back inside while Sakura put the sleep card away. She peeked out her door and saw some of the house staff asleep on the floor. Quickly she went back into her room and walked to the window. "How do I get to you? If you land in the yard the security system will go off."

Sakura smiled and pulled out the float card. She landed on the roof and used it to levitate Tomoyo up to her. When she got there Tomoyo hugged her tightly. "You're my hero Sakura."

Sakura hugged her back. "And you're my princess Tomoyo. Come on, let's go."

They both got onto the wand and flew off into the night. A cold wind brushed over them and Tomoyo scooted closer to her. "It's cold tonight."

Sakura nodded. "Yeah. We need to find some place to go."

Tomoyo thought for a minute. "Maybe Li and Maylin would let us stay at their place."

Sakura shook her head. "I don't think so. Their guardian might not want to get involved."

Tomoyo sighed and buried her face in Sakura's hair. "Maybe Ms. Mitsuki would help."

Sakura smiled. "That's a great idea Tomoyo." The wand banked to the left and they headed towards the Tsukimine shrine. When they got there they landed and walked over to the door.

Sakura reached up and knocked on the door softly. After a minute Ms. Mitsuki opened it and smiled at them. "Sakura. Tomoyo. What are you doing here so late? Come on in before you get sick."

They followed her inside and into the living room. Once there Ms. Mitsuki motioned for them to sit on the couch. "Now to what do I owe this visit?"

Sakura and Tomoyo looked at her nervously. "We were wondering if maybe we could stay with you for a couple of days."

Ms. Mitsuki looked at them in suprise. "What's wrong with your own homes?"

They told her what had happened and how their parents were acting. She listend quietly until they were finished. "So we were hoping you'd help us. If you want we could do chores for you around here." Sakura said.

"And we'll do whatever school work you want to give us." Tomoyo added.

Ms. Mitsuki smiled. "Well that is a very tempting offer, but you know I can't do that." Sakura and Tomoyo looked down sadly. "But what I can do it talk to your parents. I may be able to convince them to listen."

Sakura looked up at her gratefully. "Would you? That would be so great."

Tomoyo nodded her agreement. "Yeah."

Ms. Mitsuki smiled. "Look, why don't you two have some cookies while I call your parents?" The girls smiled and Ms. Mitsuki brought in a plate of cookies for them.

While they were eating Tomoyo looked down at the coffee table. "Hey Sakura, doesn't that pattern look familiar?"

Sakura looked down and stared in amazement. "It's a Derivator! Does everyone have one of these except me?"

Tomoyo giggled, then they both stopped as they heard Ms. Mitsuki on the phone. "Yes, they are both here. Yes they are safe. No I will not make them go to seperate rooms. Please, will you please come here and talk to me in person? I don't think that will work. They would just run away again. No, I got them to agree to not do it if you are willing to come talk about it. Alright. I'll see you in a little bit. Good bye."

She walked back into the room and smiled at them, taking a cookie for herself. "It seems Tomoyo's mother was already at your house Sakura. They are both on their way here now."

Sakura bit her lip and looked up at her. "Do you think we should be here when you talk to them? It might help."

She shook her head. "No. I know it doesn't seem fair to keep you two out of the conversation, but I think it will be easier to get them to listen to me if the two of you remain out of sight until we are done."

Tomoyo took Sakura's hand and squeezed it slightly. "I see what you mean Ms. Mitsuki, but still it is about us..." Sakura nodded and squeezed Tomoyo's hand back.

Ms. Mitsuki looked at them, then nodded. "Alright, but not at first. I'll call you down when it's time. Is that good enough?"

They looked at each other, then back at her and nodded. "Thank you Ms. Mitsuki."

She smiled. "It's no problem. It actually makes me feel pretty good that you came to me with this. Your friends Li and Maylin still don't quite trust me."

Sakura smiled. "Well maybe if you weren't so mysterious all the time. By the way, this is a Derivator right?" She pointed to the table. "Where do I get one of these?"

Ms. Mitsuki smiled. "I may be able to get you one later. I take it you feel you could use one?"

Sakura nodded and nervously rubbed the spot in her jacket where the Clow book was hidden. She was glad Kero had decided to stay at home.

They spent some time talking, killing time until their parents showed up.

Fujitaka and Sonomi drove to Ms. Mitsuki's house in the same car. She had woken up after the other people in her house and since they didn't want to get into trouble, they hadn't told her. When she had gone to check on Tomoyo and found her missing nobody could figure out where she had gone since the security system had not been set off. She had gone to Sakura's house immediately, only to find that Sakura had been missing too. Fukita told her what had happened with him and Sakura. She admitted that a similar conversation had happened between her and her daughter. Just then Ms. Mitsuki had called to tell them that the girls had gone to see her. Both parents had immediately asked that the two be separated, but the teacher had refused. As they left Toya had looked at them and said, "You are both wrong. You should let them make their own decisions." Both parents left without saying anything to him.

As they drove to her house Fujitaka said, "I think this is all your fault."

She looked at him. "My fault?"

He nodded. "I know about that thing you had about my wife."

She frowned. "But I didn't even tell Tomoyo about that. And anyway I told Tomoyo that it would be best for all concerned if they stopped seeing each other."

