Disclaimer= I do not own Clannad.


Months have passed since Kotomi left for America. Tomoya went through the scene in his head. They were at her terminal in the airport.

"Last call for all passengers boarding this flight."

"I have to go now Tomoya-kun."

"Take care, study hard." Tomoya was about to turn when Kotomi grabbed his shoulder. Half of his face was shaded.

"When I said I will call you everyday, I meant it. Don't give up on this. Don't give up on me. I love you." Tomoya gives her a final kiss before she boards the plane.

-

Tomoya got a job working as an electrician. It was hard for him because of his bad shoulder. The shoulder prevented him from completing tasks at the same speed as the other workers. He was determined to work harder than everyone else. The months and change that passed brought routine for Tomoya in the sense that he isn't doing whatever whenever. During a lunch break one day, he and a co-worker were talking about women.

"So kid, whats your woman like?" Tomoya got a tad depressed.

"She is far away right now."

"She went to college in America didn't she?"

"How did you know?"

"I had an ex-girlfriend that chose college in America over one here and me. It hurt very bad. A woman that crushed on me during high school saw me crying one day and held me until I felt better. I'm delighted to say that she is now my wife."

"I'm happy for you. Your wife is a keeper."

"Now kid, regarding your girlfriend, she chose college in America over one here and you."

"She said that the paperwork was sent in - -"

"They all say that. Paper is paper. Actions speak louder than words."

"When she told me this, she was very reluctant to go away."

"What else did she tell you?"

"She said that she would call me everyday."

"Has she called you everyday?"

"For the most part, yes."

"What about the rest of it?"

"It would seem that she sometimes forgets to call. Usually if that happens, it is only for a few days at the max."

"Well, your long-distance relationship seems rocky. Forgetting to call, the lack of intimacy? I feel bad for you."

"It drives me mad! I miss her so much it kills me. When I wake up, I wish she would be beside me."

"My last piece of advice kid is that you need to let her know EVERYTHING that you are feeling. It will only make her regret being so far away from you."


He couldn't do it. The longer time passed, the more depressed and sad Tomoya became. At the end of every conversation, Kotomi said the same things to him. It's the middle of December and Tomoya hasn't left his apartment much. Bottles of hard liquor scattered everywhere, his mind resembled his father's. Only a several hour long shower could restore him. Right now, Tomoya was drifting in and out of consciousness. He could not speak because his was fighting off severe stomach cramps. The only sounds he could make out were grunts and unheard cries for help. Tomoya could not get up and walk, but a shiny blade was within arms reach…

-

Nagisa got the last of the bread sold for the day in the Furukawa Bakery when a person stepped in and said hello.

"Hi there," Nagisa said while putting the money in a duffle bag, "We are closed now."

"Nagisa-chan, you can't talk to your friend for a minute?" Nagisa looked up from the counter and saw Kotomi standing by the door.

"Kotomi-san, its been a long time! Please sit down, I'll get the tea." She grabs the tea, they make girl talk and then Nagisa gets down to it.

"Kotomi-san, I'm so glad that you came by to visit, but shouldn't you be seeing your boyfriend right now?"

"Uh, well I am going to go there next."

"How everything between you and him?"

"Great, I think."

"You think? Is something wrong?"

"Our relationship has been long distance for several months now, and I'm very tired of that."

"What do you mean?"

"I love him so much that I cannot study nor be thousands of miles away from him any longer. I was planning on surprising him by letting him know that I'm transferring to the local University here."

"That's wonderful Kotomi-san! He'll be happy to hear that."

"I would expect such a reaction."

"Say, you said that you were tired of the distance you two were apart. Did you consider how Okazaki-san felt?"

"I'm sure he is equally tired."

"Did you ever ask him over the phone about how he felt?"

"No unfortunately, our talks were the same each time." Nagisa shook her head.

"Kotomi-san, your long-distance relationship was unhealthy! Talking about the same things? Never changing the subject? He must be feeling bad right now. How could you?"

"I always had a book in one hand - -"

"That is no excuse Kotomi-san. You need to go over to his place right now and be with him. The longer you are apart, the more you are hurting him."

"Thank you for your advice; …such wise words…"


Kotomi floored it over to Tomoya's apartment. She parked it on the curb and sprinted up the stair steps and unsuccessfully tried to open the door.

"TOMOYA-KUN, ITS ME, PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR!" No response was heard.

"Please Tomoya-kun, its me, Kotomi. Open the door please." A response was still not heard.

"Okay, I will open the door myself. I hope all the karate I did pays off." Kotomi did some weird hand gestures, and then kicked the door; it opened. She opened the door to Tomoya's bedroom and shrieked in horror. Bottles everywhere, blood dripping from his forearm, he was a mess. It was remarkable that he was sitting up. He barely turned half way to look at Kotomi. The color in his face was quickly turning whiter.

"You are about to see my grand finale. Good bye Kotomi-chan - -" she kicked the knife out of his hand and proceeded to spear him.

"Ahh my stomach…" Tomoya's breathing was labored.

"What. on. EARTH have you done Tomoya-kun?"

"I, ahh, missed you."

"Were you planning on killing yourself?"

"You, ahh, stopped, ahh, saved me…"

"Why? Why were you going to do this?!"

"You went far away, ahh, I missed you so much." Kotomi had long since been crying.

"No more. Tomoya-kun, I transferred over to the University here. Never again will we be apart."

"Ahh, that's great to hear. I need you here with me."

"I don't know if I'll make it…"

"Stop scaring me! You lost some blood, but you won't die. You just need to reverse a little bit more of the alcohol you drank."

"I'm so sorry Kotomi-chan. I made you come back home - -"

"I'm the one who should be apologizing. I should have made more of an effort to stay here. It was a great privilege to study abroad; however, it took me until I set foot off the plane that I was leaving my everything behind. I will never leave your side again.

"Thank you…"

"Come on, lets get you laying down. You need to rest." Kotomi lays beside Tomoya, who seems to be feeling better.

"Whew, all of that travel has made me kind of tired." Kotomi was drifting in and out of sleep. She felt an arm getting on her.

"Kotomi-chan, lets get married."

"…Okay."


Sometimes, it takes a near loss like what happened with Tomoya and Kotomi to make love stronger. Another few months pass and Tomoya and Kotomi got married. She and all her girls were hanging out at Tomoya's apartment while the men are at the park playing baseball. Kotomi is beaming, but not because she got married.

"Thank you all for coming. It means so much to me."

"We would've been here for you regardless Kotomi-san."

"So, have you and Tomoya-san, um, done it?" A slightly blushing Kotomi shrugged her shoulders.

"Yes, we have… many times." The girls were giggling with excitement.

"Do you plan on having a baby?"

"Seriously Kyou-san, you need to cut that out. You are being too nosy. Kotomi-chan why are you standing up?" She had her back towards everybody.

"I can't stay sitting down for long periods of time… Kaiba doesn't like that."

"Who is Kaiba?" Kotomi was now facing everyone and pointing to her belly."

"I think you all can figure it out…"