Behind Closed Doors

Epilogue

-Several Months Later-

Sakura stood facing the giant white screen in front of her, the center black as night, letting no features show of the two on the other side.

"Yamazaki Chiharu is on maternity leave. Daidouji Tomoyo and Hiiragizawa Eriol are to be wed in a matter of days. In addition, Naoko-san and Rika-san headed the last few missions," one of the voices informed her. "It is time you headed a mission again, Kinomoto Sakura."

Sakura hesitated for a moment. She felt far from ready to take on a new mission after the whirlwind of her last one, but maybe a new change of pace was just what she needed. "I understand. I'll take it." She plastered on a smile. "I'm beginning to go stir-crazy as it is."

"Excellent," the second voice agreed amicably. "We were afraid we'd have to force you, had you failed to acquiesce."

"We need you back in the field, especially for this next case."

Sakura looked at the screen in puzzlement.

"It is…delicate," one voice explained.

"And we believe your experience and expertise will be most needed," the second finished.

"Understood," Sakura's reply echoed in the room.

"How are you holding up?" Tomoyo asked her distracted friend.

"I'm fine Tomoyo," Sakura fixed a smile on her face. "And don't worry about me! This is your day."

Tomoyo's worry grew into a smile and she all but glowed. "You're my friend Sakura-chan, of course I worry." She studied said friend for a moment with a trained eye. "Sakura," her voice took on a new tone. "Did they brief you on your new mission yet?"

"No," Sakura answered as she made the final adjustments on Tomoyo's wedding gown. "But they said that Mika would deliver it to me here."

Tomoyo bit her bottom lip and opened her mouth to say something when a quick knock sounded at the door.

"That better not be you again Eriol," Sakura spoke towards the door. "I already told you twice that you cannot see her until she's walking down that aisle."

A giggle sounded at the door as Mika poked her head inside. "Nope, it's just me!" She stepped in briefly. "Tomoyo-san," she breathed, "you're so beautiful."

Tomoyo flushed with appreciation. "Thank you, Mika-chan."

Mika beamed back before recalling her presence there. "Oh! The new assignment just arrived from work," Mika worked to keep her tone low. "And is waiting in the room down the hall, in the room on the right."

"Thank you Mika," Sakura tried to be sincere for her sixteen year-old niece.

Mika grinned brightly and excused herself from the room.

Tomoyo sighed deeply and pulled Sakura to her tightly. "Good luck. Stay strong," she whispered.

Sakura looked at her in mild amusement and puzzlement. "Tomoyo…?"

At that moment, Sakura's phone vibrated on the vanity table where she had set it down. She picked it up.

"Hello? Kinomoto Sakura speaking."

"Good afternoon Kinomoto," one of the voices from Ava answered. "Please enter the designated room to meet your assignment."

Sakura excused herself from Tomoyo's side, missing the flash of worry and misgiving that filled her friend's face.

"A new cover is not needed to obscure yours or Ava's identity," the voice continued as Sakura made her way down the short hall. She positioned an inviting smile on her face as her hand twisted the doorknob. "Your mission is to protect our client and client's family from a crazed, revenge-fueled ex-lover. The client's name this time is-"

Sakura opened the door and stopped dead at what met her eyes. Her smile froze and all color drained from her face. As her breath caught in her lungs, her phone plummeted to the floor, cutting off the unknown voice's last words. But she didn't need to hear them. She already knew. She knew all too well.

The clatter from Sakura's cellphone connecting with the floor drew all the room's eyes on her.

No, she thought desperately. Can fate really be this cruel?

-End-

Author's Note: Before you grab your pitchforks, yes, of course there will be a sequel. I'm working on it right now, and I am aiming to begin posting it soon. I ask for your patience until then :)
I hope that you have enjoyed what was essentially "part one" of this story. Thank you so much for reading it, and I hope to see you again.
To everyone who has stuck with me since the beginning (so ridiculously long ago), to those who joined along the way, and to those who happen to stumble across it long after its completion: thank you from the bottom of my heart. ~MidnightRosebud