"Well that's what I told Sakura." He said.

The rest of the drive was very quiet and when they arrived at Ms. Mitsuki's shrine. They got out of the car and knocked on the door. Inside they heard what sounded like two people running up the stairs. Then Ms. Mitsuki opened the door. She smiled at them and asked them to come in.

"Actually I was wondering if I might just get my daughter and go." Sonomi said.

Ms. Mitsuki shook her head. "As I told Mr. Kinomoto the girls only agreed to wait here for you to show up if I would talk with you. Otherwise they will just run away again."

They both followed her inside. "Look, we didn't want to hurt them. We just feel that it would be best if they just... waited a few years." Fujitaka said.

Ms. Mitsuki looked at him seriously. "And I suppose what they want means nothing?"

Sonomi shook her head. "I know what they are going through. I don't want my daughter to go through what I did."

From upstairs Sakura and Tomoyo listened while the adults talked.

Ms. Mitsuki nodded. "I see, but I don't think this is the same situation. I have seen them at school and while they have been having their problems, both Sakura and Tomoyo have been handling it well. Their friends have been helping them out."

Mr. Kinomoto rubbed his chin. "Still this is rather unusual. I mean... well you know."

Ms. Mitsuki smiled. "Yes, I do know. But still that is a choice they had to make and it probably wasn't easy for either of them. Don't you think you should let them decide how to do this?"

Mrs. Daidouji looked at her. "Well neither of them seem to be here do they?"

Ms. Mitsuki shook her head. "Actually they want to talk to both of you about it. Girls, you can come down now."

Sakura and Tomoyo held each other's hands as they walked down the stairs. When they reached the living room their parents looked at them. "You two are in a lot of trouble." Mr. Kinomoto said.

Sakura looked down. "I know."

Sonomi looked at Tomoyo. "How did you get passed the security system?"

"Magic." Tomoyo answered honestly.

Her mother looked mad, but Ms. Mitsuki interupted. "Let's leave that for another time. Girls, I think you wanted to tell them something."

Both parents waited, watching their daughters. Sakura bit her lip and looked at them. "Well we think what you are doing is totaly unfair. I mean we tell you that we love each other and instead of being happy for us you are pulling a Romeo and Juliet routeen."

Tomoyo nodded. "Yeah. We have enough problems as it is without you two trying to keep us apart. I mean mom, I know it didn't work out with you. But Sakura isn't her mother and I'm not you."

Sakura spoke up, "Yeah. You can't judge how we're going to end up just because of what happened to you." She looked at her father. "And dad, I know you think we're too young, but I love Tomoyo. Just as much as I love you and Toya."

They stood there in silence for a minute. Then Ms. Mitsuki said, "Girls, why don't you go back upstairs for a minute while your parents talk?"

They both nodded and turned to go upstairs. As they did Sakura and Tomoyo held each other close and stopped at the edge of the living room to look back at their parents. Then they left the room and went back to the top of the stairs.

Mr. Kinomoto sighed. "They're right of course."

Mrs. Daidouji nodded. "Yeah, but that won't make it any easier on them. I mean people will talk and then there is the physical aspect..."

He shook his head. "I know. And here I always thought Touya and I would have to keep boys away from her." He looked at Ms. Mitsuki. "You're sure they handled the school stuff alright?"

She nodded. "Yes sir. In fact when one of their friends tried to defend them from a rude comment, they stopped him and insisted that they could handle it themselves. Your daughters are very grown up."

He smiled. "I know. But still..." He looked at Tomoyo's mom.

"I don't see what we can do. After all if we try to keep them apart they might run away again. And next time they might not come to someone who will tell us where they are." She said.

Ms. Mitsuki looked at them seriously. "I will promise you that there is nothing you can do to keep them apart. After all, didn't you say that some how Tomoyo got out of your house with the security system, your bodyguards, and all that?"

Sonomi nodded. "Yes. And anyway if they are really happy together I don't suppose it would be right to force them."

He agreed and glanced the way the girls had gone. "So we just let them work it out for themselves then."

When she got home Sakura looked at her dad. "Am I grounded?"

He looked at her and shook his head. "No, just go to bed alright? You have school tommorow."

She smiled and walked up the stairs. Toya was there and he smiled at her. "You seem to be in a better mood."

Sakura nodded. "Yeah. Dad and I talked on the way home. Everything worked out fine."

Toya nodded and they both went to their rooms. Once she got there Sakura changed into her night gown and settled down into bed. Suddenly her cell phone rang. She reached over and picked it up. "Hello?"

Tomoyo's voice answered. "Hi Sakura. My mom gave me back my phone and pictures. I just wanted to say good night."

Sakura smiled. "Good night Tomoyo. I'll see you tommorow. Love you lots"

"I love you too Sakura." The phone hung up and Sakura pulled the blankets over herself and smiled. At least things were getting better. Tommorow was going to be another rough day, but she knew that after all this she could hande it. Taking one last look at Tomoyo's picture on her nightstand, Sakura closed her eyes and went to sleep.

The End

Author's note
I realized that there would be some problems if they actually fell in love. So I wrote this and worked everything out. I mean even if they really did love each other that didn't mean everyone would be supportive. So I wrote this. If you liked it tell me what you thought at clayton_n@hotmail.com